So what is in store for IE8 and SMIL 3.0?

When we look at SMIL 3.0 we see a powerful Presentation Software package that is not only developed to give a powerful performance but can be adapted for other languages of software out there for instance DOM, Java, HTML and so forth. With the right Browser features such as the New Internet Explorer 8 SMIL 3.0 can reach new Heights and explore the new age of the web and software’s.  Internet Explorer 8 has integrated features that allow it to work with DOM, and HTML + Time, along with SMIL 3.0. Though IE8 will only be a helpful software tool for the improvements of many software packages including SMIL 3.0 it will also help improve the experience of SMIL 3.0 when it comes to practical everyday use, from our cell phones to our Computers, and gives a great presentation to the ongoing business world of today. IE 8 and SMIL 3.0 is a winning combination and when IE 8 is fully released and not into Beta testing the Users of web pages using SMIL 3.0 will see how effective IE 8 works. One of the great advantages of SMIL 3.0 is that it has had time to implement the Language of IE 8, since SMIL 3.0 has been released. While IE 8 has been in draft longer then SMIL 3.0 there should be no problems of the integration. And IE 8 is allowing software and web Masters to fraction with the new IE8 package even in its Beta Version. Given of course that SMIL 3.0 will have adapted to the IE8 program, although the new SMIL 3.0 looks promising and that IE 8 is integrating its systems towards security and user interface, it will be great to see the two works together.

IE 8 and SMIL 3.0

Well as long as SMIL and IE work on the ongoing fraction of the World Wide Web and work somewhat together on projects as the W3C recommends go forward in one direction and no fractioning into splinters. So as long as SMIL 3.0 has worked out the bugs with XHTML + Time then there will be no problems of it being able to adapt to the IE 8 Platform. And as long as the ongoing production of the ever fast growing reliability of the World Wide Web continues from independent and Business type people then SMIL and the Internet Explorer Browser will be around for a long, long time.

References:

1. An over look Of IE8 Beta test 1 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/ie8/default.mspx
2. What is New for IE8 http://blogs.computerworld.com/five_things_youll_love_or_hate_about_ie8
3. Internet Explorer 8 browser enhancements http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer_8
4. SMIL Standards and Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 http://www.axistive.com/smil-standards-and-microsoft-internet-explorer-6-7-and-8.html
5. The New SMIL 3.0 http://www.multimedia4everyone.com/smil30/index.htm
6. SMIL 3.0 Content discussion with W3C http://www.nabble.com/gzip-SMIL-3.0-content-to8184059.html
7. News of the new SMIL 3.0 http://xml.coverpages.org/newsletter/news2008-01-17.html

The Main Differences of the new Draft of SMIL 3.0

• Well many upgrades have been added to this new package the last release date was in July 13th 2007. This was the last working draft of SMIL 3.0 and from there to then many changes was made to present working Draft release on January 15th 2008. And a new look and interface is just a fraction of the picture of the software.
• So the changes are based upon the new Vista Program and its many components of web Browsers such as IE 8 or Mozilla Firefox 3.0 platform. All in which effect a large variety of Integrated Multimedia Language services such as DOM, CCG Hotmail, Java, and of course SMIL 3.0.
• The changes of this magnitude are based upon the Microsoft working order if they are still drafting and beta testing Internet Explorer 8 and still do not have the bugs worked out of Windows Vista it would explain the constant upgrading of SMIL 3.0 trying to compensate for the works of IE 8.
• Not to Mention that Mozilla Fire Fox 3 has had its work cut out as well for they too have been changing allot of the platform works of their browser trying to keep both Windows XP users happy and now Windows Vista Users Happy.
• Long of the short SMIL 3.0 has to be constantly upgraded to meet the demands and rewrites of both popular Browsers and Both Windows Programs.

New Features of SMIL 3.0

Unlike its old programs SMIL 3.0 is written to adapt to 3 levels of Windows the old system of 98 platforms, Xp Platforms, and of course the new Windows Vista. But even though they have developed this integration into their languages you have to be running XP Professional or Windows Vista to experience the full potential of SMIL 3.0. As we see crisper Graphics more boost in clarity of Audio not to mention multi pages and scripting. The ability to open up page in page boxes, and even a Video clip why still browsing the web. As SMIL 3.0 is brought to us we can only sit back and enjoy using this software in our everyday lives, as our cell phones can now surf the web, and play MP3 music files, or watch full length movies on a cell phone. We have the ability to integrate with more than one resource at a time or even contact. The adaptation of Windows Messengers and thus Yahoo, and MSN Messengers. Just to give examples of how this simple Product has changed the lives we live in.

