streaming????

[amyleeom1213]

can someone please explain streaming to me in lamen terms if possible i googled it and to be embarrasingly honest i dont get it

 

[Alli]

Streaming just means there is live media somewhere sent out in a "stream" of data that you are able to view/hear. You can think of traditional radio as a stream. Then you move up to radio stations who are internet based, and instead of broadcasting, they stream over the net to your computer. Next we have streaming movies or live broadcasts (such as last year's presidential innauguration, which was streamed live across the world).

 

[flyingember]

it doesn't have to be live but it usually is.

a stream almost always means you watch/listen as it comes in and you're not downloading the media at the same time.

the internet radio example is a good one.

a movie trailer you watch as you download isn't streaming since you can watch it over and over and save it after you have downloaded it. streaming sources you usually can't download.

the other major difference is you almost always can't skip around in streams. you're stuck watching exactly where the stream is at.

 

[amyleeom1213]

ok thanks guys