Book excerpt: Get Streaming with this fun, easy-to-read guide! Streaming your audio and video online is inexpensive, easy, and fun. Get the fast results you need with Get Streaming! - a step-by-step, introductory level book that gets you up and running today. Streaming media technology is growing into an indispensable part of a successful business communications strategy. This book will not only give you a professional boost, it will help you deliver your home videos to family and friends anywhere in the world! Why slog through a technology tome for weeks when you can start right now with the simple, easy-to-follow procedures in this book. Use the comprehensive glossary of terms with one sentence definitions to lay the foundation for your streaming know-how. You'll take away a practical understanding of streaming media without feeling overwhelmed by confusing detail. Tips and insights from leading streaming pros are also at your fingertips. Whether you want to stream a corporate video, home videos, or your favorite music for friends - after reading this book, you will: * Understand the three steps of streaming: Capture, Encode, Broadcast * Install free streaming software, capture raw media, encode into a streamable file, place that file on a streaming server, and link it all up to the Internet! * Know the fundamentals of how the Internet works in relation to streaming media * Build simple, effective streaming applications with free tools * Learn how to make the right streaming media technology choices, including codecs, for your specific situation * Understand RealVideo, Windows Media, QuickTime, Flash MX and MPEG-4 software * Make informed choices from among the leading streaming media content creation tools made by RealNetworks, Microsoft, Apple Computer, and Macromedia * Master the steps for creating on-demand streaming audio and video files as well as learning about live audio and video streaming * Understand the computer hardware and Internet bandwidth you'll need for maximum success * Glimpse the future business and career opportunities in the expanding streaming media field.