[Rina Touin]

Streaming Videos through a Media Player

UPDATED: November 28, 2008.
Streaming was tested using VLC Media Player version 0.8.6i Janus, version 0.9.6 Grishenko, and FLV Player 2.0, build 24, on Windows XP Pro.

How to Stream Megavideo, YouTube, Google - Firefox only

This procedure works using VLC Media Player, or FLV Player and Firefox with the DownloadHelper Add-On. Example give below for Megavideo. YouTube, and Google work the same way, only the file name is different.

1. Go to Megavideo using FF, click on a link and start playing the video.
2. Open DownloadHelper so you can Save the file currently being played. There are several ways to do this.
3. One way is to click on Tools > mouseover DownloadHelper.
4. You should see a file listed called "MEGAVIDEO_-_I_m_watching_it.flv".
5. Click on that file. You'll be given the option to save it. Save it somewhere easy to find.
6. When you clicked to save it, DownloadHelper should have opened its Downloads window.
7. Right-click on the "MEGAVIDEO_-_I_m_watching_it.flv" item listed in that window, and select "Copy Download Link".
8. Close the window or tab that is currently "playing" the video. This will allow the video to start downloading using DownloadHelper.

For VLC Media Player:

a. Launch your VLC Media Player, click on File, Select "Open File".
b. Click on the "Browse" button and find the location where you chose to save the file.
c. Click on the file, and click the "Open" button.
d. Click "OK". This will start the video playing in your VLC Media Player.
e. You can change the Aspect-ratio of the video while it is streaming. This was often necessary for videos on MegaVideo, before the new video interface came out. Just right-click on the video while it is streaming (or for downloaded videos, while they are playing), mouse-over Aspect-ratio, and click on one of the ratios.
f. This media player has many other useful video and audio settings and adjustments that can greatly improve your viewing and listening experience.

For FLV Player:

a. Launch your FLV Player.
b. Click on Upward pointing arrow in the lower left corner of the player to open the "Open Video File" window. (There are also other ways to open that window).
c. Click on the "MEGAVIDEO_-_I_m_watching_it.flv" and then click the "Open" button.
d. This will start the video playing in your FLV Player.

How to Stream Divx files and VeohTV files in VLC Media Player - IE or FF

1. Click on the file on the host site to start playing the video, and let it buffer a little.
2. Press "Play" then "Pause" on the video on the host site.
3. Find the location of the were the file is being temporarily downloaded on your computer. For Divx files, it should be in the "Divx Movies\Temporary Download Files" folder. For VeohTV files, it should be located in the "Veoh\Watch Now" folder.
4. Launch VLC Media Player. Go to File > Open File. Click the "Browse" button, and go to where the file is downloading. Click on it, click "Open" click "OK". The file will now stream through VLC Media Player.
5. If you get a message that says "This AVI file is broken. Seeking will not work correctly. Do you want to try to repair it (this might take a long time)?" Select "No". The video will play just fine.

CacheViewer - FF

It is possible to find and save video files that are streamed normally in Firefox (i.e. even if files have not been downloaded with DownloadHelper or other Add-ons). The CacheViewer Add-on will allow you to open the FF "Cache" folder. To use it, in FF, click on Tools > CacheViewer. Sort the files listed by clicking on "Size". Find the video you streamed by using the URL, MIME Type, etc. to identify it. Click on the video to highlight it, then right click on it, and choose "Save as". Select where you want to save the file. Then change the "Save as Type" to "All Files". Then, name the file. Be sure to give it the proper file format extension (e.g. "something.flv"). Otherwise you wont be able to open the file. Click the "Save" button. Now you can play that file whenever you want.

Adjusting Video and Audio

1. Video quality can be adjusted using your computer's video card settings.
2. Sound Card settings can also be changed to improve inferior sound quality to some degree.