References:

1. News of the new SMIL 3.0 and the W3C Standard  http://xml.coverpages.org/newsletter/news2008-01-17.html
2. SMIL 3.0 and Firefox 3.0 http://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Feature_Brainstorming:Web_Standards_Support
3. SMIL 3.0 Draft Content http://markmail.org/message/52hhtfmvda7qcgtg
4. Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL 3.0) http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/CR-SMIL3-20080115/
5. W3C talks about the new release of SMIL 3.0 http://www.xml.org/xml/news/archives/archive.12262006.shtml

Mozilla Firefox 3.0

Well let’s see the New Mozilla Firefox is a long awaited Web Browser that is used by regular internet web surfers for its unique design and easy web serving. Now the Mozilla Firefox 3.0 has been in the works for some time. What’s in store for the Mozilla Firefox Users, well a more efficient Browser then before with easy navigation to web sites. Such as bookmark dialog is now integrated into the URL bar the dialog box now has a cancel button along with a remove bookmark upgrade at the top of the dialog box, which gives a better way to pop up more than one tab and keep surfing a better download speed with larger broad band usage. Along with the ability to download an item into cache, while you search or create a folder to place the download. As well a better way to tweak your outlook and ways you want Firefox 3.0 to be your web browser, allowing the user to modify the appearance and way the browser performs and handles web pages, downloads and bookmarks not to mention security and privacy. Mozilla is authorized by the W3C to implement a software language compatible to all other Programs their main focus was to upgrade their Software Browser and make it more secure from harmful maul ware and Trojans on the Internet that could download onto personal computers. It is believed that if SMIL followed along with the BETA release packages Mozilla Fire fox gave out they should be able to work with the Browser, even Mozilla Fire Fox when finally released may give SMIL along with other software companies a patch to be able to use their software inattentively as it was designed to perform. Mozilla knows not adapting and allowing SMIL software to run is like not allowing SVG.

Internet Explorer 8 (IE8)

Well since the internet was first introduced Microsoft Internet Explorer has been used. It has had a long integrated history of a web browser but as technology advances and software changes are being made new Web Browsers have to evolve and Internet Explorer is no exception to this rule. The new IE8 is in the appearance of the previous model of IE7 in some ways but also has the appearance of IE 6 when it comes to category bars. But with a few more add-ons, its broadband is unlimited, its user interface is easy to use and navigate through, it has many new tabs and appearance along with easy to navigate pop up menus, They have made it easy for a user to tweak the apperence how it handles alot of the web Brozer and how it performs, Security was the biggest task of this Browser but also making it easy to use such as easy to copy paste to any Microsoft software product like word pad, notebook, address book, and Microsoft office suit 2008. IE8 was designed for DOM and CCG graphics to make a compatible user interface for its two oldest clients. In previous years the IE packages were not so user friendly to the DOM and CCG. So SMIL 3.0 is on the board and IE8 has been released only one BETA test to allow software companies and web Masters to help integrate this software. SMIL in previous years had a problem with compatibility to the IE 7 and IE 6 platforms, and they had to create SMIL 3.0 to keep up with the evolution of the Web Browsers as they advanced in the technical growth. But to some credit SMIL 3.0 works well with the older interface of the IE7 package and the new IE 8 platform is based upon the IE7 design, so if they have caught the IE8 BETA they could have already adapted to the new Web Browser. In truth the Browser should be ready and SMIL 3.0 can probably adapt to the XHTML + Time Platform as before, with a Patch.

