Using Online video files with the VideoPlayer component

[Yossi Yaron]

Hi,

Following up on post: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/mitappinventortest/streaming$20video%7Csort:date/mitappinventortest/n1VLwDiRQT4/Zt5q1-0VEQAJ

I tried using a link to an mp4 file which I uploaded to my google drive.

I separated the "set source" action from the "start" action to make sure there is no timing issue, and yet when I click the "Load" button (which sets the video source to the URL) the application hangs.

I'm attaching the AIA file (Note: we are talking about Screen2).

Am I doing something wrong from a programming standpoint or should I simply be using a different online source and not Google Drive? If it is the latter, can anyone recommend a free streaming video service that meets AppInventor requirements?

Thank you

Yossi Yaron

[Yossi Yaron]

Here is the AIA file

[Yossi Yaron]

And another question - does the 1MB file size requirement hold for online / external files as well, or does it only apply for video files embedded within the application?

[Chris Ward]

Hi Yossi

Respect for your perseverance!

Hard to say if it should work with Google Drive or not - it is essentially a "special data cloud" but accessing it from your own app might require some permissions inlined with the URL.

Farzeen has given a YouTube example in that post, so I would try to get that working first.

Edit: You will possibly need to get that manifest modification done too.....

In your Screen2 Properties Palette, you are pointing to a link and not the underlying video, so the video will not be loaded - as Farzeen has already explained.

[Chris Ward]

....Well, swapped-out your link with Farzeen's: https://videos.code.org/2015/social/president_obama_asks_america.mp4

Good news is that It works :) Without messing with the Manifest. (This is on the new nb166 AI Release)

....but the Video Player needs to be resized. You will see what I mean.

[Yossi Yaron]

Hi again Chris,

First of all I need to add some background: I am a computer sciences teacher. A deaf friend asked for a volunteer in developing an app for teaching sign language, which obviously requires a video viewing capability. One of my students has volunteered to develop it, but I do feel compelled to make sure this is indeed possible before assigning him for the project. 

As to your reply - thanks for narrowing it down. So the problem is with Google Drive.

Can you (or anyone) point me to a streaming video service that would work with MIT App Inventor?  

Thank you!

Yossi Yaron

[Chris Ward]

Hello Yossi

The problem was not Google Drive, though I imagine it could be a problem because of it's security. The problem was the use of a link to a video whereas the Video Player requires a full (direct) path.

Now that I have more understanding of what you wish to build, I am wondering why you think the app obviously requires a video viewing capability, because you could use images and if so, give the User control of how quickly/slowly they are displayed. 

Anyway, for your movies, one streaming service we know of that works is YouTube......