INTERNET RADIO ALLOWS YOU TO PLAY WHILE AT WORK:

Audio Streaming - How To Succeed - By: peter radford
Background

Streaming multimedia is a form of multimedia, which itself is media that uses different forms of content. Combinations of text, audio, still images, animation, video, and interactivity content forms are typical modes of multimedia presentation.

The streaming variant is being sent, in a continuous flow, to the user of the content by the streaming provider. In this context, examples of the content stream include audio and video.

The streaming refers to the method of delivery of the content flow rather than to the nature of the content. Apart from telecommunications networks, most systems for delivering content are either streaming, such as radio and television, or non-streaming, such as audio CD’s, video cassettes, and books. The term 'to stream' means, quite simply, to deliver media in this particular manner.

History

The first attempts were made, in mid-20th century, to display media on computers. However, due to the high cost and very limited capabilities of computer hardware at that time, development did not proceed at any pace for many years.

By the 1990s, personal computers had become sufficiently powerful to display a variety of media forms. The main technical problems associated with streaming at that time were:

Having sufficient CPU power, which refers to the central processor, that can execute computer programmes, and also bus bandwidth, which is the capacity of the system to transfer data over a connection, in order to support the required rates of data flow.

Creating low latency, which allows delays too swift for human detection between an input being processed and the corresponding output providing real time characteristics, interrupt paths in the OS, or operating system, to prevent buffer underrun, which occurs when a buffer, which is a storage device used to compensate for a difference in rate of flow of data between devices used to communicate between two devices or processes, is fed with data at a lower speed than the data is being read from it.

However, computer networks had still not developed fully, and so media content was normally processed over non-streaming channels, such as CD ROM’s.

Between the late 1990s and into the next century, there were significant advances in the internet, such as:

An increase in network bandwidth, especially in the last mile, which referred to the final leg of delivering connectivity from the communications provider to a customer.

Greater access to networks, especially the internet.

The application of standard protocols and formats, such as TCP/IP, HTTP, and HTML.

Significantly greater commercialisation of the Internet.

With the advent of powerful home computers and advanced operating systems, these advances in computer networking enabled streaming media to become a practical and affordable proposition for the nation at large.

Another advance was the introduction of stand-alone Internet radio devices, which are hardware devices that receive and play audio from internet radio stations or the user's PC or other embedded media servers. For the first time, this provided listeners with the ability to listen to audio streams without the requirement of a PC.

In general, multimedia content is large, so media storage and transmission costs are still significant. In order to compensate for this, media is generally compressed, such as in a ZIP file format, which provides compression, and also acts as an archiver, storing many source files in a single destination output file, for both storage and streaming.

A media stream can be either on demand or live. In the case of on demand streams, the content is stored on a server for long periods of time, and is available for transmission on request. Live streams, on the other hand, are only available at one particular time, such as in a video stream of a live sporting event.

Audio Streaming – How To Succeed
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Talk Radio Station - The Latest Destination to Advertise your Business! - By: Suzanne

Guess the hottest spot on the Internet to advertise your business? No, it's not on a blog, forum or a website. It's on an Internet talk radio station. Quite simply, an Internet talk radio station is the latest hotspot on the Internet, the place where all the action is. If you are not already taking advantage of it, you're missing out on something! Let me explain.

Most of us love and enjoy listening to the good old radio. The times have changed and so have the ways we entertain ourselves. This is the age of the Internet and online entertainment. Our habit of listening to the radio has found a new platform – the Internet. That's right, presenting the Internet radio or e-radio, the latest avatar of the radio in this cyber era.

All one needs is an Internet connectivity to experience the phenomenon called the Internet Radio. Get access to hundreds of stations at the simple click of your mouse. Everyday, more and more people are tuning in to their favorite online radio stations and enjoying the music they love to hear around the clock. But this is only half of what Internet radio has in store for you.

If you are looking for something more out of your Internet radio, tune in to an Internet talk radio station. Internet talk radio? That's right, you read it right (no typos here)! It's the latest thing sweeping the Internet radio community. Do you want a break from the music and the incessant Top-10 and Top-20 hits? If you are looking for some stimulating conversation and discussion, just tune in to an Internet Talk radio station and get the gold pass to a whole new world of alternative entertainment.

