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| Windows Media Encoder(realtime video feeds) uses TCP. ShoutCast(usually audio, does work with video, just a pain to set up) uses TCP. Almost all on-demand streaming is accomplished through http over TCP, simply by downloading the file as it's playing. UDP is used mostly for online games and netconferencing(which can include video) and old RealVideo streams. But we all know that RealVideo is a fading format, don't we? Also, I would like to point out that depending on packet size, the bandwidth used by ACKs varies. Obviously, bigger packets means fewer ACKs, but more retransmission if a packet gets lost. Usually the ACKs for downloading at 1.5mbps amount to a total of about 5KBps(or 40kbps). It's not a major factor on your connection, however enough to cause your downloads to seriosuly slow down by a saturated upstream. nklb's estimates are way out of proportion. A 3mbps/128kbps connection would work just fine for *just downloading*. But don't try to upload at the same time -- it will kill your download speed.
But back to the original topic, the real question is when connections like Starpower(RCN)'s 3.5mbps/768kbps with as much of that upload available as you could possibly want per month(trust me, I know people who have tested this...^.~) will become standard. |
