What browser will I need in order to be able to use the Media Player?
Downloads are not currently possible with Firefox 3. We are working on this issue. Previews will play in recent versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari on PC and Mac, but purchasing options and the Download Manager are currently only available on Windows PCs.
Will the Media Player work on a Mac?
Yes, the Media Player will play previews on Macs. Purchasing options are disabled however, because the rights management system used by downloaded products is not currently supported on Macs.
What is Silverlight, and why do I need it?
Silverlight is a cross-platform plugin from Microsoft, similar to Flash, that allows the Media Player to work across different browsers and operating systems. The plugin is a relatively small download and may be used by other websites you visit.
Why is some content played immediately in the Media Player and some only available as a download?
The Media Player can play content such as previews immediately, but the full programs are encoded at a much higher quality which can’t reliably be streamed and so are best delivered via download.
What are rental programs?
These are full quality programs that you can play as many times as you like within the rental period. The rental period begins at the time you make the purchase. At the end of the period, the programs will no longer play, although they won’t delete themselves so you can rent them again if you wish without the need for another download.
How long is the rental period?
The rental period is 7 days from when you purchase.
How big are the programs?
The video files are approximately 350MB for a 30 minute program.
Can I copy the programs I’ve purchased?
You can copy your programs if you wish, but they won’t play unless a license has been installed on the computer or device you wish to play them on. The Download Manager automatically installs a license on the computer you used to purchase the files, but when you play a copy of the program on another computer, you’ll be prompted for the ABC Shop username and password used to purchase the file. Provided your computer is connected to the Internet, a license will be installed and the file will begin playing. You will be able to do this on up to three computers within the rental period. Once a license is installed, you will not have to enter your login details again to view that file, and the computer does not need to be connected to the internet for future plays of that file.
What is the Download Manager, and why do I need it?
The Download Manager is a small application that retrieves the content you’ve purchased and allows you to browse for and play it. The download manager resumes download automatically if you temporarily lose your connection or your computer crashes, and ensures that the download process doesn’t affect your other activities. It also retrieves the license for your content automatically, so that it’s ready to play as soon as downloading is complete.
Currently, the download manager is only compatible with Windows PC’s (XP and above).
How fast does my Internet connection need to be?
A 1Mb/sec or greater connection is recommended. Dialup connections won’t support the Media Player.
Full programs are large files, so the faster your connection, the faster the Download Manager can deliver them.
I’ve heard the Download Manager uses peer-to-peer (P2P) technology?
The Download Manager is based on Kontiki technology, and is capable of using peer-to-peer technology to deliver content faster & more efficiently by allowing computers to share content with other nearby computers.
This technology poses no risk to your computer or network, although you can disable peer-to-peer in the settings tab of the Download Manager. Disabling peer-to-peer will result in noticeably slower downloads, however.
Using peer-to-peer will result in some data being uploaded from your computer.
Isn’t peer-to-peer technology illegal?
Peer-to-peer technology is not in itself illegal, but because it is such an efficient way of delivering large files, some applications use peer-to-peer to transfer illegal copies of content.
Will the content I’ve purchased work on a Mac?
The rights management system used with content isn’t yet supported on Macs, and so the programs won’t play. For this reason, purchasing options are currently disabled in the Media Player when it is used on Macs. We expect to be able to offer support for purchasing and download on Macs soon.
Where do I find the content I’ve purchased?
You can browse and play the content you’ve purchased from the Download Manager, however you can also browse the content directly on your computer. By default the programs will be delivered to a directory in your documents folder. You can view the exact path to your programs by clicking the settings tab in the Download Manager, where you can change to delivery directory if you wish.
Do I have to play the content in the Download Manager?
You can play your content in any application on your computer that supports wmv files.
What if I lose or accidentally delete one of my files?
A complete list of all the files you’ve purchased can be found under the downloads button in the Media Player. You can recover files by clicking the download link, and the Download Manager will retrieve the files without charge if still within the rental period.
If the license for your program is lost through accidental deletion or computer malfunction, another will be delivered once your system has been restored, provided you’re within the rental period. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may need to enter the ABC Shop username and login used to purchase the file.
There is a limit to the number of replacement licenses that will be delivered, however, so ensure your system is stable again before trying to play your content.
Can I burn a DVD with my files?
No, you cannot create a DVD that will play in a DVD Player.
Can I trick the computer into extending the rental period by changing the clock on my computer?
If you wind back the clock on your computer (other than when your computer automatically adjusts for daylight saving), the ability to play your content will automatically be suspended.
