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Frequently Asked Questions (General)
General Questions
Q. What is Intel Media for Java?
Q. When will Intel Media for Java become
available?
Q. How do I get Intel Media for Java?
Q. How much do the media classes cost?
Q. What is a connected CD-ROM?
Q. Why is Intel pursuing this Internet
media initiative?
Q. Who implements the other Java Media
APIs?
Q. Is there a mailing list or newsgroup
for discussing Intel Media for Java?
Q. How do I contact Intel for technical
support?
Q. I found a bug in Intel Media for Java.
How do I report it to Intel?
Capabilities
Q. What specific APIs are implemented?
Q. What level of quality is provided by
H.263 and G.723?
Q. Do the media capabilities work at 28.8
Kbps?
Q. How do Indeo® Video Interactive,
Realistic 3D Sound Experience (RSX 3D), and Realistic
Display Mixer (RDX) relate to the media classes?
Q. How does Intel Media for Java differ
from Intel media components available through Microsoft's
Gallery for Java?
Q. What unique things can I do with Intel
Media for Java?
Q. What are the key differentiators of
Intel Media for Java?
Q. What specific media types and
capabilities are supported by Intel Media for Java?
Q. Can I add new media types?
Q. What is "streaming?"
Q. What is 3D spatial audio processing?
Authoring and Serving
Q. How do I author Web pages that use
Intel Media for Java?
Q. What authoring tools support the media
types?
Q. Do I need to put any additional
software on my Web server to use Intel Media for Java?
Q. Does my Web server need to be an Intel
processor-based PC?
Comparisons
Q. Isn't Java already capable of
animation?
Q. How do the H.263/G.723 streaming A/V
capabilities compare to others such as RealAudio and
VDOLive?
Q. How does the animation capability
compare to other existing authoring tools?
Requirements and Compatibility
Q. Is it necessary to download the
media classes every time I use them?
Q. What platforms do the media classes
run on for development and delivery?
Q. What caliber of PC do the media
classes require?
Q. Does Intel Media for Java compete with
Java?
Q. The Java Animation API is not yet
published. Will your implementation change?
Q. I cannot find reference to spatial
audio in JavaSoft's API documentation. Why?
Q. Are the media classes written entirely
in Java?
Q. What are "native methods"?
Q. Don't native methods introduce applet
portability issues?
Q. Does Intel Media for Java require MMXÔ technology?
Q. Has Intel Media for Java been designed
to take advantage of MMX technology?
Q. Which browsers/environments are
supported?
Q. How are the bit-stream formats
standardized?
Q. Do the media classes for Java
interoperate with other Internet media capabilities?
Q. What transport protocols are used?
Q. Do the media classes use RSVP/RTP?
General Questions
Q. What is Intel Media for Java?
Intel Media for Java is the Intel's high performance set of APIs that enable developers, for the Windows* 95 and Windows NT* platforms, to create media rich applications. It is currently composed of the Java Media Framework, Intel Animation for Java and Intel Spatial Audio for Java packages.
The Intel Java Media Framework Package implements the Java Media Framework API, providing media players for playing audio, video and MIDI‡.
‡MIDI support is not included in the initial Beta release.These packages enable Java developers to create media-rich Java applications that can run either inside an Internet browser, as a stand-alone application, or as a "Connected CD-ROM" with Internet access. Furthermore, they allow developers to program to an API that is both standard and cross-platform, while providing the highest possible performance for the largest group of Web clients - Intel processor-based PCs running Windows 95 and Windows NT.
Q. When will Intel Media for Java become available?
An alpha version of Intel Media for Java SDK has been in use since August 1996 a by a small group of Web developers and authoring tool vendors. A Beta SDK is now available for download.Q. How do I get Intel Media for Java?
The Beta version of Intel Media for Java SDK which includes the Intel Java Media Framework, Intel Animation for Java and Intel Spatial Audio for Java packages is available for download. To receive notification when the next versions of the Intel Media of Java packages are available, submit your email address to our information form.Q. How much do the media classes cost?
The Beta SDK is a free Web download, and end-users may download the client runtime upgrade to their Web browser at no charge. Pricing for the production developers kit will be announced at a later date.Q. What is a connected CD-ROM?
A connected CD-ROM adds the ability to link to the Internet to a conventional CD-ROM application. It typically uses the Internet for up-to-the-minute information and person-to-person interaction while using locally-stored media, such as video from the CD-ROM, for its quality and display speed. Connected CDs give users the best of the PC plus the best of the Internet.Q. Why is Intel pursuing this Internet media initiative?
The largest group of people accessing the Web do so using Intel processor-based PCs running Windows. On the desktop, these systems provide end users a very rich multimedia experience. Our goal is to fulfill our customer's expectations by bringing this rich multimedia experience to the Web.Q. Who implements the other Java Media APIs?
A number of companies are working to deliver implementations of the various APIs. For example, Adobe and SGI have already announced 2D and 3D Java Media implementations, respectively, for Intel processor-based PCs running Windows 95 and Windows NT.Q. Is there a mailing list or newsgroup for discussing Intel Media for Java?
