Using Yack

A Quick Click to Yack: Get There Fast!

To get the most out of Yack's broadband guide, you will need the Macromedia Flash Player. Flash lets you experience animation and entertainment in your Web browser. To download the latest version of Flash, go to the Macromedia Flash site and follow the download instructions.

http://macromedia.com/software/downloads/

Ready to begin…

1) Set your browser to www.yack.com
2) Find the guide that interests you — Click!
3) Find an event by browsing through the categories or by searching — Click!
4) Read all about it and then click "Jump to Event"
5) Enjoy!

What is Yack?
Yack creates guides that make it easy for you to find out what's "on" online. From audio and video webcasts to chats and vast digital storehouses of film and music, Yack's Internet Program Guide(SM) will guide you to the best things to see, hear and do on the Web. Yack also offers content-specific guides to Online Film, Games, Radio, Online Animation and Seasonal Sports.

Is my computer ready for all the Internet can offer?
Almost everyone with a personal computer and a modem can enjoy the entertainment and information options provided on the Internet. The Net, via fast cable and telephone line networks, is moving at an accelerated rate to convergence — a time when the Web, television, video games and your computer will be linked in one lightning-fast connection. Cable, telephone and Internet service providers are racing to bring you the fastest Internet service. The faster the better is the rule of thumb for viewing and hearing events on the Web. With a high-speed modem and a telephone connection, thousands of events are available — with on-demand video, audio and chats taking the lead. As a basic navigating tool, your Internet browser must be at least Netscape version 3.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0.

Add the Flash Player to your computer
The Yack broadband guide was designed using Flash and Dynamic HTML. The Macromedia Flash Player lets you experience animation and entertainment in your Web browser. To download Flash, go to the Macromedia Flash site and follow the download instructions.
http://macromedia.com/software/downloads/

How does a browser work to bring me live Web events?
A browser is the application you use to surf the Internet, serving as tool to locate Web addresses. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer are the two most common browsers. Both of these are known as graphical browsers, which means they can display ../graphics as well as text. Most browsers can present multimedia information, including sound and video, though they may require plug-ins — hardware or software add-ons — to provide these features.

Keep in mind that there are still thousands of low bandwidth options on our site. Almost all chats are simple to join and available to most computer users. If you're hooked up to a high-speed DSL phone line, cable modem or other high speed device, the options are practically limitless.

Which media players will I need?
Yack will always tell you which software is required to see or listen to an event. Most computer users have the tools to take advantage of most, if not all, programs available on the Internet. To listen to streaming audio or video, a media player is necessary. Media players offer streaming capabilities — that is, the ability to hear and see live events. If it's stored in your computer, it's not streaming — but when it's coming live from somewhere else, that's a data stream. Some of these multimedia tools are already included with your computer. Others are available through easy downloads. If you have a Windows-based operating system, you can check your program list at your start menu to see what players or services are already loaded. You can also do this by checking your control panel. See "Add/Remove Programs" to identify which players may be installed on your system.

How do I install a media player or other plug-in?
Media players and plug-ins are easy to use and install, with download instructions available from their sites. There's no screwdriver necessary - most media players can be installed by following a simple series of prompts. Plug-ins are simply hardware or software components that can add features to your system.

Where can I find links to media players?
Yack provides links to player download pages for each event. Media players include software programs like RealPlayer, QuickTime and Windows Media Player that work with your browser, enabling you to view live video and hear sound. Programs like Shockwave and ON2 enhance the viewing experience with ../graphics, sound effects and other viewing options. These companies offer downloadable media players that you may want to add to your system.

Links to primary media players:

  • Real Player
  • Windows Media Player
  • QuickTime
  • Flash Player

    Links to other media players and tools:

  • Shockwave
  • LOADtv
  • On2
  • Pixelon Player
  • SHOUTcast
  • Winamp
  • Macamp

    How do I use the homepage?
    Yack not only tells you what is happening now, live on the Net, but also what has been broadcast at an earlier date and archived for on-demand listening or viewing. The biggest and most popular events will most likely be found on the home page.