The whole Internet talk radio scene is bustling with activity. There is no dearth of stations and all it takes is just a little bit of searching around to find and tune in to an Internet talk radio station discussing your favorite topic or hosting a talk show on your area of interest. From politics to religion, health to women’s issues, sports and entertainment to literature and special interests – you will always find a talk radio station on your favorite topic.

Apart from the obvious entertainment possibilities of Internet radio, there are also excellent commercial prospects in the notion. In other words, Internet radio is a great new place to advertise your business. Internet Radio advertising is just like conventional radio advertising - but more powerful. This is because it gives you more precise targeting opportunities, lets you combine audio ads with synchronized banners and buttons to maximize visibility and retain attention, lets your listeners take an immediate action (after all, they are only a click away from your site) and puts you in control of your advertising campaign (you can pay the service provider on the basis of the actual number of impressions).

Internet Radio is growing rapidly, and is already a significant part of many companies' marketing campaigns. A recent report revealed some exciting facts, such as, over 50% of Internet users consume streaming media; the number of Americans who listen to radio stations online has nearly quadrupled in three years; streaming media attracts a highly compelling advertising target; Americans are spending less time in front of the TV or reading printed media, and devoting more time to the Internet.

It's easy to see why an Internet talk radio station is such a hot destination to advertise your business. Discover the power of Internet radio. Steal an edge over your competition.

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Internet Radio Networks – The Essential Guide to Internet Radios and Beyond! - By: jenni4321

Ever since the age of the Internet has dawned in our lives, we have discovered an electronic counterpart of many things from our everyday life. The Internet has changed the way we communicate with others, share information, buy and sell things, and also the way we entertain ourselves. This is the era of e-mails, e-commerce, e-shopping, and e-radios or Internet radio.

Internet radios are the latest rage in cyberspace. It is but a natural culmination in the continuing evolution of the Internet. Internet radio networks are what everybody is talking about these days. In fact, after e-mails and e-commerce, e-radios are poised to be the next big thing in cyberspace.

E-radio or Internet radio, however, is not a very new innovation. As every netizen will know, Internet radio networks have been around for quite some time now. It is only recently, with the proliferation of Internet technology and improved connectivity, that Internet radio has truly come of age. Today, the listener is pampered with a most exhaustive range of channels (or stations), catering to all kinds of interest. This is becoming a standard offering of Internet radio networks that serve music online. The listener can tune into any of dozens of stations covering such genres as Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jazz, 80s music, 70s music, Oldies, New Age, Reggae, Country, Latin, Euro, Ambient, Lounge, Progressive, Techno and what not. Hours and hours of uninterrupted music at no cost – that’s the magnitude of the entertainment provided by Internet radio networks.

And now let me introduce you to the latest avatar of Internet radio – the Internet talk radio. Among the most popular Internet radio networks are the ones that feature Internet Talk Radio. Streaming talk shows and discussions on a wide range of subjects have made them popular among serious listeners or those who carve for something more than just music from their e-radios. Internet talk radio programs host various talk shows with specialists on different subject matters who anchor the show.

The possibilities of Internet radio networks extend even beyond the apparent. While traditional radio broadcasters have often used the Internet to advertise or promote their shows, Internet radio technology has actually revolutionized the concept and simple programming requirements have taken it to the extent where individuals, organizations or anyone for that matter, can easily host their own Internet talk radio station from the comfort of their home.

Now, let’s take a look at the technology that has made it all possible. Internet radio networks use many different methods for creating the audio stream source. Some of these include using the SHOUTcast service, which utilizes Winamp and the SHOUTcast DSP plugin to deliver MP3 audio at higher bitrates. Other methods include open source technologies such as Streamcast, stream-db, IceS, and MuSE, and patent-free data formats such as Ogg Vorbis. Using open source stream source tools allows for interesting web interface possibilities like phpStreamcast. Other applications include Broadwave which delivers audio in mp3 and relies on the listener's default media player to open the stream.

There is no dearth of radio networks on the Internet today. Some of these are really exceptional in the range of services they offer. Internet radio networks like Voice America make it easier to host your own Internet talk radio show. Such Internet radio networks not only provide you with the technology to host your Internet radio show but also give you a complete package of Internet streaming media broadcasting, proven support services in web, marketing, and interactive solutions that help you to make your mark and your presence known to the ever increasing Internet audience.