The Intel Media for Java newsgroup is available at news://cs.intel.com/Intel.jmedia and can be accessed by a News Reader or a Web Browser.Q. How do I contact Intel for technical support?
The Intel Media for Java Support Page (http://developer.intel.com/ial/jmedia/Support.htm) is the best place to start in finding technical support. There, you will find tutorials, a listing of known problems, Technical FAQs, Intel Media for Java discussion forum, Email support and other resources to answer your support questions.Q. I found a bug in Intel Media for Java. How do I report it to Intel?
First, ensure that the bug is not a known problem for that Intel Media for Java package - Java Media Framework Known Problems, Intel Animation for Java Known Problems and Intel Spatial Audio for Java Known Problems. If the problem is not listed as a known problem submit your bug to jmedia@mailbox.intel.com.
Capabilities
Q. What specific APIs are implemented?
Intel Media for Java supplies three packages (a collection of classes) supporting the following Java Media APIs:
‡MIDI support is not included in the initial Beta release.Q. What level of quality is provided by H.263 and G.723?
H.263 provides conferencing-quality 176x144 ("QCIF") video at 5 frames/second. G.723 audio is voice (telephone) quality.Q. Do the media capabilities work at 28.8 Kbps?
Yes, with the obvious consideration of content complexity and the resulting applet download time. The H.263 video and G.723 audio media types are designed for streaming playback over 28.8 Kbps connections, and animation over a 28.8 Kbps connection is also practical.The other audio and video media types are intended for playback from local storage, and their files can of course be downloaded over 28.8 Kbps connections. MIDI is particularly efficient for downloading with the applet. Animation objects can be either downloaded or retrieved from local storage.
Q. How do Indeo® Video Interactive, Realistic 3D Sound Experience (RSX 3D), and Realistic Display Mixer (RDX) relate to the media classes?
They are all media engines accessed through native methods. The Media Framework Package supports use of the Indeo Video Interactive codec, while Intel Spatial Audio for Java and Intel Animation for Java Packages use Intel Realistic 3D Sound Experience (RSX 3D) and Realistic Display Mixer (RDX) technologies, respectively.Q. How does Intel Media for Java differ from Intel media components (3D RSX & RDX) available through Microsoft's Java Gallery?
3D Realistic Sound Experience (3D RSX) and Realistic Display Mixer (RDX) are media engines that support Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) interface. COM is Microsoft's binary standard that defines the means for applications to interact within these technology standards.3D Realistic Sound Experience (3D RSX) and Realistic Display Mixer (RDX) provide, through COM interfaces, Intel Spatial Audio for Java and Intel Animation for Java capabilities for Java. Support for the Component Object Model (COM) in Microsoft's virtual machine allows 3D RSX and RDX to be used by Java applications (see http://www.microsoft.com/java/gallery/ or http://www.intel.com/ial/webmedia for details).
Q. What unique things can I do with Intel Media for Java?
‡Streaming support initially available only in Intel Spatial Audio for Java package and is dependent on the application to get the data over the network.Q. What are the key differentiators of Intel Media for Java?
These software components provide the highest possible performance, while scaling to the capabilities of the connection and the processor. This means that multimedia Web applications can run over both lower-speed Internet and high-bandwidth intranet connections, using today's PCs, while automatically taking advantage of advances in Intel processors, such as the MMX instruction set, when they are present.Q. What specific media types and capabilities are supported by Intel Media for Java?
‡MIDI and streaming H.263/G.723 support is not included in the initial beta release.Q. Can I add new media types?
Yes, new audio and video media types can be added as either downloadable Java Media filters or native ActiveMovie* filters. The media framework package uses the Microsoft ActiveMovie architecture for top performance, and to ensure support for new media types as they are developed.Q. What is "streaming?"
With streaming, an audio or video clip starts playing almost immediately, as the data is received, rather than waiting for the entire file to be downloaded.Q. What is 3D spatial audio processing?
Direction and proximity cues, plus environmental information such as reverberation and Doppler effects, are used to create a greater sense of three-dimensional space through audio. For example, an aircraft's sound can appear to begin at a great distance behind the listener, pass directly overhead, then turn hard right and trail off.
Authoring and Serving
Q. How do I author Web pages that use Intel Media for Java?
Web pages that use Intel Media for Java are authored as are any Web page that contains a Java applet: A Java developers kit, such as Microsoft Visual J++*, Sun's JDK or Symantec Café* is used to construct the applet, while a page authoring tool is used to build the HTML document containing the applet. Additional steps and tools are required to create the media content played by the applet.Q. What authoring tools support the media types?
Existing authoring tools for audio and video are used to produce the supported A/V content, with support for the new H.263 and G.723 media types. Animation sprites can be created with any number of commonplace illustration and graphics tools.Q. Do I need to put any additional software on my Web server to use Intel Media for Java?