References:

1. IE 8 outlook
2. Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL 3.0) Outlook
3. First look at Firefox 3 beta 3 polishes rough edge
4. Top 10 Firefox 3 Features
5. W3C Standard Report on Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL 3.0)

SMIL (Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language) pronounced (SMILE) was designed to be a web-based tool like PowerPoint and the ability to run audio, video, and documentation for company presentations of multimedia. Companies like RealNetworks wholeheartedly support this multimedia and of other vendors adopting the standard. “The value of SMIL is that it completely complements important Web components like these [DHTML, CSS, and XML],” said Peter Zaballos, director, systems marketing at RealNetworks. On the other hand some companies think SMIL cannot compete with proprietary products, Macromedia was one of them. Norm Meyrowitz president, Macromedia Products explains “We don’t feel that SMIL integrates well with HTML and the current evolution of the DOM, SMIL is a decent standard for synchronizing audio and video, but isn’t really a multimedia standard. And it does not enable an author to create a rich, interactive multimedia presentation with any kind of sophistication.”

What is SMIL?

The W3C, which stands for the World Wide Web Consortium, develops interoperable technologies that will let people use the Internet to it’s fullest. The W3C is the standard body for HTTP and HTML. In today’s world many new technologies are introduced and one that has shown great promise is SMIL. The proper pronunciation for SMIL is “smile” SMIL actually stands for Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language and it’s a language for describing audiovisual presentations.

SMIL has many advantages; it is also an easy to learn language that functions for many applications. For that reason alone SMIL will be with us for a very long time. Some of the things that SMIL is used for are to create slide-show presentations, which in recent years have gained popularity on the Internet. Internet and Intranet presentations are also soaring and SMIL makes this all possible. One of the most important things about SMIL is the ability of it to display multiple file types like text, video, and audio. With the ability of this software you can give great presentations to clients anywhere in the world.

SMIL is similar to an HTML like language that is written in XML and can be written using something as simple as a text editor. SMIL was development in 1997 and has been improving ever since. SMIL is a language that makes multimedia presentations stand out. If you were doing a media presentation you probably already used SMIL and haven’t realized you were doing so. SMIL has many options like containing links to other SMIL presentations, it also contains features that have buttons such as stop, start and next.

With SMIL you can take your multi-presentations into a new level of appearance with enhancements that help you present your presentation to a higher level of composition. One of the things that SMIL presentations also let you do is display files from multiple web servers. This let’s you display multiple files even if you don’t have them all in one place. This can be valuable especially if you travel frequently and have business presentations to do. The W3C main purpose is to have the Web evolve in one direction so you don’t have many applications being splintered among competing factions. This can be a problem especially if everyone is trying to create something different. Having everyone on the same page is very important. SMIL is the future of the Internet and looks to be around for a very long time.

Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 6 and SMIL

SMIL is that of open faced XML Language similar to that of HTML. Currently SMIL is still developing its software and upgrading towards implementing to work with other innovative Web Browsers, but it ran into major problems when Internet Explorer 7 was launched, we will take a closer in- depth look on why this was. SMIL version 2.0 was developed as integrated software capable of running all media formats, and all audio formats, like that of flash players, with the ability of adding dynamic text script to it. No other player has ever been able to do this all in one by simply using a text editor, and when they upgraded SMIL 2.0 version into version 2.1, they made it a static dynamic conversion capable of handling screening online video and audio as a multimedia application. As when SMIL came out in the first version SMIL version 1.0 and later to the developing of the 2.0 they released it as a static dynamic platform.

SMIL version 2.0 and version 2.1 worked well with Internet Explorer 6.0 and its upgrades this is probably thank to the fact that when SMIL was being developed it had the full schematic of Internet Explorer 6.0; Internet Explorer 6.0 was developed and released on August 27, 2001 one month before Windows XP was released. SMIL was first drafted and presented to the W3C in 1995, it then was developed into a Beta draft in 1997. Before it was completed it had to be modified and formatted many times to integrate with many Net Providers Netscape, Java, Internet Explorer, AOL etc along with applications of Hotmail and DOM.

IE 6 and its compatibility with SMIL 2.0 and 2.1

Internet Explorer 6 supports inline transitions, which are based on Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language’s (SMIL) latest specifications. Throughout the HTML+TIME environment, these specifications are put into place through the aid of a transition filter element. The new frame of transitions is designed to add more power to the HTML system. Internet Explorer 6 allows continued support for SMIL 2.0 and 2.1 the developing framework in progress at W3C. The most notable support is in the area of transitions, which allows for effect and filter applications, which can include image and text fades, and application of graduated color backgrounds to elements. This is accomplished at precisely designated times and without the added need for script.

