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RealPlayer

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RealPlayer
Image:Realplay 192x192.png

<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">Image:RealPlayer10.png
RealPlayer 10.5 on Windows</td></tr><tr><th>Developer:</th><td>RealNetworks</td></tr><tr><th>Latest release:</th><td>10.5 / October 2004</td></tr><tr><th>OS:</th><td>Cross-platform</td></tr>

Use: Media player

<tr><th>License:</th><td>Proprietary</td></tr>

Website: www.real.com

RealPlayer is a media player, created by RealNetworks, that plays a number of multimedia formats including MP3, MPEG-4, QuickTime, and Windows Media formats as well as multiple versions of proprietary RealAudio and RealVideo codecs.<ref name="suppreal">Supported Formats by RealOne Player [1]</ref>

The first version of RealPlayer was introduced in April 1995 as RealAudio Player, one of the first media players capable of streaming media over the Internet. <ref name="fpp">Release History[2]</ref> Version 6 of RealPlayer was called RealPlayer G2; version 9 was called RealOne Player. Free "Basic" versions have been provided as well as paid "Plus" versions with additional features. On Windows, version 9 subsumed the features of the separate program RealJukebox.

The current version for Windows is RealPlayer 10.5 and other versions with fewer features, are available for Mac OS X, Linux, Unix, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, and Symbian OS.<ref name="aaaaa">RealPlayer - Multiple Editions[3]</ref> The program is powered by an underlying open source media engine called Helix.<ref name="aa">Helix Community License[4]</ref> The free version is not currently available for Windows x64.

RealPlayer 10.5 for Windows also contains audio CD burning capabilities, PVR-style playback buffering, multimedia search, Internet radio, a jukebox-style file library, an embedded web browser (using Microsoft Internet Explorer), and the ability to transfer media to a number of portable devices, including Apple's iPod, MP3 players, and Windows Media devices.

Contents

[edit] Features

RealPlayer, beyond its function as a audio/video player, also contains additional features such as:

  • RealPlayer contains a built-in Media Browser, which is based on Internet Explorer. It allows you to browse internet pages while listening to your music.
  • The Playlist editor is similar to these in Windows Media Player and Winamp. It supports "drag and drop" and also can randomize the tracks you're currently listening.
  • RealPlayer can view video files in Theater Mode (full screen mode) or in normal mode. The paid version contains also a Toolbar Mode which is provided to take less space to your desktop. With RealPlayer you have a choice of over 1000s of Skins.
  • RealPlayer also has some Visualizations. Annabelle the Sheep, Cosmic Belt, Fire, Audio Analyzer and Nebula visualizations are included in the RealPlayer set-up. There are a lot of other visualizations which one can download from the RealNetworks site, including the 3D Visualization Plug-In Surreal.FX.
  • RealPlayer contains Continuous Play (Loop multiple songs) and Shuffle Play (Play tracks randomly).
  • Also a feature to Stay on top while playing is available.
  • The Favorites menu allows you to access easily your favourite media by adding it into the menu.
  • The Equalizer and the Video controls are included both in the free and the premium version. Crossfade and Gapless playback are only included in RealPlayer Plus.
  • RealPlayer contains media library which allows you to organise your media, ie. tag your tracks, or rate them.
  • The premium version contains an Audio Converter which allows you to convert from/to RealMedia, MP3, AAC, Windows Media, WAV and etc.
  • Recording audio from vinyls and your sound card also features at RealPlayer Plus.
  • LivePause allows you to pause a streaming video clips, without having to stop the buffering.
  • Version 10.5 included Harmony technology, making the Music Store compatible with iPod portable media players and Windows Media DRM-compatible players.
  • Both the basic and the plus version can burn CDs. The current burning technology is powered by NPI, formerly it was powered by Adaptec (Roxio). With the free version you can burn audio and data CDs, the premium CD burning allows you also to make an MP3 CD.
  • The CD ripping is fully-functional in both free and paid versions. By default it's set to rip CD-Tracks into .m4a (AAC). These are the formats which are available to rip tracks:
    • Real Audio 10 (32 kbps - 320 kbps)
    • MP3 (32 kbps - 320 kbps)
    • AAC (in MP4) (32 kbps - 320 kbps)
    • Real Audio Lossless
    • WAV (1411Kbps)
    • Windows Media Audio (Requires Windows Media Player 10 installed) (64 kbps - 192 kbps)
  • The RealPlayer Music Store allows you to locate and purchase songs. Each song costs from $0.49 to $0.99.