No additional server software is required to support Java Media.Q. Does my Web server need to be an Intel processor-based PC?
No, the Web server need not be an Intel processor-based PC.
Comparisons
Q. Isn't Java already capable of animation?
Today, Java is only capable of simple frame-based animation. The Java Animation API extends this by providing high performance, real-time effects and a simple, intuitive API.Q. How do the H.263/G.723 streaming A/V capabilities compare to others such as RealAudio* and VDOLive*?
Like RealAudio and VDOLive, the H.263 video and G.723 voice-quality audio media types are designed for streaming playback over low-speed connections (for example, 28.8 Kbps). Unlike RealAudio and VDOLive, the H.263 and G.723 media types are based on International Telecommunications Union (ITU) standards, which encourages standardization across different apps and platforms.Q. How does the animation capability compare to other existing authoring tools?
Intel Animation for Java Package provides a base "engine" for programmers to produce animation within Java apps, as well as an underlying capability that authoring tools can build upon.
Requirements and Compatibility
Q. Is it necessary to download the media classes every time I use them?
No, only the applet built upon the media classes and the media content are delivered as a part of a Web page. Java Media is installed as an integral part of the Java client runtime environment (in the browser and/or operating system) just as window management, networking and I/O are today.Nor is it necessary to completely download the entire applet or media file before media playback can begin. With streaming, an audio or video clip starts playing almost immediately, as the data starts to be received, rather than waiting for the entire file to be downloaded. Animation can be similarly programmed.
Q. What platforms do the media classes run on for development and delivery?
Intel's implementation supports Intel processor-based PCs running Windows 95 and Windows NT.Q. What caliber of PC do the media classes require?
Pentium® and Pentium Pro processor-based PCs provide the best Internet experience and are the recommended minimum, although the media classes scale to support an Intel486Ô processor. Essentially, if the client is capable of running Windows 95, it is capable of supporting the media classes.
Q. Does Intel Media for Java compete with Java?
No, the media classes extend Java.Q. The Java Animation API is not yet published. Will your implementation change?
As the Java Animation API evolves through to its public release, the Intel Animation for Java package will change to maintain compliance. We chose to deliver our current implementation, however, as it has been ready for use since December and we wanted to give developers an opportunity to experiment with a level of performance the API conformant version will support.Q. I cannot find reference to spatial audio in JavaSoft's API documentation. Why?
Spatial audio is viewed as an extension to the media framework API. As with Java Animation, our Intel Spatial Audio for Java Package will change to become JavaSoft compliant as this API evolves to its standardized form.
Intel's RSX Spatial Audio product is a unique Intel technology that many developers have found to be compelling for Web applications and Connected CD's. Our Spatial Audio for Java now allows for Windows-based Java developers to incorporate that same unique capability into their Java applets and applications.Q. Are the media classes written entirely in Java?
No, for the highest possible performance the classes use "native methods" that are closely coupled to the underlying OS and hardware architecture.Q. What are "native methods"?
When portions of a Java class implementation are written in another programming language, such as C, those portions are called native methods. Native methods are all but required to implement multimedia capabilities which perform well. The Intel Spatial Audio for Java and Intel Animation for Java Packages use Intel-developed native methods which are hand-tuned for the Intel architecture, while the Java Media Framework Package uses Microsoft's ActiveMovie for performance and extensibility.Q. Don't native methods introduce applet portability issues?
No. Only the applet built above the media classes and the media content are delivered as a part of a Web page. The media classes, including the native methods, are installed as an integral part of the Java client runtime environment in the browser or operating system. The Java client runtime already uses native methods for functions commonly used by Java applets, such as networking and I/O.Q. Does Intel Media for Java require MMX technology?
No, but as addressed in the previous question, the native methods for Intel Spatial Audio for Java, Intel Animation for Java Packages and the Indeo Video Interactive codec with ActiveMovie run better with MMX technology.Q. Has Intel Media for Java designed to take advantage of MMX technology?
Yes, the native methods for the Intel Spatial Audio for Java and Intel Animation for Java Packages, as well as the Indeo Video Interactive codec with ActiveMovie, are hand-tuned for the Intel architecture, and support the new instructions of the MMX technology.Q. Which browsers/environments are supported?
The media capabilities support the U.S. English versions of Internet Explorer 3.0 and Netscape Navigator 3.0, as well as the Sun Java Developers Kit (JDK)1.0.2Q. How are the bit-stream formats standardized?
The bit-stream formats are standardized by virtue of using industry-standard media types (such as MPEG) and protocols (such as HTTP).Q. Do the media classes for Java interoperate with other Internet media capabilities?
Yes, as long as other Internet media capabilities use industry-standard media types and protocols.Q. What transport protocols are used?
The HTTP transport protocol is supported by the Java Media Framework.Q. Do the media classes use RSVP/RTP?
No, the Java Media Framework does not use the RSVP/RTP protocols at this stage in this package's development.
This page was last updated on Mar 26th, 1997.
* Legal Stuff © 1997 Intel Corporation