SMIL’s current version (2.1) is fairly complete and comprehensive enough to use efficiently. Broken up into modules, each section describes various aspects of the entire presentation. There is a module that describes the documentation of the SMIL structure itself, and a metadata module that more clearly defines this SMIL document. SMIL schematics benefit from this modularity by allowing them to extend on a module-to-module basis as needed. This is all accomplished without causing unwanted element interactions in other modules.

As the end of Internet Explorer 6’s Beta testing was drawing to a close, the browser was found to be still not fully supportive of SMIL 2.0. There were still too many bugs and necessary updates that had not been put into its structural platform. It took many more tests to incorporate the SMIL platform before the browser could be released to the world. Few Internet Explorer platform systems support SMIL because of their XHTML+TIME frameworks that Microsoft use’s in all Internet Explorer Software. There was a definite need however that the browser support systems such as interactive media, which at the time it did not.

Internet Explorer 7 why was it not compatible with SMIL 2.0 and 2.1

Compatibility issues are a major problem for Internet Explorer 7. The designers failed when they did not add support for SMIL 2.0 and 2.1 versions. This was a considerable complication for web masters and individuals who explore the internet. XHTML+TIME was introduced into Internet Explorer 7, which went beyond the functions of SMIL. When the work was started on Internet Explorer 7, it was officially approved within a couple of months. The design for this software was in development for a substantial period of time which added new features that was conflicting with numerous end-users and website innovators. Which made Internet Explorer 7 not a prime choice for integrating SMIL.

The Internet Explorer platform’s has always used the HTML+TIME function. As always this method will still be in place for Microsoft’s existing clients. The developers do not remove pieces of the software unless a major problem has occurred. However, XHTML+TIME have been newly incorporated into this software. The SMIL 2.0 and 2.1 versions are similar to the new technique. In addition to what this tool can do, but may not be able to use this software with current IE 6 platform incorporated into their software. IE 7 can accomplish even more tasks. Compared to SMIL, the XML Timing language can be seen as a different approach to the timing of XML documents. It reuses a subset of timing primitives from the Timing and Synchronization module of SMIL 2.0. It allows separating content, styling and timing for authoring and maintenance of multimedia documents.

The issues that surfaced were mainly the web masters having to change some of their codes for people to view their web page properly. This increased individuals to seek out other forms of browsers to be able to observe the websites they choose. The developers of Internet Explorer 7 stood by this method. They chose not to support SMIL 2.0 and 2.1 because they felt that XHTML was a more productive measure because of their own software like SMIL that they developed called SAMI (Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange) which works with Microsoft software only. Although SMIL only had to include a patch given to be able to be supported by Internet Explorer 7 which later on they gave out to SMIL so they could run properly 2.0 and 2.1 after a report Microsoft said Quote we will support SMIL versions 2.0 and 2.1.

Microsoft felt there product was better suited and sophisticated version of SMIL. This is important in a new era of internet browsing. The developers believe that people will see a massive difference in their online experience. This method will assist in videos and other multimedia ventures in loading more quickly like SMIL. The bandwidth will be increasingly slower which will assist in more products being placed on one page. This new technique will be helpful in enhancing the way different multimedia objects are offered. With a new time frame motion, add-ons will not be needed to show various videos and displays. The web masters will be able to locate these items quickly and they could relocate them just as easy. This is a new method of bringing the internet to a more active environment. The designers of Internet Explorer 7 have chosen to implement their new HTML as an extended version of SMIL for Microsoft launch of SAMI a perfect clone of SMIL. This technique has all the functions of SMIL plus additional performance; however it will be more user friendly.

Internet Explorer 7 implementing SMIL is simply because Internet Explorer 7 replaced their HTML+TIME with a new ID enhanced Script now known as XHTML+TIME. This is because Internet explorer 7 was implementing their software development Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) into their script software similar to SMIL. A Feature added to Microsoft Internet Explorer 7. While SMIL kept saying to end-users to ask Microsoft for updates, to be able to run SMIL versions 2.0 and 2.1 like the latest version of IE 6. Microsoft did state they would be supporting SMIL and talked to end users and webmasters of the innovative way of the new Web Browser IE 7. The developers of Internet Explorer 7 did state that they knew there would be some changes to the new Internet Explorer, but didn’t state what these changes initialed for SMIL users trying to use the new Internet Explorer 7.