[edit] Supported media formats

[edit] Formats supported by a plug-in

  • AT&T A2B (*.a2b, *.mes)<ref name="at&t">AT&T A2B[5]</ref>
  • Adobe SVG (*.svg)<ref name="adobe svg">Adobe SVG[6]</ref>
  • Audible Audio (*.aa)<ref name="audible audio">Audible Audio[7]</ref>
  • Object Video (*.obv)<ref name="diamondback">DiamondBack Vision Partners With Media 100 To Explore MPEG-4 Internet Streaming Solution For Cleaner(TM) (Object Video)[8]</ref>
  • Luidia eBeam (*.wbs)<ref name="eBeam">eBeam Presenter Download[9]</ref>
  • Digital Bitcasting<ref name="bitcasting">Digital Bitcasting[10]</ref>
  • Envivio (*.mp4)<ref name="envivio">Envivio Announces MPEG-4 Support for RealPlayer[11]</ref>
  • EVEN Technologies PSI Video (*.psi, *.fxv)<ref name="even">Even Technologies - PSI Decoder[12]</ref>
  • LearnKey RealCBT (*.lkv)<ref name="learnkey">LearnKey RealCBT [13]</ref>
  • Liquid Audio (*.la, *.lmsff, *.lqt *.lavs *.lar *.la1 )<ref name="liquid">RealPlayer supports Liquid Audio[14]</ref>
  • On2 VP5 (*.vp5)<ref name="vp5">VP5 Plug-In Download[15]</ref><ref name="vp3">RealPlayer to support VP5[16]</ref>
  • Netpodium Quickcast Image (*.npi)<ref name="netpodium">Supported RealPlayer Formats[17]</ref>
  • Nullsoft Streaming Video (*.nsv) <ref name="nsv">rNSV for RealPlayer Formats[18]</ref>
  • LiveUpdate! Streaming MIDI files (*.mid, *.midi, *.rmi)<ref name="liveupdate">Crescendo Forte Plug-In Info[19]</ref>
  • Camtasia Video (*.camv)<ref name="camtasia">Camtasia for RealPlayer info[20]</ref>
  • Ogg Vorbis/Theora (*.ogg, *.ogm)<ref name="helix">Xiph OGG for RealPlayer Download[21]</ref>
  • PulsePlayer (*.pw3)<ref name="pulse">Pulse Player Detection[22]</ref>
  • RichFX (*.vpg, *.wgs)<ref name="richfx">RichFX Plugin Download[23]</ref>
  • Mode2 CDs<ref name="mode2">Mode2Real Info and download[24]</ref>
  • MIMIO Boardcast (*.mbc)<ref name="mimio">Mimio boardCast Info[25]</ref><ref name="mimio2">Mimio Plug-In Download[26]</ref>
  • BeHere iVideo 360° Movies (*.bhiv)<ref name="behere"> Be Here To Debut Its iVideo Plug-in At Real Conference 2000[27]</ref>
  • iPIX 360° Movies (*.ipx)<ref name="ipix"> iPix Plug-In Download[28]</ref>
  • ScreenWatch (*.scw)<ref name="screenwatch"> ScreenWatch Plug-In Download[29]</ref>
  • Vivo Video Files (*.viv)<ref name="vivo"> RealNetowrks Acquires Vivo[30]</ref>
  • MJuice Files (*.mjf)<ref name="mjuice"> RealPlayer to support MJuice[31]</ref>
  • Blue Matter (*.bmt, *.bma)<ref name="bluematter"> RealPlayer Supported Formats (Blue Matter)[32]</ref>
  • OZ.COM fluid3d<ref name="ozcom"> OZ.Com announces fluid3d for RealPlayer[33]</ref>
  • IBM EMMS (*.emm)<ref name="ibm emms"> RealNetworks backs IBM digital music system[34]</ref>
  • On2 VP4 (*.vp4)<ref name="vp4"> VP4 for RealPlayer is available[35]</ref>
  • On2 VP3 (*.vp3)<ref name="vp3"> VP3 for RealPlayer[36]</ref>
  • ImagePower Motion JPEG2000 (*.jp2, *.avi)<ref name="jpeg2000"> ImagePower's JPEG2000 Technology Compatible with RealPlayer[37]</ref>
  • Sony Ericsson Video Files (3gp)

[edit] Plug-Ins

RealPlayer has wide variety of plug-ins. Some of the plug-ins are listed at the RealPlayer accessories page, but most are not. There is no official plug-in page.

  • Audio Enhancement

There are four audio "enhancers" available for the latest version of RealPlayer. DFX, iQfx, Volume Logic and Sanyo 3D Surround. There was an enhancer called Lake PLS (created by Lake Technologies) but because of that, it worked only with RealJukebox, it has been limited. In fact, there are some registry tweaks which allow you to use Lake PLS with RealPlayer 10. You may still download it somewhere at the RealPlayer website.

  • RealPlayer Skin Creators

RealPlayer has had two skin creator plug-ins: SkinsEditor for RealJukebox - an easy to use skins creator made by DeYoung softare. The second application was called RealJukebox Skins Converter, and it allowed you to convert Winamp skins into RealPlayer skins. Both skin creators have disappeared from the internet.

  • Playback Plug-Ins

Please see section File formats supported by a plug-in.

  • Radio Tuners

vTuner Plus and HMRadio are radio tuners specially created for RealPlayer.

