A playlist media file (m3u8) parser. A protocol implementation (http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-pantos-http-live-streaming-00) for transmitting unbounded streams of multimedia data over HTTP [RFC2616].  The protocol supports the encryption of media data, and the provision of alternate versions(e.g. bitrates) of a stream.  Media data can be transmitted soon after it is created, allowing it to be received in near real-time.