Minicaster: Flash Icecast2 and Shoutcast Players
Minicaster provides a unique system to play MP3-format streams on your website, using a small Flash document and some simple text configuration files. Content from Icecast2 and Shoutcast can be played on any platform that supports Flash Player 8 or above, so there's no longer any problem with your audience using Windows, MacOS or Linux - everyone can visit your website and hear your radio statio or live feed.
Minicaster PRO-ICE extends the abilities of the popular free version to include display of "now playing" track title information on Icecast2, JavaScript control of the playhead and our unique dynamic sizing system, all for only $19.95. If you're looking for a player without any of these abilities then try our free version!
++ CRITICAL INFO FOR ICECAST USERS! CLICK HERE! ++
On the left is a demo copy of Minicaster PRO-ICE, connected to our specially-modified Icecast2 server and showing live track information. You can resize the playhead by clicking the panel button, and as you'll see this webpage reflows around the playhead automatically - website owners can define the initial size and settings using simple XML configuration files. The free version uses the same industry-leading memory control model, but does not have the track info display. It's important to note that the track information is sent from Icecast2 only, and needs the Icecast2 server to be specially patched. If you want to play someone else's radio station then you will either need to make sure their server already supports Minicaster PRO-ICE, or go for the free version without track title displays.
Why Minicaster? What's wrong with Windows Media Player or Winamp?
As Windows software for playing Icecast2 or Shoutcast streams - nothing! The problem for all internet radio stations is that if your visitors don't use Windows and your website uses a WMP embedded object to deliver the audio, they just don't get to hear your music. It's possible to use a system of Javascript to detect the capabilities of a visitor's computer but it's not possible to detect if they have extra software installed, such as Winamp - so many radio stations just link visitors to the M3U or PLS playlist file and hope they have something to open it - a little confusing for some people! We also know that in an increasing number of computers, Linux and Macs included, there are audio plugins for web browsers that can play the streams but suffer the same memory problems that Minicaster sets out to avoid - and crashing your visitor's computer is not the best way to make friends.
By using Flash you can almost guarantee your visitors will be able to hear your radio station, as the player is available on over 90% of all computers connected to the Web. You also benefit from less work at the website stage - no need for complex JavaScript decision-making programs or multiple versions of the same page. Minicaster is unique in the way it controls memory usage, and leads the industry for Flash-based web radio delivery. Of course we'd say that - we wrote it! So, why not try the free version and see if you like it?
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