Zooming feature for videos? | Site Feedback

I mean to play video in SL player, but with x2 zooming.
Centered in current page/tab, like "PopupControlExtender" (I mean 'Modal'!).
Plain "Full screen" mode has several problems.
Main problem with multi-monitor confuguration.
In same time default size a little bit small (imho).

Any plans?

Duncanma

That's an interesting suggestion. We don't have any plans to do that now, you're the first one to ask for it actually... I don't see any huge problem with it... it would be interesting to know if other folks were interested as well.

Interesting point about x2 zoom, we have a file that is already that resolution (640 x 480), but the bitrate is 5x times higher... so while we could switch streams when you zoomed (to get a nicer image) it would really drag down the streaming performance.

BlackTiger

In reply to Duncanma

#Jun 26th @ 3:00 AM

No, no! Under "x2" I meant just zooming relatively current size. Not a size of video itself.
Just change player's size.

TommyCarlier

Here's my usual C9 video watching routine.

I don't use the Silverlight player (I live in Opera), but I just click on the WMV (High Quality) download link, which just opens Windows Media Player and starts playing. I don't use full-screen, but I do maximize WMP. And if the download speed is good enough, I play the video at a higher speed, so I can watch more content in less time.

BlackTiger

In reply to TommyCarlier

#Jun 26th @ 4:57 AM

Yes

I know this way too! But...
Silverlight promises "adaptive bitrate" (sort of) feature.
WMP just starts to buffer-rebuffer-rebuffer-etc instead of to use lower bitrate.

Usually I'm just downloading video and playing them in... ZoomPlayer. WMP is too stupid for me. There are lots of features missed: doesn't remembers last played position (at least) for the video, doesn't supports video aspect ratio changes, no multi-instance support, "back" button doens't works as expected (there is no way to return back to last played audio/video if acsedentally started some other video/audio).

Well, here isn't topic about WMP. I'm just interesting about zooming feature in SL player itself.

Duncanma

In reply to BlackTiger

#Jun 26th @ 7:03 AM

Windows Media Player can already do bit rate selection, but only if the file supports it. If you were using our streaming link (mms://) then WMP would drop down in resolution as necessary. And Silverlight's support for adaptive bitrate is only starting in version 2 ... which isn't done yet Smiley

Bas

In reply to TommyCarlier

#Jun 26th @ 4:57 AM

This is what I do too: I load it in WMP specifically for the ability to play it at 1.4x speed. Is there a possibility that you guys will add playback speed control in the Silverlight player?

Duncanma

In reply to Bas

#Jun 27th @ 12:59 AM

that is somewhat dependent on whether or not that it is a built-in feature of the media element in Silverlight... if it is just setting a property of the player then it seems easy to add, but if we'd have to create our own solution then it is unlikely we'll want to spent that much time on something that (I believe) is an edge case.

Bas

In reply to Duncanma

#Jun 30th @ 4:04 PM

Understandable, but maybe it's worth looking into if it is a built in feature. If it's a quick fix, it'd be neat to have, but if not, playing in WMP works for me too.

BlackTiger

I found an example: http://www.officelabs.com/projects/speedlaunch/Pages/default.aspx

littleguru

I actually also only use the downloaded versions because of the video being so small on the page. I mean, right now I'm in front of a monitor that does 1920x1200 and the video is small as a stamp... which means it is no option for me to watch it inside the browser's silverlight player.

I didn't come up with this before because i thought i might be the only one having the issue.

HumanCompiler

In reply to littleguru

#Aug 5th @ 6:41 PM

I'm on the C9 team and I never use the inline player either. Smiley

I always download the 2MB WMV. We do have stats though that show most video views are done from the inline player though. 2MB WMV is in second place.

BlackTiger

One more great example (yep, it's Apple...):
http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox/babylonad/

Just click "Large" button. (Nice animation too!)

PS: Bloody Apple... They're stealing my ideas!