If you are planning to host your own Internet talk radio, seriously consider working with internet radio networks like Voice America. The possibilities are truly endless.

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Internet radio networks – the gold pass to better entertainment! - By: jenni4321

Some things in life never really go out of style. Well, they change forms and take on new looks, but they remain. One of such time defying inventions is the radio. No matter what skeptics would have you believe, the radio is very much alive and kicking even in this era of digital entertainment. Of course, the persistent existence of the radio has subjected it to some changes. Bulky radios or even the smaller, battery-powered transistors are becoming increasingly rare with every passing day. But the core essence of radio technology, that of sound and music being transmitted from a central station, still survives and is gaining in strength and popularity with passing time. Let’s investigate this amazing phenomenon.

The radio in the 21st century has taken on a new avatar. It has merged with possibly the most powerful medium of modern times, the Internet. The result? E-radio, (what else?) In this era of e-mails, e-shopping and e-commerce, e-radios, or Internet radios as they are often called as, are a natural occurrence. We are not surprised, and nor should be you! If you’ve been reading the writing on the wall, you already knew that it had to come someday. So, the good news is, it’s here! And how! Let’s take a closer look.

Internet radio networks are on the rise and the reason is not hard to understand. Much of their popularity can be attributed to the huge proliferation of Internet technologies. It is, however, interesting to note that Internet radio, however, is not a very novel innovation. In other words, Internet radio networks have been around for quite a while now. It is only recently, with the proliferation of Internet technology and faster connectivity, that the phenomenon called Internet radio has truly come of age. Today, the listener is pampered with a bevy of channels (or stations), catering to specific areas of interest. This is becoming a standard feature of Internet radio networks that serve music online. The listener can tune into any of dozens of stations covering such genres as Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jazz, 80s music, 70s music, Oldies, New Age, Reggae, Country, Latin, Euro, Ambient, Lounge, Progressive, Techno and what not. Hours and hours of uninterrupted music at no cost – that’s the magnitude of the entertainment provided by Internet radio networks.

Among the most popular Internet radio networks are the ones that feature Internet Talk Radio. Streaming talk shows and discussions on a wide range of subjects have made them popular among serious listeners or those who carve for something more than just music from their e-radios. Internet talk radio programs host various talk shows with specialists on different subject matters who anchor the show. While traditional radio broadcasters have often used the Internet to advertise or promote their shows, Internet radio technology has actually revolutionized the concept and simple programming requirements have taken it to the extent where individuals, organizations or anyone for that matter, can easily host their own Internet talk radio station from the comfort of their home.

Internet radio networks like Voice America make it easier to host your own Internet talk radio show. Such Internet radio networks not only provide you with the technology to host your Internet radio show but also give you a complete package of Internet streaming media broadcasting, proven support services in web, marketing, and interactive solutions that help you to make your mark and your presence known to the ever increasing Internet audience. If you are planning to host your own Internet talk radio, it’s worth contacting Internet radio networks like Voice America.

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Stay Tuned For Non- Stop Fun! - By: Suzanne

The world of electronic media boasts of an amazing range of entertainment sources. But what's better than the radio? Gone are days when radios meant merely a box with the tuner dials, the listeners being able to tune only a few stations. The age of the Internet has lots to offer for those who have always loved to listen to the radio.

Listening to Internet radio can open up a host of entertainment options. However, it would be a clumsy idea to go from website to another in search of your favorite pastime. The solution lies in opting for a reliable Internet radio network or radio aggregator. A streaming audio player like Winamp, RealPlayer, Windows Media Player, or Sonique can help you access the Internet radio network. Once you download these players, you would be simply taken into a world of your choice. And remember, the choice is endless!

Radio stations accessible from Internet radio networks are derived from every possible sources- over-the-air AM, FM and short-wave stations from around the world, streaming their broadcast; stations that exist solely for Internet broadcast; and even some amateur online DJs. Most of the Internet radio shows are free, inviting popular participation, a thing which you can never enjoy over-the-air.

