HOW SPEAK-easy USES MEDIA FILES Audio and Video files on websites can be linked to several different players within your browser; the default player selected will depend upon options selected when the players were installed on your system ( either by the initial installation or on updating/installing a player ). Since media files can be produced in many formats, the players are 'optimised' for a range of 'file types' and can exhibit poor results for some files. Players allow you to change these settings within their code by selecting options or preferences ( see the help file for your player ). This SPEAK-easy site enables you to select a suitable player without changing your settings by setting a 'cookie' that directs the browser to use a particular player ( cookies should be enabled within the browser security settings ). HOW TO SELECT A PLAYER On your first selection of an audio or video stream from a client window you will be asked to select a media player. Clicking the 'Save as Cookie' button will store the selection for future use. Further selection of audio or video streams should load in the selected player. If you are not happy with the performance of your player, you can reset your Cookie by selecting Re-set Media Player Cookie on this page, deleting your cookies will require you to repeat this process. CONTROLING THE PLAYER AUDIO On selecting an audio clip, a small window will open and load the audio stream; you may pause and replay the clip as required. VIDEO On selecting a video clip a small window will open and load the video stream; you may use the controls to pause and replay the clip as required. Depending on your connection speed the information is "buffered" and may take some time. OPERATING SYSTEMS We believe that the following platforms should be the minimum requirements:-     PC - Windows 98 or later     Mac - OS8.5 or later     Linux - Kernel 2.2 or later BROWSERS We believe that the following browser versions should be the minimum requirements:-     PC - Internet Explorer 5.5 or later              Netscape 6.2 or later              Firefox     Mac - Internet Explorer, Safari     Linux - Firefox, Netscape Navigator OUR MEDIA POLICY Media formats used on this site are :-     Audio - mp3     Video - mpg The Speak-easy recommends the use of QuickTime for listening and viewing media on this site. Alternately Micro$oft Media Player can be used but problems rendering the audio controls and synchronisation of voice and image on video have been identified early versions. (Note - resolved in version 9 and later ) Problems have also been identified with Real Player video locking up when used within Internet Explorer. DOWNLOADS Apple (QuickTime) Microsoft (Windows Media Player) Real Player If you have earlier versions of these players already installed on your computer, you can open the player and use the update within the player's help menu. If Windows Media doesn't play the video: some early configurations of Windows Media Player do not seem auto-update correctly. If you have this problem, try this link: www.microsoft.com/downloads/ which is a small program to force the player to do what it's told. Either that or re-download the whole player from www.microsoft.com and re-install...(yawn).