SMIL is still going through upgrades and patchwork for versions 2.0 and 2.1 to implement the new Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft is currently working on the next Internet Explorer, but are not saying if it is IE 8 or just an updated version of 7. As seen in the report. Many webmasters that seen Internet Explorer day View had similar problems with the program as SMIL versions 2.0 and 2.1 simply because they were running the Internet Explorer 6 platform on their web sites. As time dealt out Microsoft released a series of updates to help patch the source of I.E. 6 HOTMAIL + TIME to the new work of XHOTMAIL+TIME to make all sites compatible to the new upgrade program, as SMIL has seen.

Will Internet Explorer 8 support SMIL?

As SMIL continues, they will need to integrate their software, and have proposed a new SMIL 3.0 in December of 2006. This new SMIL will be compatible with Internet Explorer 7 for it has its patch for XHOTMAIL+TIME. SMIL needs to enhanced there platforms not only with Microsoft but Firefox, the new version of Netscape, and so on to keep up with modern advances, or these companies. Which will service a new form of faster Internet browser solutions. No True Clarity is set rather, if Microsoft will support SMIL 2.0 and 2.1 in the next release either it be a new version of Microsoft 7, or moved right through to Version Microsoft Explorer 8. As Microsoft leeks out its new development at a Conference “Chris Wilson said “Microsoft intends to create a follow-on version, IE8, within two years of IE7’s release, which came out in October. The priorities Microsoft set for IE7, Wilson said, are the same for IE8: strong security, ease of use and Web development improvements.” All we know is that Internet Explorer 8 will still have XHOTMAIL incorporated into it, and be that of IE 7 user interface, with easy to use buttons and tabs. As well “Wilson told media that security “Will be the key priority. The development team will also focus on ease of use and seek to improve web development with current standards compatibility”. But what ever happens in truth that SMIL needs to upgrade to the new 3.0 version that is still in development from the draft. As Web Browsers keep Focusing on Security and unlimited bandwidth for the Companies like Microsoft that Develop Operating systems like Windows XP, and the New Windows Vista.

Resources

• Wired - Microsoft snubs SMIL - Microsoft frowns on SMIL
  http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/1998/07/13478
• W3C - World Wide Web Consortium Issues SMIL 2.0 as a W3C Recommendation
  http://www.w3.org/2001/08/smil2-pressrelease
• Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronized_Multimedia_Integration_Language
• Wikipedia Internet Explorer 6
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer#Version_6
• Wikipedia Internet Explorer 8
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer#Version_8
• Wikipedia - Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronized_Multimedia_Integration_Language
• W3C - Accessibility Features of SMIL
  http://www.w3.org/TR/SMIL-access/
• Microsoft - The Microsoft DHTML Platform
  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ie/reskit/6/part3/c11ie6rk.mspx?mfr=true
• Your guide to Microsoft’s next browser
  http://internetexplorer8.net/
• W3C - Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL 3.0)
  http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/WD-SMIL3-20061220/
• XML.org XML and Web Services In The News - 26 December 2006
  http://www.xml.org/xml/news/archives/archive.12262006.shtml#2
• ZDnet Microsoft hints at general plan for IE8
  http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/-Microsoft-hints-at-general-plan-for-IE8/0,130061733,339275254,00.htm
• India Times - Microsoft hints at IE8
  http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2004959.cms
• Microsoft - Understanding SAMI 1.0
  http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms971327.aspx
• Access-IT - What is the difference between SMIL and SAMI?
  http://www.washington.edu/accessit/articles?74
• CNet.com - Internet Explorer 7
  http://www.cnet.com.au/software/internet/0,239029524,339271767,00.htm
• Microsoft IEblog - The prolog, strict mode, and XHTML in IE
  http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2005/09/15/467901.aspx
• Sitepoint Newsletter
  http://www.sitepoint.com/newsletter/viewissue.php?id=3&issue=107#4
• No, Internet Explorer did not handle it properly
  http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/wrongWithIE/?chapter=Summary
• Understanding Xhtml - A practical introduction to XHTML
  http://www.astahost.com/info.php/understanding-xhtml_t5338.html
• Wikipedia Internet Explorer 7
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Explorer#Version_7
• Microsoft - Internet Explorer (March 9, 2006)
  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/chats/transcripts/06_0309_ez_ie.mspx
• Microsoft IEblog - Time, Time, Time, see what’s become of me…
  http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/04/07/571198.aspx
• W3Schools - W3C SMIL Activities
  http://www.w3schools.com/w3c/w3c_smil.asp
• Cover Pages - Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL)
  http://xml.coverpages.org/smil.html
• XML.com - A Realist’s SMIL Manifesto
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• BetaNews - Internet Explorer 6 in Final Stretches
  http://www.betanews.com/article/996813882

