Introduction

Flinging together the odd sample application such as our Simple Player to demonstrate a new software component is one thing; applying that component in the creation of real-world, professional-grade applications is quite another. The challenge is even greater when the technology involves digital media such as video, sounds, and images, where lofty user expectations often extend to smart visual design, sophisticated user interfaces, and smooth interaction, not to mention stability and performance.

With this in mind, the last chapter was sort of a tantalizing antipasti course designed to whet the appetite for what might be possible, while leaving ample room for what s to come. The next two chapters are more main course solid and chunky, with the odd interesting accompaniment on the side. We take a more considered and in-depth look at the QuickTime Control itself, at the object model that it exposes, and at the essential concepts needed to get the most out of both in your own applications. Just so things don t get too abstract, we will revisit Simple Player every now and again whenever we spot something useful that could enhance its feature set or performance.

Review the detail in these next two chapters, study its application in the code samples, and convince yourself that the QuickTime Control really does merit serious attention if you are developing with QuickTime on the Windows platform. And if you are already developing with a competing technology such as Windows Media Player, you will be in an excellent position to assess the...