Adding Video MIME types to Windows 2003 Server for Downloadable Streaming

For those that are using the Windows 2003 Server and you desire to use the formats such as Flash (.FLV), and MPEG-4 and H.264 (.mp4) for download streaming you'll need to add these MIME types to your server before you can stream your content.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to do it:

Option #1 for Adding MIME types- at the Global Level

If you need to add a MIME type for a Web Server that uses IIS such as Windows 2003 Server first go to Administrative Tools and choose Internet Information Services (IIS). Once you get in the IIS Window you can add your MIME type by selecting the local computer and choosing the Action pull-down menu and selecting Properties.



Next go in and add your MIME type by clicking the MIME Types button.




Once in the MIME types dialog you can add your MIME type by clicking the New button and adding the format extension plus the MIME type. For example, for Flash Video you would type in .FLV for the extension and video/x-flv for the MIME type.

Option #2 for Adding MIME types - At the Web Directory level

For adding a MIME type at the Web Directory Level you go to Administrative Tools and choose Internet Information Services (IIS).



Select the Web Sites Folder in the IIS Manager and choose the Action Pull-down menu and select Properties.




Click the HTTP Headers Tab and go in and select the MIME Types button on the bottom of the dialog.



Now you can click the New button and add you MIME type. Use the same process you used for adding a MIME at the Global level.

Microsoft and Akamai Innovate on Consumer Video Experiences Using Silverlight

Microsoft Corp., the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions, and Akamai Technologies Inc., the leader in powering rich media, dynamic transactions and enterprise applications online, announced plans to enable high-definition (HD) quality experiences on PCs. Akamai will release a beta version of a new service, powered by Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Silverlight, to deliver rich Internet applications via the world's largest HTTP edge network.

Microsoft is introducing new Web server technology, called Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7.0) Smooth Streaming, that gives consumers instant start-up times and no buffering by adapting the quality of the video stream in real time based upon changing connectivity speed. This enables companies to boost brand awareness and advertising revenues by extending average viewing times. They can also benefit from unprecedented network scalability using distributed HTTP-based Web servers.

"Smooth Streaming is an evolution of proven Silverlight technology that has powered global online events," said Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of the .NET Developer Division at Microsoft. "Our objective has always been to provide a platform that enables next-generation media experiences on the Web. Together with Akamai, we will take that a step further by offering a consistently superior adaptive streaming experience on a global scale."

Akamai will be building upon this innovative technology with a new service, Akamai AdaptiveEdge Streaming for Microsoft Silverlight, which will be deployed across the company's globally distributed network to bring a solution with HD scale to media companies worldwide. The service is expected to be available to select Akamai customers in a beta release in early 2009. Akamai AdaptiveEdge Streaming for Silverlight will leverage IIS Smooth Streaming, which offers a simple-to-manage approach for adaptive streaming, and will be an upcoming feature of IIS7 Media Pack. IIS7 Media Pack brings media-specific features such as bit-rate throttling and playlists to Web servers. This powerful solution is enhanced by the compelling experiences and rich interactive applications enabled by the Silverlight player.

"We've seen firsthand the growing demand for HD online content among our customer base," said Tim Napoleon, chief strategist, Digital Media at Akamai. "In a broadcast model, typically the experience is consistent across 100 percent of the viewing audience. The challenge is that capabilities in the online world vary greatly for each user. Adaptive streaming allows the video to adjust to the audience, maximizing each user's experience. We believe that this technology, combined with an open video player solution that embraces existing development and ad standards, will allow us to offer the scale and reach needed to grow the business of online video."

"Users expect TV-quality video when they go online; anything less just doesn't make the grade anymore," said Will Richmond, broadband video analyst and editor/publisher of VideoNuze. "Especially in the HD era, premium video providers are recognizing that quality is king and as a result are accelerating their shift to more robust delivery infrastructure. And the payoffs are clear: higher-quality video drives longer viewing sessions, greater engagement and improved monetization opportunities."