QuickTime looks a little different from each angle. Here are a few of its facets.
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by Derrick Story
A coworker stopped by my desk the other day while I was setting up a new Windows laptop. I was running a QuickTime movie after having just downloaded the latest version (4.01). He took one look at the metallic apple on the player interface and remarked, "Why are you putting that Apple stuff on your PC?"
"Well, actually, this is a Windows app," I said wryly. He smiled tightly and rushed off as if I had a dead rat hanging from the edge of my screen.
I couldn't just leave it like that, so a few minutes later I called him back to my desk after I had downloaded the big Episode One trailer from the Star Wars web site. I handed him the headphones and said, "Have you seen this clip?" He took the headset and watched while I made a phone call. A couple minutes later he remarked, "That's some clean video."
Now I can guarantee you this guy isn't going to rush out and buy an iMac (or even a new iBook!). No way. That isn't the point. But now he knows a little more about another handy multimedia tool. He prefers creating video to run on the Real G2 player, which is terrific. I like it myself. Someday, however, he may encounter a situation where QuickTime is better, such as for downloading high-quality video to include in his multimedia library. Maybe he'll remember how terrific the Star Wars video looked.
I've tinkered with QuickTime on both Windows 98 and Mac OS 8.5.1. On good days, I have video running on each machine. (On bad days, I have Excel and Word sitting there instead.) For the most part, the software behaves the same on either platform. Where it doesn't, I'll try to point out the difference in these articles.
Today, we'll look at QuickTime primarily as it applies to Web usage—we'll download the application, use the plug-in and the player, and even throw in a few authoring tricks. If you're already using QuickTime, I guarantee you'll learn a few shortcuts you didn't already know. If you're like my friend who's never considered touching it, you might want to read on anyway. You never know. ...
Either way, you'll soon discover that this cross-platform, multiple-format, versatile playback, editing and development tool has a little something for everyone in the world of Web communications.
QuickTime is a set of tools for downloading, playing, and developing multimedia. Generally speaking, you use the browser plug-in for downloading, and the multipurpose standalone application (QuickTime Player) for playback and editing. Because you use the same application for playing video as you do for simple editing, you can become a developer without even realizing it. It happens to folks all the time.
I see these acronyms all the time, but what do they mean?
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The transition usually goes something like this. You download a clip, let's say a movie trailer. You like the video except for a few annoying frames at either end. You remember reading about the Trim tool and use it to eliminate the offending sections.
Then it occurs to you that you have a companion clip that would be a nice addition to your new video. You select parts of the companion clip you like and use the Add command.
But the sound tracks don't go well together. So you use the Delete Tracks option to get rid of the old ones and the Add Tracks option to put in a little tune you created yourself. Without realizing it, you have just made the transition from viewer to developer. All of these actions took place in QuickTime Player, which you downloaded for free.
We'll talk more about the player in a bit, but for now take a look at some of the basic things it can do.
For a complete listing of the 49 formats, 27 compressors, and 14 video effects included in the standard QuickTime download, take a look at the specifications sheet.
"The price is cheap but the download is a heap." That's what folks complained about with QuickTime 3.
QuickTime 4 features a nice workaround for the formerly "all or nothing" 6-Mbyte download. Now, you just grab a svelte 379-Kbyte installer off the QuickTime site. It took me 90 seconds, mid-evening, with a 42,000-bit-per-second connection to complete the installer download.
But don't go offline just yet. There's still a little more downloading to do. Launch the installer and you're greeted with three choices: Minimum, Full, or Custom. Here's how they stack up.
Minimum—2.9 Mbytes. The Minimum download contains everything you need to enjoy video, audio, and streaming playback. It includes the QuickTime Player, browser plug-in, and all necessary system software. The minimum download also includes support for VR, Flash, and MP3 too. But you don't get any authoring tools, media export filters, DV support, or the Picture Viewer app. But it's a fine choice for accessing material on the Web, and it's free.
Full—5.8 Mbytes. This is the download I like. You get everything. It's perfect for the tinkerer who wants to go beyond simple playback into the world of multimedia creation. It's also great for saving content to build your own library, authoring video and sound, and exporting your work to other formats.
Here's the deal though, to really take advantage of the Full download, you should purchase the Pro license for $29.95. That's the only way you'll be able to unlock all the capabilities residing on your hard drive. For example, the Pro version of the plug-in allows you to save downloaded movies and export them to other formats. The Pro upgrade isn't required for the Full download, but practically speaking, it might as well be.
Custom—This version is for folks who know what they want, allowing you to pick and choose components. If you accidentally threw away your Player application, use this option to replace it.
Once you've made your choice, the installer application will access the QuickTime site and download the components you've requested. If you just need the plug-in, you can download the Minimum installation, then run the installer at another time to add more components. It's quite an improvement over QuickTime 3.
Just a few final installation notes. On both Mac and Windows platforms, make sure all other applications are closed before installing the components you've downloaded. The installers for both platforms are very efficient, but they like lots of elbow room. Also, multimedia demands that your computer is in good shape. You might want to tidy up the system and hard drive before adding this software.
Once you've installed the software, it will only take a few minutes to get comfortable with the plug-in and the player application—especially if you read the next section, "Tools for Viewing Multimedia."
Tools for Viewing Multimedia (Part 2)
Let's fire up the browser and download some video and overview of the plug-in and the player.
Editing Shortcuts and File Conversion (Part 3)
With QuickTime Player, you can edit your media too. Plus learn about the bonus application, PictureViewer, and its ability to convert still image formats.
Return to Multimedia Main Page
©1999 Web Review. Reprinted with permission.