    Lots of Yack users prefer to surf the site, starting on the home page, to find out what's news, what's happening, what's playing now. Click on "Now Playing" and you'll get a full listing of live events.

    What are the category pages?
    Category pages include Music, News, Sports, Money, Technology, Health & Family, Culture & Learning, TV & Film, Sex & Relationships, Books and Living, and are listed to the side of the main page under "Inside Yack", or "Yack Categories" on the broadband site.

    By clicking on any of these categories, you'll be brought to the topic's category page. Similar to the main page, each category has a separate homepage with top news and events from that field updated every day.

    You'll find lots more detail here — in the "News" section, for example, you'll find subcategories that include international news, ideas and debates, politics and more. "Sex and Relationships" includes topics on dating, gay and lesbian issues, sexual health and erotica. "Sports" encompasses all your favorites, from baseball, basketball, football and soccer to golf and the Olympics.

    What are Yack's Film, Radio, Games, Animation and Sports Guides?
    Along with Yack's daily listings, you'll find many special features. The Yack Film Guide lets you check out thousands of films online — your source for Internet-only shorts and features. The Yack Radio Guide helps you find a listing of every station, Web or terrestrial, in any genre or language. Yack's Online Animation Guide lists over 1000 animated works, and is searchable by type of animation - Anime, Classic Cartoons, Stop-Motion, Contemporary, Digital and Interactive. The Yack Games Guide features thousands of free online games from the hottest producers, in several categories - Action, Role Playing, Card & Casino, Strategy & War, Arcade, Trivia & Puzzle, and Sports. Our seasonal sports guides let you click on links that take you to the audio broadcasts and gamecasts of your favorite teams.

    What type of events are listed on Yack?

  • An on-demand event means you can watch when you want to watch, listen when you want to listen. These events are archived, so you can come enjoy them anytime.
  • Special events include one-time webcasts and interviews.
  • Recurring events include audio, video and Web programs — either daily, weekly or at any regularly scheduled interval. Both special and recurring events are often live — for example, a television program.

    Click on the tab to display all current listings. Once you've gone to the detail pages, click on the "jump to event" arrow and Yack will guide you there.

    How do I search Yack?
    You may want to browse the site for our editorial picks for the best of live or archived events. If you're seeking a specific event or program on the Web, use Yack's search function. Type in the phrase or name you're looking for. If your search doesn't bring up results, you can be more specific with our advanced search options. To get the detail page for an event, type the title, keyword, or a name in the search box. It will default to "on-demand audio," so if you get "No listings found for this inquiry," try your search again by clicking on "special events," "recurring events," "on demand video" or "selected chatrooms".

    What are "Notable Quotables" and "Funny Files"?
    These are special features found only on Yack. Notable Quotables consists of your favorite celebrity quotes from chats and interviews. "Funny Files" are the best humor files on the Web, a cornucopia of comedy, with games, streaming audio and video files and other assorted lunacy.

    How do I submit an event to Yack's guides?
    Yack welcomes additions to our listings for all site categories. We include chats, live and recurring webcasts and audiocasts of news, sports, entertainment, business and other events; programming broadcast via the Internet, webcams and other forms of streaming media. Recurring events are archived for "on-demand" use. Events should be submitted at least 24-48 hours prior to the event. You may also submit your archived programs for inclusion on the site.

    To get your program listed in any of Yack's guides, click here.

    Have a correction or clarification?
    At Yack, we make every effort to make sure every listing is up to date. For corrections to listings, or general editorial questions, please contact:

    Jo Steffens
    Editor
    jos@yackinc.com

    Need more information?
    At Yack, we're always highlighting new programs, presenting new articles about the latest in live Web events, and bringing you the very best Internet experience. If you need more help, please contact
    info@yackinc.com.


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