smil files only play the first part of a video, when the clip is made of multiple parts. This codec has some limitations, too.smi and. Other features of the Real Alternative codec, apart from the Internet browser plugin, are the DirectShow splitter, the RealMedia Codecs and the Media Player Classic included. RealText (.rt), and the RealMedia embedded in webpages.įurthermore, the RealMedia browser plugin ensures support for Internet Explorer, Opera, Netscape, Google Chrome and Mozilla. With Real Alternative, you will be able to play the following formats: RealAudio (.ra and.
ra files without advertising, registration forms and constant offers to buy a more capable version of the software. Creating a CD is slightly more complex, but overall, both processes are intuitive enough for beginners.The Real Alternative is considered a more reliable option than using the RealPlayer application, which bothered many users with its importunate behavior. And now, you can create files in any format you wish. To encode, press the Preferences button in the lower left corner to set the format. From the resulting screen, you can either listen to your music or encode it. To play, rip, or burn a CD, insert it into your computer and press the CD button on the bottom of the screen. You'll be in trouble, though, if you use a dial-up account.īecause RealOne is an all-in-one application, it lets you play and create CDs with ease and streams media files in the bargain. It was occasionally jerky or blocky but never enough to ruin the experience. In general, we found that video quality performs well over a cable connection.
Peter Jennings didn't look too shabby, either. Videos in RealOne's music area looked especially sharp and impressive. We didn't notice a night-and-day difference, but the new codec does improve streaming image quality slightly.
Since RealOne's release, Real has developed RealVideo 9.0, so users who upgrade their players will see improved performance with a new video codec. For more information, read our announcement.) (Editors' note: CNET is one of many companies that have partnered with RealNetworks to provide premium content. You'll also find links to pages for CNN, ABC News, and-how about that-CNET.
Mouse over the Click The Music tab, for example, and you'll see subpages for Alternative, Classical, and Country. The left side of the Web-browser window features a menu that takes you to various channels, including Music, Sports, Entertainment, News, and RealOne Central (where you'll find tutorials and other Real-related info). When you start up the program or press the Home button in the center of the screen, the Web browser displays RealOne's home page, which highlights streaming content from a variety of sources. Once you're up and running, you'll see that the RealOne interface consists of a main screen divided into three parts: a presentation area in the top left, where streaming video or music plays related information on the streaming content in the top right and a Web browser in the bottom pane.
But if you can afford it and have a high-speed connection, this ad-free Internet broadcasting blowout is worth checking out at the least, try the free 14-day trial. The RealOne SuperPass-sold separately for $9.95 per month-isn't essential.
We give RealOne full marks for style and ease of use, though it could use some improvements in searching. Stream video, listen to more than 1,000 free radio stations, burn CDs, play DVDs, and mix playlists-all for a one-time fee of $19.95. Not only do you get to play whatever format you want, you can satiate all your multimedia desires in one place. The latest version of RealOne, known as Player Plus, combines RealPlayer and RealJukebox in a slick package, and now supports more than 50 file formats, including those of rival players Windows Media and QuickTime. RealNetworks is willing to sleep with its enemies in the name of multimedia.
If you already subscribe to Real's $9.95 per month SuperPass, you can access Player Plus at no additional charge. The company also upgraded its free Player, which now allows you to playĭVDs. On August 20, 2002, RealNetworks launched Real Player Plus, which lets you stream every type of audio and video file you can think of.