Timed text for MPEG-4 movies and cellphone media is specified in MPEG-4 Part 17, and is also referred to by RFC 3839.

The W3C is developing a Timed Text (TT) specification that covers many aspects of timed text on the Web. As of April 2006, this was in second Last Call, but had not yet been adopted as a W3C Recommendation.

The issue of developing an interoperable timed text format came up during the development of the SMIL 2.0 specification. Today, there are a number of incompatible formats for captioning, subtitling and other forms of timed text used on the Web. This means that when creating a SMIL presentation, the text portion often needs to be targeted to one particular playback environment. This poses an issue for creating interoperable SMIL presentations. Moreover, the accessibility community relies heavily on captioning to make audiovisual content accessible to a hearing-impaired audience. The lack of an interoperable format adds a significant additional cost to the costs of captioning Web content, which are already high.

Timed Text enriches the user experience for services involving timed text, and is seen as an important stimulus for instance in the usage of captioning and subtitling. The organizations willing to work on Timed Text include vendors of streaming multimedia technology, web browser companies, representatives of the accessibility community, caption content producers and consumer electronics companies.

So when you think of Time Text it is not a new thing of today, it’s just an application added to the part of Audio and Video to enhance the outsourcing of media on the applications widely used today such as SMIL, SAMI, Windows Media Players, Quick, Mpeg’s to name a few examples. Therefore, we will look at the everyday use in the world of technology and see where we implement these areas of Timed Text ( TT ) and how it is used.
Timed Text what it is exactly

Timed Text is not a new invention by any means, but as we, all know the W3c saw that we need a TT that we can all use for most common world texting. HTML, and XHTML along with XHTML + Time can all use this application, it was up to the W3C to finally look at an alternative constructive use of Time Texting in a software format that could be used widely by applications. Therefore, the saw a need for the HTML, as it needs a Time Text in HTML format that can be adapted to all applications of Audio and Video. A tool of text plus timing of Audio and Video for countless reasons, some of Subtitles, from foreign language to the world of adding time Text to Video and Audio, like that of Karaoke and Closed Captioning for the hearing impaired. The W3C first attempt at this was a release development in 2003 for the adaptation of SMIL version 2.0 called the Distribution Format Exchange Profile or the (DFXP)

Therefore, you can read what is being said when volume is low or spoken in a different language adaptation or made for the hearing impaired. A tool to be added to Mpegs, and Mp3 and Mp4 formats, as well as other software’s like that of HTML, XHTML and so forth. The first draft was compatible to Quick Time, SMIL, SAMI, and many other Audio and Playing devices on the net for presentations of Time Text synchronization with the Audio and video Presentation. A Synchronized word texting with the application of video and audio like we mentioned before is not a new area but a necessary one when giving presentation to foreign clients in the business world today. Do they not only see the rich text image or hear sound but also can follow along in text format when the presentation is presented to them.

Timed Text and its Uses

As we can see there are many different uses and implications why we would use Time Text technology tool in the world of our Business and personal lives today. For the Business reasons we would use this in presentations to a large variety of reasons such as Closed Captioning, and Hearing Impaired, Foreign Language, with subtitles. Thus to give a clear crisp presentation of text with synchronized wording to the Audio and Video of the Presentation for audience that cannot hear everything you say but can follow along with the presentation. In the personal Life of the everyday person we use Text Time tool in Karaoke, and in Audio and Video of our everyday lives, when you watch that foreign film, and thus or the volume is just too low, for the hearing impaired to be able to follow the film, or Audio of entertainment. Therefore, if you have ever watched a foreign film with subtitles then you have done Time Text , or sang at a party or night out at a Karaoke again you have used Time Text.

