Webcast Help and Technical Information
 All Institute webcasts (as well as archived audio and video) are available in QuickTime format only. To view or listen to a live Institute webcast, you will need QuickTime Player, which is available free from Apple at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/index.html. For best results we suggest that you install and test your ability to access live audio and video streams in QuickTime at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time of any Institute webcast.
To verify correct installation and that you have no issues with firewalls that might prevent you from watching the broadcast please try the following two step test:
Step One: Verify that QuickTime is installed properly on your computer by trying the test at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/troubleshooting/.
Step Two: You may experience trouble accessing the stream if a firewall is installed at your location. QuickTime's firewall test is at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/troubleshooting/streamingcheck.html.
If you have successfully downloaded the QuickTime Player and were able to view BOTH QuickTime test videos, you should now able to watch and listen to the webcast!
Special Advisory for AOL Users: AOL users may experience difficulties in tuning into live webcasts due to current firewall restrictions on the AOL network. For more information about firewalls and live QuickTime streams, please visit Apple's QuickTime and Firewalls page or contact AOL for further technical assistance. Archived audio and video on the Institute's website are available (except as noted) as downloads and not streaming files and therefore should not present problems for AOL users. [See "What is the difference between live streaming and a downloaded file?" for further information.]
If you are still experiencing any difficulties please visit QuickTime support for troubleshooting assistance.
For further information about QuickTime and Institute webcasts, we have assembled a brief list of frequently asked questions for your reference. For additional information about an Institute webcast or for inquiries not answered by either Apple's QuickTime support site or the FAQs below, please e-mail us at webmaster@usip.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Webcasting and QuickTime
Will QuickTime work on both a PC and a
Mac?
Yes, although Apple makes QuickTime it will work on both PCs and Macs that meet the following minimum system requirements:
MacOS
A PowerPC processor-based Macintosh computer; at least 16 MB of RAM; MacOS 7.5.5 or later.
Windows OS
A Pentium-based PC or compatible computer; at least 16 MB of RAM; Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000 system software; a Sound Blaster or compatible sound card and speakers; Direct X version 3.0 or later recommended.
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Will my connection speed affect the quality of the webcast on my computer?
Yes. The Internet is a network of networks that enables one computer to send and receive "packets" of information. It is these packets that contain the video and audio of a webcast. The quality of the webcast is directly related to the speed of one's connection. One should also be aware of the possibility that one's connection is slower than the speed of the modem or the rate advertised by one's Internet Service Provider (ISP), due to congestion on the ISP's network, or on the Internet as a whole.
The slower one's connection, the "choppier" the live stream will be, and the longer it will take to download the archived files for playback.
If you are still having trouble you may be behind a corporate firewall that is impeding your connection. Please check the "Streaming Transport" in the QuickTime settings; we suggest using "Auto Configure," unless directed otherwise by your network manager or ISP.
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What is the difference between Live Streaming and a downloaded file?
Live Streaming allows users to join a session in which real time media is being sent over a network. Because these streams are live, users are not allowed to jump around to any point in time. Live Streaming does not download the movie to the computer, but instead loads and plays the movie in real time as the data is received.
QuickTime HTTP, also known as Fast Start and Progressive Download, downloads the entire QuickTime file to your computer. As soon as enough of the content has been downloaded, it will begin to playback the movie while downloading the rest of the file. A downloaded file will also allow users to jump to any point in time in the media after the download is complete.
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Is my browser configured for QuickTime?
When you install QuickTime it will place several pieces of software on your computer, such as the application and plug-ins for your browser(s).
To verify if your computer is configured for QuickTime, go to http://www.apple.com/quicktime/troubleshooting/
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Where do I get QuickTime Support?
Having problems installing and running QuickTime on your computer? If so you may find an answer to your problems at the QuickTime Support site: http://www.info.apple.com/support/quicktime/index.html
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Why can't I see the link to the webcast?
Well, it's difficult to say definitively, but likely when you went to the website on the day of the webcast you were looking at "cached" versions of the page. Basically, most web browsers as a default are set so that when a page is revisited the browser instead of pulling another copy off the Internet pulls a saved (or cached) version of the page from a temporary folder on their own hard drive. This unfortunately means however, when you sometimes are looking at a page on the Internet you are actually not looking at the current version of the page. In which case you would not see the proper links to the webcast or any or added information or changes which had been made since the initial time you visited the page.
On the day of the webcast we suggest hitting the "refresh" or "reload" button on your web browser when you go to the event page in order to see the updated live link to the webcast. If on the day of the webcast you see the "Upcoming Webcast - Please Check Back," you are looking at a "old" version of the webcast page and you should hit refresh in order to access the live webcast.
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