Is it possible to have a video pop up that stays and plays different videos

[Brent65]

Hi,

I'm in the process of creating a document that specifies what I'd like a developer to create for me, and I need to know what's possible and what isn't.

I have a series of video lessons, and on each module page, I want to have several 30 to 70 links to video lessons.

Since the videos are best viewed at 800x600 resolution, I'm worried that, if I have the videos play from the same page as the list of videos (as well as the browser header AND the web page header), the whole thing will look awful.

So, when a user clicks on a lesson link, I'd like to have a separate video screen pop up. That way the user can see that the lesson links are available AND the videos are just playing in the pop up (which they can move to the side, to select other videos).

First, is this possible? Is it an okay from a functionality standpoint (I know some people have pop ups turned off)?

Also, once the first video has played, and the user clicks on a different video, is it possible to have the next video play in the same pop up video player that was used for the first video, or will a second video player pop up? As you can imagine, I'd like to have the same pop up video player to be used each time.

Aside: I plan to use a commercial video hosting site (like Vzaar) to host the videos.

The other remedy I'm considering is having a new window open when someone clicks a link. This is less desirable to me since the new window will have all of the brower stuff on it. That said, if I go that route, will it be possible to have subsequent videos play in the same window that was used for the first video?

This is a long post, I know.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Brent

 

[SplitElement]

Sure, just as long as the popup is an in-browser video player. Use this: http://embedr.com/

 

[PixelPusher]

Definitely. I just depends on how your in page popup window (modal window) is created. I made one for our website that, will insert video files, images, and/or text.

Like SplitElement said, you will need a player of sorts. Either create a flash based one, or find a pre-built one. YouTube creates their own swf by default, after its submitted.

Here is an example from our mail server page:
http://www.smartertools.com/smartermail/videos/mail-server-videos-v7.aspx

 

[bcee]

First, is this possible? Is it an okay from a functionality standpoint (I know some people have pop ups turned off)?
Brent

Completely possible. I get asked a lot if in browser pop-ups (modals) will be affected by a browsers pop-up blocker. No, they are not new windows so they cannot be touched.

 

[mrandrei]

Yes, it is. You can use these scripts to do that:

<script language="JavaScript">

function popUp(URL) {
day = new Date();
id = day.getTime();
eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=800,height=600,left = 112,top = 0');");
}
</script>

 

[PixelPusher]

Yes, it is. You can use these scripts to do that:

<script language="JavaScript">

function popUp(URL) {
day = new Date();
id = day.getTime();
eval("page" + id + " = window.open(URL, '" + id + "', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=0,width=800,height=600,left = 112,top = 0');");
}
</script>

That will create a new window though, and the OP wants it to be in-page.