Synchronized Multimedia Integration Language (SMIL) was introduced in July of 1998. This mark-up language enables Web multimedia authors to schedule presentations so that users experience images, sounds, and text as a choreographed whole (a skill dubbers of Japanese action films never quite mastered). It also allows load balancing of data so that media can be reused. SMIL’s greatest advantage, however, may be that it requires only a simple text editor to write scripts, keeping multimedia authoring as accessible as HTML.

SMIL’s synchronization capability was an exciting improvement for streaming media technology. A little more than a year after its release, SMIL’s impact on multimedia design is even more sweeping.

On August 3, the W3C released the first working draft of SMIL Boston. This version introduces a whole new format strategy: modularity. SMIL’s functionality has been partitioned into nine new modules, all reusable extensions written in XML, each with an associated Document Object Model (DOM).

The new modules deepen the functionality within the SMIL format itself. The strongest example of this may be the Timing and Synchronization Module, with its expansion of hard and soft sync utility. Hard sync confines an entire presentation to the exact description of synchronous relationships in a time graph, while soft sync allows for a looser performance, taking into account changes in network congestion. Changes in network traffic would disrupt the SMIL 1.0 hard sync of an entire document. But SMIL Boston allows authors to apply hard and soft sync to separate elements within the document, making it much less vulnerable to fluctuations in network activity.

These new modules improve interactivity and navigation as well. Users can now navigate within the presentation, changing only part of the display. (In SMIL 1.0, either the entire display changed or a new one was created with each click.) This function is ideal for presentations with a table of contents as the tables can be integrated into the same SMIL file, simplifying authoring.

In addition to being a format for synchronized streaming media, the new SMIL modules can also be integrated into other XML-based languages such as XHTML. For instance, the new Animation Module adds animation capabilities to XHTML. Authors can create animations with JPEG and PNG images, video clips, SVG vector graphics, XHTML headlines, and other media formats. Plus, they can create these robust animations using a plain text editor. For both these reasons, the SMIL Animation Module far surpasses GIF animation, and therefore could very likely supplant it as the most popular animation type on the Web.

From an author’s perspective, SMIL Boston seems headed in the right direction. However, only four of the nine new extensions are detailed in the current SMIL Boston specification, and there is much more functionality planned. The W3C SMIL Working Group may have invited feedback at such an early stage because this modular strategy has implications beyond simply authoring. Another of SMIL Boston’s goals is to encourage accessibility to multimedia for the visually and auditorily impaired.
Accessibility

Since its inception, the W3C has advocated the accessibility of Web content to people with physical disabilities such as poor vision and hearing. This concern is especially pertinent when talking about multimedia content. On September 20, the W3C published the note, Accessibility Features of SMIL. As with HTML, alternative content (such as text descriptions of images) should be included in a SMIL script. Additionally, alternative or equivalent content must remain in sync with the rest of the presentation. The note explains, “Alternatives to video and audio content must be synchronized with video and audio tracks. Alternatives that are improperly synchronized may be so confusing as to be unusable.”

Geoff Freed understands this point well. He is the Product Manager for the Web Access Project at WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media. (WGBH, the public television station in Boston, was the initial developer of closed captioning, which provided access to televised programming for the estimated 20 million Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing.) Freed has created several SMIL 1.0 demos for the RealSystems G2 player that illustrate how a presentation can be made accessible. His demo “car.smi” is an educational clip about the effects of Einstein’s theory of relativity. The SMIL file consists of a video track, audio narration, auditory description, and text captions. The two audio tracks are timed so that the auditory descriptions do not overlap with the narration. They are also in sync with the video track, so a blind user would know exactly what content the narration is referring to. Freed’s demo is also multilingual: text captions can be viewed in either English or German.

* Define an XML-based language that allows authors to write interactive multimedia presentations. Using SMIL, an author can describe the temporal behaviour of a multimedia presentation, associate hyperlinks with media objects and describe the layout of the presentation on a screen.
* Allow reusing of SMIL syntax and semantics in other XML-based languages, in particular those who need to represent timing and synchronization. For example, SMIL components are used for integrating timing into XHTML [XHTML10] and into SVG [SVG].
* Extend the functionalities contained in the SMIL 2.0 [SMIL20] into new or revised SMIL 2.1 modules.
* Define new SMIL 2.1 Mobile Profiles incorporating features useful within the mobile industry.

