Cool Code: playTagger 2
One of the most helpful web tools we've come across in the past year is playTagger. Why is it so helpful? Well, it enables your web browser to play linked mp3s without launching the linked-to mp3 page. And when we say "linked-to mp3 page" we mean those lovely web pages that look like this:
So how does playTagger avoid the blank stare of the linked-to mp3 page? Easy. It inserts a little mp3 player into the web page that can play the mp3. Neat. Actually, it's brilliant.
So. . . let's say you want to visit a page with a lot of mp3s. Let's say. . . oh, I don't know. . . how about James Tate reading at the Kelly Writers House, University of Pennsylvania, March 19, 1998. When you visit that web page you will see something like this:
Right. So that numbered list is all mp3s. And if you want to listen to those mp3s without playtagger, then you click on each link and bang, up pops the blank Quicktime progress bar page as you start hearing James Tate read, "Speaking of sunsets,/ last night's was shocking./ I mean, sunsets aren't supposed to frighten you, are they?/Well, this one was terrifying. . ." Then when you are finished listening to Tate read "Never Again The Same," you have to back pedal to the main James Tate page and click another link in order to listen to other readings. (Of course, you could also do this exercise using tabbed browsing, but for the sake of this argument, let's just stick to the basics.)
Now, for those with playTagger installed in their web browsers, there's a new choice. After clicking the playTagger button in my Firefox Browser's Toolbox, the above web page suddenly looks like this:
See all those little blue arrows? Those are mini-mp3 players. I just click an arrow and I can listen to the linked-to mp3 without leaving the main page! Awesome, n'est pas?. Now, let's try another example from the field.
The E.A.R. Awards recognize outstanding audio production in radio advertising. Their website links to mp3s that have been nominated to receive awards this year. There are lots of finalists from production houses and ad agencies across the nation. The E.A.R. 2007 Finalists web page looks like this:
As you can see, there's category headers and a list of spot titles. Each spot title is highlighted in a blue-ish green color that signifies that the spot title links to a corresponding mp3. So, with my clever playTagger button, I can make the page look like this:
Yes. There's my little mp3 player. Now, all there's left to do is pick an mp3. Let's see. . . scrolling down. . . yes. . . this spot looks good:
Aww yeah. That is a good spot! But don't worry. If you don't have playTagger you can also listen to this super spot right HERE.
P.S. Look out Colbert. . . we're coming for you.
