Posts tagged with "Adobe"

Reasons why some sites load slow

I at least have an idea now why some sites load slow even on Broadband connections.

Users with 2MB/3MB Broadband connections will notice the slowdown the most, while users of 4MB Broadband connections will notice the slowdown just a little bit. Users of high-end 6MB Broadband/Gigabit+ will not notice the slowdown at all.

This is due to Flash. Flash is an interactive content that requires users to click on something.

Flash became known since the release of the first version of Macromedia Flash, although the functions are basic due to the still popular dial up connections being used by the internet users. I believe due to the 256 colors limit on Windows 95/NT4; which is still used when the first version of Flash came out; you can't make colorful animations like today! Although Mac OS has more color palids than Windows during the same time, but due to the still popular Microsoft Windows force Flash developers to stick to the 256 colors limit even on Mac OS just to make the animation looked good on Windows!

As PC graphics improve, so did the quality of Flash and images. By as early as Windows 98, icons and graphics are displayed in true colors, not 256 colors(although this option is still available).

Flash became very popular during the 2000s where Internet is much faster and PC graphics had improved a lot. Also the authoring tools has more options by this time.

By today, flash is very popular in many websites. In websites such as Webs, Facebook and etc, I had seen flash contents.

The downside is that; whilst improving interactivity on the World Wide Web, it makes pages load slower on low to middle-end Broadband internet connections.

Even in businesses like schools, flash is also widely used. For example, on my school's website, There could be over 10000 flash files hosted! And this is due to the fact that Flash can create rich, interactive worksheets/homeworks/assignments where students can virtually write his/her answers into it W/O opening Word!

Even me myself, have had trouble with some sites loading slow even by hiding flash contents through Web Visum. I think the Flash is developing very quickly.

For me the spreading of the .swf extension is not good. The use of the .swf files requires me to investigate for a special player for playing this file type, and it is a hassels because not many of them is available; and converting .swf files is not a cup of tea.

My school is one example. Like I said above, there are dozens of .swf files hosted on the website, and I need a kind of special desktop player that I don't have.

To sum up, flash is a good thing, because web developers can create rich, interactive contents. But on the other hand, it also has some bad things. The .swf files can be played with some players, but with reduced functionality, and the use of flash makes websites loads slow on low to middle-end Broadband internet connections.

Comparison between Camstudio and Camtasia

Here is comparison of Camstudio and Camtasia.

1. Camstudio is lighter than Camtasia - Camtasia is over 100MB while Camstudio is just 4MB.

2. Camtasia is not free while Camstudio is open source and you can modify the source and add additional features.

3. Camstudio has many feature in a small program while Camtasia has many feature but huge program.

4. Camstudio is completely portable while Camtasia is not portable and can't be made portable.

5. Camstudio is user friendly even for people dependent on screen reader while Camtasia only usable for normal people not for blinds or noobs.

6. Camstudio is multi-codec for recording while Camtasia only allows single codec for recording.

7. Camstudio can convert avi files into SWF with SWF producer, while Camtasia can't.

VS other recorders:

VS Flashback Express: Camstudio is lighter, no force driver installation, completely portable, open source, many features in a small program, blinds/noobs friendly, multi-codec. Also allows conversion to SWF.

VS Hypercam2: Same as above, but Camstudio is still developing until now.

VS Debut: Same as above but Debut is lighter - weights less than 1MB.

VS QuicktimeX: Same as above, but not compatible with Macosx.

VS Captivate: Same as above, and Camstudio saves in a format that can be played anywhere.

If you wonder why I bring QuickTime X on to the comparison well it's also a screen recorder, it has screen recording capability, so I think I brings it up. Any program that has screen recording capability will be brought up here;only for Mac/win/linux;free or not.

Also from the above Camstudio is a clear winner. QuickTime X is not for recording for sure, because I think you can't even add captions, nor doing screen anatations, nor choose any codec, nor recording sound! QuickTime X is just a crap screen recorder! It's only for watching HD movies! Apple has fulled you into thinking it is a nice screen recorder but it's not;+you can't load it on Windows!

So Windows users, switch to Camstudio instead of waiting for Apple to release QuickTime X for Windows;because it won't happen what so ever! Even if you ask for it...Apple would say "No"!

Even if it would happen, but it will be worse due to some functions can't be ported to Windows!

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