Internet Explorer 5 for Windows, Second Edition (Visual QuickStart Guide) - Softcover

Schwartz, Steven A.; Schwartz, Steven

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0201354446 ISBN 13: 9780201354447

Publisher: Peachpit Pr, 1999

Synopsis

A visual guide for beginning users explains how use the Web browser to navigate the Web, create shortcuts, download files, play and save multimedia files, print Web pages, and send and recieve e-mail with Outlook Express

About this title

About the Author

From the Back Cover

Few programs are as ubiquitous as Microsoft's Internet Explorer--these days, it's standard equipment on nearly every new PC. The latest version, IE 5, is a powerful, feature-rich program that promises to make your browsing experience more dynamic and interactive. Internet Explorer 5 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide gives you the tools you need to take full advantage of this revved-up browser, whether you're a beginner or an experienced surfer. Internet Explorer 5 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide covers both the basics and the new features in the same straightforward manner, using step-by-step instructions illustrated with hundreds of helpful screenshots. A great introduction to the program, this book will have beginners browsing on the Internet in no time. And longtime users will find it the quickest and easiest way to step up from IE 4.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Not all Web pages consist merely of static text and pictures. Some feature multimedia elements, such as streaming video or audio. Other pages may include movie and audio clips that you can download and play at your leisure.

In previous versions of Internet Explorer, audio and video were played by ActiveMovie controls (ActiveX multimedia handlers designed to run from within Internet Explorer). Although this worked fairly well, it wasn't uncommon to discover that you didn't have the player needed for a particular audio or video format. So your multimedia experience was put on hold until you downloaded the necessary player.

IE5, on the other hand, relies on the revamped Windows Media Player (version 6). Without modification, it can play most of the popular multimedia audio and video formats. Not only can it be invoked from Web pages, but it can also run as a standalone application, playing multimedia files that you have stored on your hard disk-such as WAV files and video clips.Tip
Windows Media Player is a component of Windows 98 and is installed as part of IE5.

Playing Multimedia Files
Windows Media Player can play all the following file types: ASF, RealVideo and RealAudio 4.0, MPEG 1, MPEG 2, WAV, AVI, MIDI, MOV, VOD, AU, QuickTime, and MP3. If a new file format is encountered for which a codec (an interpreter) can be found, the codec is automatically downloaded.

To play a file on a Web page:

Click the graphic or text link for the file.

The file downloads to your computer and plays as part of the Web page (Figure 8.1) or within Windows Media Player (Figure 8.2). Whether the audio or video plays in an embedded multimedia controller or in a separate Windows Media Player window depends on how the designer created the Web page.
To open a file with Windows Media Player:
1. Launch Windows Media Player by clicking Start > Accessories > Multimedia > Windows Media Player, or Start > Internet Explorer > Windows Media Player.
2. Choose a Web site or audio/video file from the Favorites menu (Figure 8.3).
If you choose a specific file, it loads in Windows Media Player and then plays. If you choose a Web site, IE5 launches and opens the site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Peachpit Pr
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0201354446
• ISBN 13: 9780201354447
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 320