How to Make a Flash MP3 Player Widget
"Widgets" are small interactive programs that run on a web page. They usually integrate with another data source to offer useful information or services. Flash MP3 players are popular widgets because they allow anyone to stream music from their website. You simply embed a small piece of code in an existing web page and the widget automatically appears. Visitors can listen to music and sometime select from playlists. Because this accessibility to music is a popular demand, there are many ways to make a Flash MP3 player widget on your site. The features and complexities vary depending on the source of the widget's code. Simple widgets let you automatically create a Flash player from a directory of MP3s while more advanced widgets can integrate with custom programming to offer website visitors many playlists and other options.
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Instructions
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Download the "JW Player" Flash MP3 widget and install it on your website. This free software (for non-commercial use) offers most of the important features that anyone would need to stream music online. It is particularly easy to set up. Simply upload your MP3 files to any directory on your website. Then visit the JW Player website and use its online interface to create the JW Player code. During the setup you specify the file locations of your MP3 tracks and choose a layout for the player's visual appearance. You select features, such as a mute button, repeat options, volume settings and more. Once completed, the JW Player site provides the code to include in any web page. You can place this code on a blog or any other HTML site and the widget appears immediately.
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Buy a subscription to the "Wimpy" Flash MP3 player system if you need a more advanced widget for your website. Wimpy offers many additional features, such as the ability to interact with an entire MP3 database on your site for the purpose of creating new playlists on-the-fly. Web developers with knowledge of the PHP programming language will be pleased with Wimpy's native support for this language. It is possible to build complex algorithms for visitors to sort playlists by genre or artist. Additionally, Wimpy supports true music streaming, which means that the music file is not cached in the visitor's browser after listening. This is the best option for those concerned about piracy of their music. For the greatest flexibility, Wimpy also makes the visual design of the widget entirely customizable from scratch with a free separate software download. You can design a widget that matches the color and details of your site for perfect integration.
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Integrate the "FlamPlayer" Flash MP3 widget into your site. This program is free for non-commercial use and offers many of the advanced features of Wimpy. The most significant disadvantage to FlamPlayer is the lack of product support and development, as the designer is a single individual who works on the software part-time. Nonetheless, FlamPlayer may be an attractive option for anyone seeking advanced features without a subscription license. Like Wimpy, FlamPlayer integrates with PHP for advanced customization. Developers can build custom dynamic playlists that are easily changed by visitors. This can create a particularly rewarding experience for your website audience, and is well-suited to those offering a large collection of songs online.
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Tips & Warnings
Be careful not to use Flash MP3 widgets to stream copyrighted music that is not your own. This is easy to do, and could result in legal action if you are not careful.
References
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