Video Help

The growing popularity of Web video has caused an explosion of video formats and features. Popular Web browsers such as Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator use third-party helper software, often called plug-ins or players, to display the latest video formats.

Southern Accents Online delivers video in three popular formats; Quicktime, Windows Media, and Real Media. All three formats use a free player to display video. Your computer may already have the required player to view our Web video. Most Windows machines ship with the Windows Media Player, and all MacIntosh machines ship with Quicktime. Just click on the links and if the video starts playing, your computer has the required software.

If an alert box pops up saying you don't have the required plug-in, or the video simply will not play, you probably must download the latest video player.

The latest Quicktime player can be found at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

The latest Windows Media Player can be found at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/default.asp

The Real player can be found at: http://www.real.com/player/

Player versions
Both Quicktime and Real Media offer free versions and pay versions. You don't have to buy the pay version of either player to view Web video. The pay version of Quicktime allows you to edit and save video in multiple formats. Real Media's pay version gives you more control over audio and video streaming options.

Streaming video
Southern Accents Online delivers video in a streaming format. Instead of the entire clip downloading to your computer before it plays, streaming video plays after a short buffering delay. You must have Quicktime version 5.0 or higher, Media Player 7, or Real Player 6 (G2) or higher to view streaming video.

Troubleshooting

I have the required player, but the video will not play, or the sound plays but the video is blank.

Make sure that you have a current version of the software.

I have the latest player, and the player pops up, but the video does not play.

If you're trying to view the video from work, you're probably behind a corporate firewall. Many firewalls prevent streaming video from reaching your computer. Ask your network administrator if you're able to view streaming content.

The Apple Web site provides a guide for configuring Quicktime behind a firewall. Real Media also provides a help page for connecting to streaming content.

The video starts to play, then delays for a moment before starting again.

Streaming video has a delay at the beginning of the video clip to buffer a small amount of video for smoother playback. If the download speed of your modem is slow or your network is very busy, the video will stop in order to maintain a few seconds of buffered content.

The Windows Media Player pops up when I click on Quicktime or Real Media clips

Your browser is set up to use Windows Media Player as the default player for video content. Real video will not play on the Windows Media Player. You'll have to go into the browser preferences or options and look for an option to set your browser's file helpers or applications. Netscape.com has a technical assistance page for configuring helper applications. The latest Windows Media Player can display some Quicktime content. You can download the latest version of Windows Media player at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/default.asp