Microsoft SilverLight Media(audio and video) Interview Questions & FAQs

Questions and answers for Microsoft SilverLight Media(audio and video)

3. Media (audio and video)

3.1 Is Silverlight a new media player?

No. Silverlight is a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering media experiences and RIAs. It is not a desktop application or stand-alone media player.

3.2 What is the relationship between Silverlight and Windows Media Player?

The Silverlight browser plug-in is a separate component, independent of Windows Media Player. Silverlight is designed for delivery of cross-platform, cross-browser media experiences and rich interactive applications (RIAs) inside a Web browser combining audio, video, animation, overlays, and more. Windows Media Player delivers a breadth of local playback and user focused experiences, while also offering support for application and Web page embedding.

3.3 Do I need to have the latest version of Windows Media Player installed?

No. Silverlight is completely independent and when installed is less than 4 MB in size.

3.4 What audio or video formats are supported in Silverlight?

Silverlight supports Windows Media Audio and Video (WMA, VC-1/WMV7–9) as well as MP3 audio. Additional formats may be available over time based on customer feedback.

3.5 Will Silverlight support all the codecs Windows Media Player supports?

Since Silverlight is a lightweight cross-platform technology, it only carries the most common codices that are needed for Web playback. However, we are gathering information from customers about the needed codecs and can update Silverlight when necessary.

3.6 What is SMPTE VC-1?

VC-1 is an industry-standard video format, recognized by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Windows Media Video 9 (WMV-9) is the Microsoft implementation of the SMPTE VC-1 standard video codec. Microsoft initiated development of the standard with the release of WMV-9 to SMPTE.

3.7 Does Silverlight support HD quality?

Yes, Silverlight supports 720p, HD quality with considerable performance benefits over other solutions. Performance is dependent upon the central processing unit (CPU) capabilities of your computer and configurations. Generally, in testing, a 3-gigahertz (GHz) CPU and/or dual-core support greatly benefit the HD playback experience.

3.8 Will Silverlight work with my new or existing Windows Media services platform for streaming?

Silverlight takes advantage of Windows Server features for streaming.

3.9 Will Silverlight support live streaming events as well as downloading media?

Yes. Silverlight together with Windows Media Services enable live streaming experiences.

3.10 Does Silverlight support MPEG4 and H.264 video, or Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) audio, or Flash video?

No. However, content from many of these formats can be transposed into formats that are supported by Silverlight, such as by an automated server function (many available third-party solutions support this workflow), and then incorporated into a Silverlight-based application. However, we are gathering information from customers about the needed codocs and can update Silverlight when necessary.

3.11 Will Silverlight support digital rights management?

Silverlight will support digital rights management (DRM) built on the recently announced Microsoft PlayReady content access technology on Windows-based computers and Macintosh computers.

3.12 Will Silverlight-based applications run in Media Center? What about Media Center Extender?

Silverlight-based applications can run in Media Center but may have rendering issues on Media Center Extenders. Applications that are implemented using the Media Center SDK will provide a better experience. The engineering team is actively evaluating customer requirements for a variety of scenarios moving forward.

3.13 Are there any new tools for creating and publishing media content with Silverlight?

Yes. Expression Encoder, a feature of Expression Media, will support live and on-demand encoding and template-based publishing of Silverlight media experiences. In addition, Silverlight works with the broad range of Windows Media encoding tools and utilities available today.