Status of this document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at http://www.w3.org/TR/.

This document is a Recommendation of the W3C. It has been reviewed by W3C Members and other interested parties and has been endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited as a normative reference from another document. W3C’s role in making the Recommendation is to draw attention to the specification and to promote its widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and interoperability of the Web.

This SMIL 2.1 edition is a new version, it extends the functionalities contained in SMIL 2.0 [SMIL20], incorporating new features useful within the mobile industry.
This SMIL 2.1 W3C Recommendation supersedes the 07 January 2005 SMIL 2.0 Recommendation (Second Edition) [SMIL20].

The SMIL 2.1 test suite along with an implementation report are publicly released and are intended solely to be used as proof of SMIL 2.1 implementability. It is only a snapshot of the actual implementation behaviors at one moment of time, as these implementations may not be immediately available to the public. The interoperability data is not intended to be used for assessing or grading the performance of any individual implementation.

This document has been produced by the SYMM Working Group as part of the W3C Synchronized Multimedia Activity, following the procedures set out for the W3C Process. The goals of the SYMM Working Group are discussed in the SYMM Working Group Charter.

The patent policy for this document is the 5 February 2004 W3C Patent Policy. Patent disclosures relevant to this specification may be found on the SYMM Working Group’s patent disclosure page.

An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains Essential Claim(s) with respect to this specification should disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C Patent Policy.

The authors of this document are the SYMM Working Group members. Different parts of the document have different editors.

Please report errors in this document to www-smil@w3.org - (public archives) including the prefix’[SMIL21 REC]’ in the subject line.

source : http://www.w3.org/TR/2005/REC-SMIL2-20051213/smil21.html

Upload it

Naturally, the first step is to upload the audio file. Just use your ftp to upload the file as you would any other, and remember the audio file’s url. Also, take into account the file size. Different types of audio files tend to have different sizes and smaller ones function better. Midis are generally the best, though .wav and .au files can hold more.

Link to it

One way to have audio on your page is to link to it. Any savvy HTML user knows the code to create a link. It will look like this:

{a href=”xyz.wav”}Text here{/a}

Where “xyz.wav” is the audio file’s url and “Text here” is what will appear as a link. Naturally, use > and < in place of } and {. I only use those to avoid auto-formatting.”

Read the full article at Associated Content. Decide which method is best for your web page today.

SMIL presentations are described by text files. You can create or edit a SMIL presentation using a text editor, and you can automatically generate a SMIL document using any script language that creates text files. A SMIL document specifies what media elements to present and where and when to present them.

Media elements in a SMIL document are specified by URLs. Media elements can be files such as text files, JPEG images, QuickTime movies or live streams. The URLs that specify the media elements can use any of the common protocols: HTTP, FTP, RTSP, file access and so on.

Your SMIL presentation can use any media elements that QuickTime can play, including still images, audio, text, QuickTime movies, sprite animations, live streams, VR panoramas and VR object movies.

Because SMIL documents are text files, SMIL also gives you a way to automatically generate customized QuickTime movies using a script, such as an AppleScript, PERL or CGI script - anything that can generate text output can create a SMIL document. If you have a script that inserts banner ads into your web pages, for example, you could use the same script to insert the ads into a SMIL document along with a streaming QuickTime movie.

Like the tracks in a QuickTime movie, the media elements in a SMIL presentation can be sequenced, overlapped or offset in time and space.
SMIL Structure

SMIL is based on XML, so it is more rigidly structured that HTML, but it uses the same familiar <tag> and </tag> syntax.

SMIL is different from HTML in that all the tags are case sensitive (always lowercase) and all tags have to be explicitly ended either there are a pair of tags that enclose other elements (<tag> elements </tag>) or a tag is self contained and ends with ” />” (<tag parameters />).

SMIL also differs from HTML because HTML routinely mixes structure and content together in the same document, whereas SMIL normally does not. Where an HTML document contains text to be displayed, a SMIL document would contain the URL of a text file instead.

Like HTML, a SMIL document has a head and a body. The structure of a SMIL file is shown below.

<smil>
<head>
<layout>
<!– layout tags –>
</layout>
</head>

<body>
<!– body tags –>
</body>
</smil>

source : http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/interactivity/smil.html