Summary

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The previous edition of this book suggested that the future of audio on the Internet would be in integration. In a sense, this has proven to be true ”but not in the sense expected. The real trend seems to have been toward Web pages that trigger the launch of freestanding programs that can play downloaded files (MP3) or streaming audio (RealAudio), and the development of programs like RealPlayer and WindowsMedia Player that can play a wide variety of file formats. Where online video is concerned , many of the same developments apply. Embedded QuickTime movie trailers may have become a commonplace promotional tool on the Web, but the emphasis has largely shifted away from video clips in Web pages to clips displayed in external players such as RealPlayer or WindowsMedia Player. The rise of vector-based formats like Flash opens the door to more extensive use of animation in Web pages, while animated GIFs still provide a viable , if less powerful, backup where Flash is not supported. For many developers, Flash even seems to offer the layout control so lacking in HTML. Yet do not forgo the use of markup technologies for a binary form like Flash; the cost and flexibility of text makes it very compelling. As discussed in the next chapter, with the rise of cascading style sheets (CSS), the layout complaints associated with HTML and XHTML should come to an end.

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