NetShow

NetShow was Microsoft's original framework for Internet network broadcasting, intended to compete with RealNetworks RealMedia & Vivo (acquired in 1998 by RealNetworks). It is now renamed and marketed under the Windows Media umbrella.

NetShow 1.0 came out in 1996. A newer version, 2.0, was included in Windows NT 4.0 SP3 in 1997. Version 3.0 came out mid-1998. The whole product line was renamed to Windows Media in October, 1999, four months before Windows 2000 appeared.

The NetShow name is still carried on in the user-agent string in current versions of Windows Media Player, which reports as "NSPlayer".

Components

NetShow Player 2.0 running in Windows XP

• NetShow Player (version 2.0 was included with Internet Explorer 4 in 1997, now incorporated into Windows Media Player)

This was used to play NetShow content, either in its standalone player or embedded in a Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator Web page, or in a custom application created with a program like Microsoft Visual Basic or Microsoft Visual C++.

• NetShow Services (renamed to Windows Media Services)

NetShow server software allowed unicast or multicast live or stored content. It included NetShow server software, and administration tools.

• NetShow Encoder (renamed to Windows Media Encoder)

•NetShow Real-Time Encoder •ASF Editor •NetShow Presenter •VIDTOASF •WAVTOASF •ASFCHOP

• NetShow Channel (renamed to Windows Media Station)

Its tool sets were for the most part command line programs. The SDK made the framework available to 3rd party vendors that created series of hardware as well as GUI tools that allowed integration into the Windows OS.

Related technologies

• Active Streaming Format (ASF) (later renamed to Advanced Streaming Format, then to Advanced Systems Format)
• Microsoft Media Server (MMS)