  • Visualizations

The available visualizations from the RealNetworks site are: FrequencywurX, FyrewurX, FlamewurX, XFactor, Spectrl View, FluxWave, Puddle, Paint Drops, Polka dots, StickSterZ 1.0, Circle, On the road, Real Logo, Hubble Bubble. There are some more visualization plug-ins like Surreal.FX by RealNetworks, G-Force and WhiteCap by SoundSpectrum and SticksterZ 1.1 by Eric Metois.

  • Other Plug-Ins

There's a plug-in for RealPlayer that allows you to speed-up or slow-down audio and video files, called 2xAV. The plug-in has been created by Enounce corporation and been used by a lot of universities and schools.

RealPlayer Bandwidth Simulator is a plug-in for RealPlayer that was included in prevous RealProducer versions. More information you can find here.

Real2MSN is a plug-in that allows a user to place the title of the currently listened song in RealPlayer to MSN Messenger.

[edit] Editions

RealPlayer for Windows is the primary edition of the RealPlayer. There are some other editions like RealPlayer Enterprise (RealOne Enterprise Desktop), RealPlayer for Mac OS, RealPlayer/Helix Player for Linux/BSD and RealPlayer for Pocket PC.

[edit] RealPlayer Enterprise

RealPlayer Enterprise (also known as RealOne Enterprise Desktop) is a specially designed version for enterprise deployments. This version is absolutely free, without any advertising services. It does not contain extra features, like Equalizer or Video Controls. Some plug-ins are not supported.

[edit] RealPlayer for Mac

RealPlayer 10 for Mac OS X is similar to the Windows version, distributed for free and capable of playing RealAudio and RealVideo. It also supports QuickTime media, AAC, and MP3 formats. There is a fully-functional 10-EQ Band, as well as a tether mode for viewing video in full screen.

RealPlayer 10.1.0 (412) for Mac OS X supports web browsing via WebCore which means RealPlayer and Safari share cookies.

The new interface of RealPlayer is similar in feel to other Mac OS X applications, though users of Mac OS 9 must download RealPlayer 8.

[edit] RealPlayer for Linux

RealPlayer for Linux is developed separately from the Windows and Mac versions. The Linux client is based on the open-source Helix Player which can be found at the Helix Community Website. It supports RealAudio/Video, MP3 and Ogg Vorbis. The interface depends on the current GTK+ theme.

[edit] RealPlayer for Symbian

The Symbian version of RealPlayer allows you to play Real Audio, Real Video, MP3, 3GP, AMR and other media formats with your mobile phone. It's provided as freeware.

[edit] RealPlayer for Palm

RealPlayer 10 is available for free for Palm OS 5 devices, such as the Palm Tungsten or Zire series. [38] It is also compatible with RealPlayer Music Store tracks.

[edit] RealNetworks Scheduler

realsched.exe (RealNetworks Scheduler) is a background process, bundled with the installation of RealPlayer. It is intended to provide users with information about critical RealPlayer updates, and as such is only functional when a computer is connected to the internet. It is non-essential both to the functioning of Windows and to the functioning of RealPlayer. The process generally takes only 136k of system memory.

[edit] Controversy

Image:Mergefrom.gif
It has been suggested that RealJukebox be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)
PC World Magazine named RealPlayer as #2 in its list of the 25 worst products of all time. <ref>"The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time" — March 26 2006, PC World Magazine</ref>

RealPlayer 10 is configured to run the Message Center program automatically at system startup and RealPlayer shutdown. The message center has generated controversy because it features advertisements for bands. Some have said this could qualify as adware. Although there is an option to turn the messages off, RealPlayer 10 will automatically turn some message options back on. As a result, the Message Center will almost always pop up with new messages. This was remedied in the 10.5 version; the Message Center can be completely disabled. [citation needed]

Security researcher Richard M. Smith dissected some of RealJukebox's network traffic and discovered that it was sending a unique identifier with information about the music titles its users were listening to. RealNetworks acknowledged this, and after an outcry, they removed it with version 1.02. Their download page stated RealJukebox included privacy enhancements and gave a link to the privacy policy. [39]

RealPlayer uses the System Wave volume control. If the user mutes RealPlayer, he or she will mute the computer sound speakers. This issue has not been fixed. The Volume Logic plug-in corrects this bug. It disables RealPlayer's sound control and uses its own. The Sanyo 3D Surround has the same feature, but does not disable RealPlayer's sound control. [citation needed]

Realplayer TSRs use a considerable amount of system resources, that can and do affect overall performance on gaming machines and cause huge impact in performance on older systems. This can be verified using a simple task manager logging program.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

<references />

[edit] External links

es:RealPlayer fr:RealPlayer ko:리얼 플레이어 nl:RealPlayer ja:RealPlayer pl:RealPlayer pt:RealPlayer fi:RealPlayer sv:Real Player vi:RealPlayer tr:RealPlayer zh:RealPlayer

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