Apple Releases QuickTime 5

Apple Computer released a "public preview" of its QuickTime 5 streaming media program for the Macintosh, which offers new features such as protection against video and audio skips caused by clogged Internet connections.

Some of QuickTime 5's other features include an updated media player with a new QuickTime TV (QTV) network channel display and new audio controls; a new component downloader for adding plug-ins; and support for new Web codecs including Macromedia Flash 4, Cubic VR and Shoutcast.

"QuickTime is the standard for Internet audio and video and is being used to deliver the latest in Internet content to surfers around the world," said Philip Schiller, Apple's vice-president of worldwide product marketing. "The new technologies in QuickTime 5 enable a new generation of Web-based audio and video solutions delivered with greater reliability than ever before."

In combination with another Apple product, QuickTime Streaming Server 3, QuickTime 5's "Skip Protection" feature protects against media "skipping," or dropping frames, caused by the unpredictability of Internet transmissions.

The version, which can be downloaded at www.apple.com/quicktime includes some, but not all, of the features that will be included in a final version to be released early next year, said Apple. A Windows "public preview" version of QuickTime 5 will be available later this year, the company said.