[update] URL's with offsets - deep links in audio files
I previously posted [URL's with offsets - www.sample.com/interview.mp3#time=32:05] about how I thought it would be very useful to link to a specific portion of an audio resource. As podcasts get bigger, I see that as a huge usability feature.
Someone commented on my blog about a tool that allows some of this: RPXP on Autometa.
It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for - to hear Rory talking about System.Terrorist on a recent DotNetRocks show, you'd use this link:
It can link to specific time segments in Real, Windows Media, and Quicktime files. Cool, huh? I'd still like to see this supported either at the browser or server level, but this answers my question. It's a cool solution for another reason, too - it uses leverages existing technology supported WMP, Quicktime, and even the RealPlayer virus: the playlist formats support time specific links.
Now the obvious question: does it support MP3? Well, no. And since there have been no updates in over a year, I don't know if it ever will. But there's no technical reason why it couldn't - it works by translating the url parameters you feed it (start time, end time, content type, and feed) into the appropriate playlist format. For instance, the above url returns an ASX file that contains the following:
<asx version = "3.0">
<entry>
<starttime value="10:00" />
<duration value="00:00:30" />
<ref href = "mms://perseus.franklins.net/DotNetRocks_0086_Juval_Lowy.wma"/>
</entry>
</asx>
And if you were to change the .wma to .mp3 in the href line, it links to the appropriate point in the MP3 file:
<asx version = "3.0">
<entry>
<starttime value="10:00" />
<duration value="00:00:30" />
<ref href = "mms://perseus.franklins.net/DotNetRocks_0086_Juval_Lowy.mp3"/>
</entry>
</asx>
Copy that into notepad, save it as test.asx, and double click on it. Works on my box. I uploaded this file and wanted to link to it for a grand finale, but the [link] didn't work for me. Maybe it wil for you.