|
|
Term |
Definition |
|
| background
| When something is checked 'in the background' there is no visual cue to alert you to the process. During a background
process, you can continue to work normally.
|
|
| bandwidth
| The amount of data over a short time that can be sent to your computer;
usually expressed as kilobytes per second (Kbps). The higher the bandwidth, the
faster you receive data. Very much like using a larger garden hose to get more water
faster. Sometimes known as bitrate.
|
|
| bar
| A portion of the RealPlayer interface that is
only a single line tall. (e.g. the Clip Info bar)
|
|
| bitrate
| The speed of a connection, how fast information can be passed to your computer
over an Internet or network connection. Sometimes known as bandwidth.
|
|
| bits
| A single smallest piece of information. Often used synonymously for packets
when talking about the Internet even though they are not actually the same thing.
Packets are actually made up of bits, bits being a lower level of structure
just as atoms are what make up bricks. (See also packets.)
|
|
| browser
| Short term for Internet browser (e.g., Netscape, Opera, or Internet Explorer)
|
|
| buffered
| Data that is collected but held back rather than made available. Similar to a
translator on the news listening to a whole statement before telling you what
the speaker has said, rather than trying to give you a less accurate, halting,
word by word translation.
|
|
| clip
| Any media that can play within RealPlayer.
|
|
| Clip Info bar
| Displays Title, Author, Copyright information about the active clip.
|
|
| compiled
| Term describing a file when the raw information, or source-code, has been
organized into a usable format for your desktop. (e.g. RMA, EXE, and COM file types)
|
|
| Control bar
| The portion of the RealPlayer that contains the controls that act on the
active clip (e.g., Play, Pause, Stop, etc.) as well as the position slider,
volume control, and so on.
|
|
| datatype
| Determined by the program that creates the media you are viewing and usually
distinguished by the extension on the end of the file (e.g. MP3, WAV, RM, RMA,
etc.)
|
|
| Display Panel
| Displays the visual elements of a clip, as
well as setting the size of the display area using the Zoom control.
|
|
| electronic certificates
| Electronic certificates are digital fingerprints. Each file carries a special
code identifying it as officially sanctioned and approved by RealNetworks to
work with your RealPlayer.
|
|
| encode
| The process of converting media (sound, video, etc.) so it can be streamed to
and played by RealPlayer.
|
|
| file-type
| A file's 'type' is described at the front of every file and alerts your computer to what
programs can use the file. Some programs can use other programs' file-types (e.g., word processors can often read other word processor
documents). When programs are installed, certain file-types are associated with that program. When you click on a link or a file, Windows checks to see
what program is associated with that file-type and automatically launches that
program (e.g., double-clicking on a .ram file should launch RealPlayer and
begin to play a clip).
File-type is determined by code in the file header, that portion of the file that is read first and tells your computer what programs can read it. Often file-type and file extension (e.g., .ram) can be used interchangeably, but in actuality, extensions are not always an indication of file-type. |
|
| firewall
| Security devices used to protect companies from unauthorized
access to their servers. A firewall ensures that all communication between an
organization’s network and the Internet conform to the organization’s
security policies using either proxy services
or packet filtering.
|
|
| ||
|
| HTTP
| Hyper Text Transport Protocol. A standard language for pushing information
across the Internet. A good fall-back, though with reduced quality, to use when
your company employs a firewall that blocks other protocols.
|
|
| IP
| Internet Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages.
|
|
| IP address
| Internet address to another computer in number format (e.g. 127.0.0.1)
|
|
| ISP
| Internet Service Provider. Who you use to dial up to the Internet if you do
not have a permanent network connection.
|
|
| media
| A general term that includes any visual, audio or text broadcast.
|
|
| Multicast
| Used for broadcasting large events over the Internet. Allows a single computer
to create the content (concert, film, etc.) and many computers to play the
same single stream.
|
|
| multi-clip
| Any string of clips linked within a file that can play within RealPlayer.
|
|
| normalize
| To choose a base setting to which all volume, or other measurements, are
adjusted to match.
|
|
| packet
| A single package of data sent to a computer. Similar to a single brick in a
building.
|
|
| panel
| Any one of the separate areas of the
RealPlayer window.
|
|
| Playlist
| Displays the names of the clips within a multi-clip (see multi-clip).
|
|
| plug-in
| A component of the RealPlayer that extends its ability.
|
|
| PNM or PNA
| The previous standard protocol for streaming media to your RealPlayer.
|
|
| protocol
| Language used by computers to talk to each other or to its own hardware. In
the case of two computers, they must speak the same language to understand each
other. The standard Internet protocol is TCP/IP.
|
|
| proxy
| Used in conjunction with a firewall , a proxy or proxy service is a server that acts as an intermediary to first
determine if a requested connection between a computer on the internal network
and one on the outside is permitted. If the connection is authorized, the
firewall sets up the necessary communication links between the two computers. The
firewall can then monitor the communication between the two networks and suppress
any unauthorized activity.
|
|
| ||
|
| RealMedia
| Any media that is specifically created to be streamed, from RealServer to your computer.
|
|
| RTSP
| Real Time Streaming Protocol. The newest and fastest protocol used to stream
media to your RealPlayer over the internet.
|
|
| sampling rate
| How many times a sample is taken over a specific period of time.
|
|
| server
| Any machine or program that is 'serving' information to another machine or program. RealServers, for instance, serve
content to RealPlayers.
|
|
| Status bar
| Portion of RealPlayer that displays connection and other information
about the currently active clip.
|
|
| session
| Each time you start RealPlayer you begin a new session, or round, of using the
product. While some information, such as Preferences, are retained from
session to session, others, such as which clips have been played, are not.
|
|
| streaming
| When a large media file (audio, video, etc.) is broken into smaller pieces so
it can viewed immediately rather than having to wait for the whole file to be
downloaded first.
|
|
| TCP
| Transmission Control Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information
languages. More reliable than UDP , but often slower.
|
|
| TCP/IP
| Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Standard protocol used by the Internet to send information back and forth.
|
|
| transport
| Specifically how data is broken up and sent to your computer over the Internet
or your company intranet or network. Each type of transport is handled
differently. Most machines will only recognize a single type of transport, though this
is not always the case. Synonymous with protocol.
|
|
| UDP
| User Datagram Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages.
Similar to, but less reliable than, TCP, though often faster.
|
|
| URL
| Uniform Resource Locator. This is the complete address that tells your browser
and your RealPlayer where to get the information to show or play (e.g.,
www.real.com/thankyou.rm) and how to interpret that information.
|
|
| Web Server
| A server that makes HTML pages and other content available to your Web Browser.
|
|
|
|
|