What Is It?

Real Media, also known as RealMedia, is a multimedia container format developed by RealNetworks, a company that was a streaming media pioneer in Internet software and multimedia content. The term usually is used in conjunction with RealNetworks’ products, RealAudio (a compressed audio format), RealVideo (a compressed video format), and RealPlayer, a media player. RealNetworks also is known for streaming content over the Internet, including small apps like games for one of their initial products, RealDownload, in use by 2000.

RealNetworks offers a variety of subscription services to users who pay for access to news broadcasts, sports, and other media broadcast via the Internet. RealNetworks, originally known as Progressive Networks, was founded by ex-Microsoft executive Rob Glaser in 1995. The application is similar to Windows Media Player and other players offered on the market today.

Who Is it For?

Real Media is for anyone who wants to view or offer broadcasts, listen to music, play games, or take advantage of any features offered through RealNetworks’ products. As mentioned previously, most applications are available through a paid subscription service, and not all media is available globally.

Features

Most users are familiar with the RealPlayer, which is offered as a free download, as a means to provide the video and sound for most of the subscriptions offered. RealNetworks also offers the RealPlayer Plus for a fee. This latter app allows users to burn DVDs, transfer Web videos to iPods, and more.

Since RealNetworks now offers RealPlayer compability for Linux and Mac users, various issues exist dependent upon the browser. For instance, some users experience problems with embedded Real media in Firefox. Because of improper coding of a website, coding specific to Internet Explorer or a failed installation of Real player and its associated plugins, pages with embedded Real media often fail. Developers can find user groups on the Internet that can answer questions to problems with RealMedia Web site embedding.

Compatibility

RealMedia was offered only to Windows users until recently. Now, Linux users also can obtain a copy of the RealMedia Player and utilize the application for downloading multimedia programs. RealPlayer minimum system requirements include a 700 MHz processor or equivalent, 256 MB of RAM, 60 MB available disk space, 16-bit sound card and speakers, Super VGA (800 x 600, 65k color) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor and a Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or later, Vista. Users who don’t have those requirements are free to download previous versions.

RealPlayer 10 for Linux is based on the open source Helix player; therefore, Linux/UNIX downloads are available through the RealNetworks site and through the Helix Community. RealNetworks also now offers RealPlayer 11, a beta application for Mac OS X.

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