WebTrends Goes to the Movies

Streaming media support is new to the latest version of WebTrends' server management and tracking software, Enterprise Suite 3.5. It lets you track how visitors interact with RealNetworks and Microsoft Media content on a Web site.

The software can track which clips are the most popular, starts and stops of clips, and replays. It can also report on the average connection speed used to access files.

Using this information, production staff can format RealMedia or Microsoft Media in the size most appropriate for the site's visitors. They can track visitors' preferences and usage patterns, and design the site to take best advantage of those preferences and patterns.

For example, a user starts a clip then quickly stops it, perhaps something about its presentation draws visitors to play the clip, but then they discover they don't like it once it's playing. This information can tell audio and video designers how early to insert vital information in a presentation.

Other features in this version include reporting on specified changes in dynamically created pages, tracking first-time and repeat visitors, and user path and content analysis.