Websites using MediaElement.js

Okay, let s break down MediaElement.js, covering its overview, revenue (which is a bit tricky), alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

MediaElement.js Overview

MediaElement.js is a powerful and popular open-source HTML5 audio and video player library. It aims to provide a consistent and customizable media playback experience across a wide range of browsers and devices. Key features and benefits include:

• Cross-Browser Compatibility: It handles the complexities of different browser implementations of <audio> and <video> elements, providing a unified interface.
• HTML5 and Flash Fallback: If HTML5 isn t supported, it gracefully falls back to Flash (though Flash is increasingly less relevant).
• Customizable Appearance: You can easily style the player using CSS to match your website s design.
• Plugin Architecture: It has a plugin system that allows you to add extra features like subtitles, chapter markers, and more.
• Accessibility: Built with accessibility in mind, it aims to be usable for a wider audience.
• Active Community: Being open-source, it has a community of contributors and users, meaning there are lots of resources and support.
• Free to Use: The core MediaElement.js library is completely free and available under the MIT license.

Revenue

This is where things get a bit complicated. Because MediaElement.js is open-source and free, there s no direct revenue stream for the core library itself. The original creator or maintainer doesn t sell licenses or subscriptions for using MediaElement.js directly.

However, revenue may be generated in related ways:

1. Consulting/Support Services: Developers or agencies that are deeply familiar with MediaElement.js might offer paid consulting services to help companies integrate or customize it for their specific projects.
2. Premium Plugins or Extensions: Although the core library is free, some developers might create and sell premium plugins or extensions that add specific functionalities or customizations.
3. Donations: Open source projects may rely on user donations or sponsorships.

It is critical to understand that there is no official revenue stream for the core MediaElement.js library and no business plan for it that I can uncover.

Alternatives

There are several alternatives to MediaElement.js, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few prominent ones:

• Video.js: Another very popular open-source HTML5 video player. It s highly customizable and has a rich plugin ecosystem. Known for having a good approach to Adaptive Bitrate streaming.

• Plyr: A lightweight, simple, and accessible HTML5 media player with a focus on a clean design and ease of use. Great for basic usage scenarios.

• jPlayer: A jQuery plugin that also offers cross-browser audio and video playback with HTML5 and Flash fallbacks. It s been around a while and is a good choice if you are heavily reliant on jQuery.

• Clappr: An extensible HTML5 media player written in JavaScript with a focus on being modular and easy to extend with plugins.

• Native HTML5 Player: If you have very simple needs, you might find that the native HTML5 <video> or <audio> element, combined with some custom CSS and JavaScript is sufficient. This is free of any external dependencies, but requires a higher level of programming expertise.

When Choosing an Alternative, Consider:

• Complexity of your needs: Do you need a simple player, or advanced features like DASH, HLS, subtitles, analytics, etc.?
• Customization requirements: How much control do you need over the player s appearance?
• Performance: How well does the library perform on different devices and browsers?
• Community & Support: Is there an active community for the library?
• Dependencies: Does the library depend on any other libraries like jQuery?

Pricing

As MediaElement.js is free and open-source, there is no direct cost to use the core library. This is a huge benefit.

• Free: The core library is distributed under the MIT license, meaning you can use it for personal or commercial purposes without paying any fees.
• Optional Paid Components: As mentioned above, you might encounter paid plugins, consulting, or support services but these are entirely optional and not required to use the core library.

Customer Care Details

Since it is open-source, MediaElement.js doesn t have formal customer care in the traditional sense. However, here s how you can get help:

• GitHub Repository: The primary place to find code, documentation, and report bugs is the project s GitHub repository. You can submit issues, feature requests, or even contribute code yourself.
• Community Forums: Look for online communities or forums (Stack Overflow, etc) where other users may be able to answer your questions.
• Documentation: Check the official documentation. It should provide insights into the core library as well as its features.
• Consulting Services (Optional): If you need in-depth help, you could look for developers who specialize in MediaElement.js and offer paid consulting services.

Summary

MediaElement.js is a robust and free option for adding HTML5 video and audio to websites and applications. It provides great cross-browser compatibility and customizability. While it doesn t have a formal revenue stream or customer support team, its active community and extensive documentation make it a reliable choice.

Remember to consider the alternatives and your specific requirements before making a decision on which media player is the right fit for your project.