Internet radio allows you to play while at work. Whether you do your office work, check emails, or fiddle with a number of spreadsheets, you can always listen to online music and chill out at work. The important advantage lying with the Internet radio networks is facility of customizing your choices. Many radio networks allow you to create your favorite list of stations, your own radio dial, and dashboard. A number of Internet radio networks also make individual rating of your tracks possible. Defining your preferences in your radio dial allows the radio network to customize your play list over the time.

The advantages do not end here. Often, listeners wish to buy an entire music collection after listening to a number over-the-air. Thanks to Internet radio networks, music lovers can actually purchase the CD of their choice just after listening to any of the tracks. A click-to-buy option is provided for making an instant purchase. A wish list of your favorite numbers for listening or purchasing can also be created. These exclusive services can be available at nominal membership fees.

Internet radio is constantly evolving and listeners will certainly come across upgraded technologies in the coming years. The introduction of Internet radio networks is an offshoot of this development and has been responsible for making online radio gain wide popular recognition.

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Internet Talk Radio And The Reason Behind Its Growing Popularity - By: Ronn Jones


Radios were the prime source of entertainment in older times. Before televisions became popular and almost changed the entire scenario of entertainment, the radio shows were powerful enough to act as a mass media to communicate to people. There were talk shows, story telling and even music channels. However, the visual media i.e. televisions proved to be more effective and gradually replaced radios.

However, both the older radios and the present day television lacked a few important features. None of them could actually target a global audience at a time. All channels, in both television and radios were either local or national and once out of range they failed to communicate. This was one technical problem that had limited the growth of these media.

The introduction of the World Wide Web again has changed this scenario drastically. A new wave of internet talk radios have been introduced which not only serves the purpose of the old radio but also caters to a global population. They are easy to use and can be accessed from anywhere in the world.

The dynamically changing world today demands not only to remain updated with all the current happenings but also to voice opinions in a way that it reaches the majority of audience all over the world. From serious political and socio-economic issues to sports and entertainment, we have our opinions on almost everything. And internet talk radio provides the right forum and technology to express our opinions perfectly.

Internet talk radio is probably the greatest technological innovation in radio broadcasting since its conception. This technology has made it easy for anyone to start off his / her streaming media broadcasting service through these personal internet talk radio channels. These channels allow broadcasting of talk shows and discussion on various topics. Talk radio has always been popular amongst its audiences. However, the medium of these new radios, i.e. internet has further raised its popularity level. From the user perspective, the best feature of the internet talk radio is its portability and ease of usage. It can be accessed from anywhere, irrespective of the location of the user. Moreover, many internet radio stations provide the necessary technology to host internet radio talk shows too.

While these internet talk radios are rapidly growing popular for their flexibility and ease of use, one more factor has immensely contributed to this growth. It is the fact that the internet talk radios can be used as a better advertising media than its close counterparts. Television and the older radios have always been a favorite advertisement media, but with major drawbacks. Firstly, in case of the older media, advertisements generally came up in the intervals and were often distractive. In case of the internet talk radio, the advertisements are placed inside the shows and thus are more effective. Advertisements are also displayed in the form of banners and links. Any user interested about a particular product can straightaway click on it to visit the respective website for more details. And finally, the reach of the older media were often restricted to local or national audience. With the introduction of internet talk radio, it is now easier to spread words through advertisements and campaign to a global audience.

Thus it can be well concluded that internet talk radio, with its benefits of easily sharing thoughts, voicing opinions, interacting with domain experts and providing an unmatched advertising platform have become one of the more innovative essential of the present day lifestyle.

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Web Coach Tip: Top 7 Ways to Spice Up Your Web Site’s Audio Greetings - By: Donna Payne
Copyright 2006 TheWebCoach.net

So the audio greeting craze has finally caught on. How can you make your website stand above the rest? Pump up the volume of your audio, of course!

Folks have found many different ways to utilize this cool feature, here are a few you can try:

1) Be sure to add a little excitement and sparkle to the tone of your voice. Pretend you’re telling your best friend about a juicy piece of gossip. (I especially like my tone when I talk about things I LOVE like my kids, or my business) Don’t worry about sounding “hyped” or “salesy”. Remember to SMILE while you speak – you can “see” it when you listen. Practice in front of a mirror – don’t worry, nobody’s looking!

