How to best embed a WMV video clip?
I hate to admit it, but I’m stuck… I’m trying to figure out how to best embed a WMV video clip in a web-page, so that it works cross-browser (and cross-platform).
Even after all my years of web-development, I’m still confused to which browser supports which tag … nested <embed> tags in <object> tags … it gets messy!
I’m as equally confused with the Class ID attribute: “CLSID:6BF52A52-394A-11d3-B153-00C04F79FAA6” - surely that can’t be the same across all browsers/platforms?!
A List Apart article discusses dropping the <embed> tag. Which sounds like a good idea to me. The HTML looks so much better… MIME types all the way baby!!
<object type="video/x-ms-wmv" data="/media/video.wmv" width="320" height="260"> <param name="src" value="/media/video.wmv" /> <param name="autostart" value="0" /> <param name="controller" value="1" /> </object>
I tested this on Firefox 2.0 and IE7 on Vista, and IE6 and Safari on XP - all fine, so far so good! When I ask my client to test the page on their Mac … it’s no good! The videos just wouldn’t load! Hmphf!
So does anyone know of a simple way of embedding a WMV video clip that works cross-browser/platform? Please let me know, I’d be very a happy developer!
Otherwise, I’m so close to using the beastly code that comes from the “Embedded Media HTML Generator” … help me please! 
By default WMV files don’t have a valid codec on OSX, you need to download one, such as Flip4Mac or better still the Perian codec pack from perian.org.
I’m up to my neck in Macs if you want me to test stuff out
Until Silverlight gets better uptake (if ever) you should deliver your video in another format - recent Flash players have H.264 support
Ross
9 Jun 08 at 6:04 pm
Thanks Ross.
I thought the same… Flash is the way to go these days! (Web 2.Ohhhyeah!)
Unfortunately, I’m in one of those sub-contractor situations, where my client’s client is set on WMVs - leaving me with no room for suggestion of change.
If you don’t mind, can I drop you an email with a link for test purposes?
Thanks again!
Lee Kelleher
9 Jun 08 at 6:17 pm
No problem. But I have a horrible feeling I am going to spoil your week
Ross
9 Jun 08 at 6:58 pm
Quick update… my client also prefers Flash video (.flv), so the videos are being re-encoded! Happy days.
Thanks to Ross for doing some Mac testing. I guess I should re-title this post to “How to best get a WMV video clip on a Mac?”
Lee Kelleher
10 Jun 08 at 3:34 pm