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Comments added February 8, 2010
The SMIL 3.0 examples are tested with Ambulant 2.0.2
date 2009-04-20, Windows version running on Wine, Ubuntu 8.04.
The next version is in beta, give it a try.
Help improve Ambulant by sending your comments.

Anyone using Ubuntu and would like Ambulant
added to its repositories vote here:
Ubuntu Brainstorm


Added December 11, 2009
SMIL 3.0 example
'Traditional Probiotics'
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.2
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

Previous News


This website is about SMIL, but with the current patent system, SMIL cannot shine. Fortunately the US Congress is starting the process of patent reform :) With genuine reform the country can start moving forward as it did in the 1990's and IT can lead the way. If this Congress needs help to get the job done then ipaction.org is there to help, by sending more candidates looking to balance the system of our IP law.

When the Congress gets done with patents, copyright law can use some work also. Congress has continually extended copyright law from the original, 1790 of 14 years plus 14, to current law, life of the author plus 70 years. We now have a law that is stealing from the public by preventing images, audio, text to be recycled into new works of art. A byproduct of the long copyright law are monopoly monsters, such as the RIAA, MPAA, which are hell-bent on controlling the progress of technology, in turn the progress of society. Now back to SMIL :)

The Multimedia developments related to SMIL, to keep an eye on in 2008 are the following, with special attention to Timed Text, the W3C is now working to standardize Text Media. Add your input Timed Text Mailing List Archive.

All these projects can lead to SMIL becoming as successful as HTML and in turn issuing the beginning of the Multimedia Web, in my humble opinion :) By mixing these projects together, one ends up with a SMIL document that is completely made up from non-proprietary formats, where multimedia authors can freely express themselves.

On this website are some examples of SMIL, a language like HTML, where with a simple text editor, anybody in the world can communicate their ideas as effectively as a Television commercial. SMIL 1.0 allows you to create the areas for media objects and then determine when to play them. SMIL 2.0 adds interactivity, transitions. XHTML + SMIL give SMIL 2.0 abilities to XHTML elements.

Have fun, and remember the best way to learn SMIL, is with an example on your computer, that you can make changes to and observe for yourself, the power of a simple text-based language.

SMIL files

SMIL Tutorials

Intro to SMIL version 1.0, RealNetworks G2, 80KB SMIL 1.0 with RealText.

Learn the Parts of a SMIL Presentation / Elements.

The Characteristics of a SMIL Element Attributes.

Timing is Everything / Synchronization.

SMIL 1.0 Elements
Review
.

SMIL 3.0 REC Detailed Overview of the SMIL 3.0 Language Profile, see what element goes where in a SMIL file and each elements attributes and contents listed. Open index.htm about 1 MB, zipped.

SMIL 3.0 W3C Recommendation, December 1, 2008 Overview.

SMIL Timesheets 1.0, Overview. First Public Working Draft and Last Call Working Draft.

Overviews of SMIL 2.1 Recommendation and its profiles.

Candidate Recommendation Timed Text 1.0 DFXP Overview.

Overviews of SMIL 2.0 , SMIL 2.0 Profile Recommendations and XHTML+SMIL Note

Simple and Useful, SMIL 2.0's Prefetch Element.

The Multifaceted Transition Element of SMIL 2.0.

Latest Examples

'Traditional Probiotics'
SMIL 3.0, about 1.5 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.2
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'Sustainable Farming'
SMIL 3.0, 2 min. long
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.2
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'Faith_Science_commentary'
SMIL 3.0 around 3 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.2
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'We are related' SMIL 3.0
with Theora video
about 1.5 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.2
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'US Debt Commentary' SMIL 3.0
around 2 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.1
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'Iraq Commentary' SMIL 3.0
about 2 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.1
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

'Verdolaga' SMIL 3.0 example
around 1.5 min.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.1
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

Free Radicals vs Antioxidants, SMIL 3.0 example about 1 min long.
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.1
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

Power of Media presentation contains Theora video, audio, images and Realtext. around 2 MB and 2 minutes, zipped. Xiph plug-in for Theora available at helixcommunity.org

March of the Free Formats presentation contains Theora and Realtext. about 4.2 MB, 2 minutes zipped. Xiph plug-in for Theora available at helixcommunity.org

treePoem presentation has audio, text, images and Theora video. 8 MB, 2 minutes zipped.

A Social Commentary expressed with a SMIL. 1.71 MB, 2 minutes zipped.

SMIL at Work Some ideas on what SMIL can do when SMILtext and Timed Text are implemented. SMIL 2.1 presentation with RealText and Vorbis audio, 918KB, 4 minutes. zipped. Xiph plug-in for Vorbis available at helixcommunity.org

SMIL 2.1 presentation, Make Whole Grains Wholesome 1.4MB, a couple of minutes long, zipped.

SMILe Song, IE 6 XHTML+SMIL file, click on the guitar strings to play along. 1.8 MB zipped, about 1 min. open smile_song_frame.html

SMIL 2.0 presentation, Pop your Amaranth 1678KB, around 1 min long, zipped.

Mia Chia SMIL 2.0 presentation with RealText and Vorbis audio, 838KB, less than 1 min. zipped. Xiph plug-in for Vorbis available at helixcommunity.org

Real Progress SMIL 2.0 presentation with RealText, 1283KB, around 1 min. zipped.

Gettysburg zipped XHTML+SMIL presentation, 2371KB about 2 min. 30 sec. use MS IE 6 to view, open Gettysburg_Address.html

Copyright a zipped SMIL 2.0 presentation with RealText, 1311KB about 1 min. long.

Freedom a XHTML+SMIL presentation, preloads 1MB and about 1 minute, use MS IE 6 to view.

Green is in! a XHTML+SMIL presentation, that preloads 1MB and about 1 min. long, use IE 6 to view.

Custom SMIL file for RealOne, 984KB.

Flavor RealOne SMIL 2.0 with RealText, 500KB.

Dreaming out Loud 1.4MB.
SMIL 3.0 version of
Dreaming out loud
online or download
tested on Windows Ambulant 2.0.1
on Wine on Ubuntu 8.04

Timing Tip Tip on synching audio.

Pinpoint Positioning Tip on how to position media objects.

Complete Pinpoint zipped.

Universal SMIL Same presentation playing on SOJA, Ambulant 1.4, RealPlayer 10.5, QuickTime 6.5.2. Also a SMIL 2 and HTML+SMIL example.

More SMIL Examples

My first SMIL piece, The Good & Bad Fats.

Balancing the Good Fats.

The Bad Fats Trans Fats.

SMIL Links
Any comments?
Jose Ramirez 2010