by EJA_2 » Mon Mar 05, 2001 1:41 pm
Yes, everyone, the new stream is a real drag. In fact, I'd hesitate to call it a stream. As I told Sir Stewart, as much buffering, skipping, and stopping as it does, it's more like a backed up, beaver-pond-infested, stream. Not that I have anything against beavers -- just a metaphor. No, the problem is not the player. As it turns out the new player is just an activeX control that accesses Windows Media Player. I did a little reverse engineering and discovered how to play the stream through media player, partly because I wanted to see if it did a better job of handling the stream, and partly because <B>I wanted my volume control, graphic equalizer, and visualizations</B>. Alas, this backfired. Not only was the buffering no better, but the new stream comes from an ASP page and is designed to change the ads in the little pop up window that contains the new CLBN player. If the browser can't find that window, it throws the ads in the most recently used browser window. This is particularly annoying when you are trying to <B>use</B> the browser. One minute your reading along, and the next your looking at an ad against your will. So, I don't recommend it unless you simply *must* hear beethoven.com and can't use activeX controls. For my part, I say we shouldn't revolt against this change. Beethoven.com has to remain financially solvent in order to continue to supply us with our Classical music fix. The previous streaming service was costing them a 5-digit number every month, something that was not financially feasible in the long run. No doubt CLBN will want to keep beethoven.com, so they will eventually increase the available bandwidth so that the music will be uninterrupted. The new player isn't the greatest, and the ads that go with it are less refined than beethoven's own, but perhaps it will improve. In the meantime, I must confess, I'm listening to more CDs and an Internet station out of Dallas, WRR 101, that plays good Classical music during the day. I still haven't found a station to match beethoven.com for sound quality, though, and I hope that they will develop the bandwidth to once again have the best Classical station on the Internet. <P> -- Ethan Adams<p>[This message has been edited by EJA (edited 03-05-2001).]
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