2) Greeting. For example, this is your Career Coach Mickey Mouse… thanks for stopping by…(Tell them what to do)… “Be sure to get your free personality type quiz, the signup is on the upper right hand corner of this webpage. You’ll be surprised at what you can learn about yourself!”

3) Product or Service Review. Tell a customer you would like to feature them on your website with a testimonial about one of your products they’ve purchased. Customers love to see their name in lights!

4) Product or Service Description & features. You know as well as I do that no one really reads EVERY single word of your copy. However; you can add extra punch with an audio sample, excerpt, or description. Folks on Ebay have increased their profits significantly by adding audio to their auctions.

5) Personalization. If your business has different departments, have each department head record a short greeting for that dept’s page. “Hello there, this is Bob Evans; head of shipping and receiving. If you need to contact my department please call yadda-yadda, or email me right away. I aim to exceed your expectations with my world class service.”

6) Assessment/Questionnaire pages. A smart web marketer will have a questionnaire for potential clients to fill out before contacting them for consulting, coaching or whatever. A sample question written on your form might be “What is your greatest challenge right now?” You can easily have an audio button asking the question again in gently probing manner or in a different way to get your prospect to give you more detail.

7) Don’t forget your Thank you pages. You work your butt off to get the sale – don’t blow it! Use audio to re-affirm your customer’s decision to do business with you. Thank them for making a wise decision that will significantly improve their problem, make life easier, or give them great joy.

By implementing these simple strategies, you’ll be sure to make a mark on your customer and be remembered and REWARDED!

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7 Tips for Purchasing and Using a Microphone for Recording Audio on Your Website - By: Cathy Linderman
Copyright 2006 Cathy Linderman

Tip One

You have a lot of considerations for choosing a microphone for recording audio. First, decide whether you need a dynamic or condenser microphone. A dynamic microphone is rugged and good for handling noise. It is great for webcasts (live audio and video). A condenser microphone is more sensitive with better frequency response and is better suited for a studio type situation.

Tip Two

You have to decide if you want a omnidirectional or unidirectional (cardioid) mic. Omni directional mics are good for recording seminars, lectures or meetings, where cardioid mics are more sensitive to sound thus better for recording one voice and interviews.

Tip Three

Determine your usage for the mic. Do you need a handheld mic for the speaker(s), or is a lavaliere (clip-on) mic better for the presenter(s). Wireless mic's are great in that you avoid cables and are easier to use. Desk-top mics are great for panel discussions and for one person usage also. Good headsets with microphones also have high quality for computer usage.

Tip Four

Be careful of cordless headsets for computer usage as you can get interference and ground hum from a lot of equipment in one location. This can cause poor audio. If purchasing a headset determine if you need sound blocking, as that will determine how light or heavy the set is on your head. Be sure a headset microphone is adjustable on your head, and try moving the mic above and below your mouth for quality of your voice pitch. Plantronics is a leader in microphone headsets.

Tip Five

Determine what features and supplemental supplies you need along with the purchase of your microphone. A popshield (foam shield) can help deter those annoying 'p' and 's' sounds. Stands are great for speakers and panel sessions. Determine if a magnetic shield needs to be purchased to reduce interference with computer or other equipment in the room you are recording in. Use balanced cables for higher quality audio.

Tip Six

Listen carefully to your audio, and determine the quality. Have others critique it also. If the audio sounds hollow or like you are in a tunnel, try moving the mic closer to the speaker. If the audio sounds distorted, then move the mic away from the speaker.

Tip Seven

Purchasing locations for microphones are numerous. Local stores around the country include locations like Best Buy, Office Max, Office Depot, Circuit City, and Radio Shacks. Online stores are numerous and be sure to do a search on Google or Yahoo for reviews of microphones. You'll get some great comparisons of purchasing sites for online purchase.

Conclusion

Do your homework when purchasing a microphone for recording audio on your website. There is nothing like quality audio. Experts have even said you can have a lower quality video file, but if the audio is bad, you have lost that customer totally! They expect nothing less than quality audio recordings.

So take the time to do your due diligence before purchasing a microphone for recording audio for your site. Of course, your budget may dictate some of that purchase to begin with, but in the long run don't sacrifice quality for a few dollars savings now. It will pay down the road!

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