Filed under: Audio, Internet, Video
Real Alternative hits 2.0 milestone with a quiet update
Real Alternative installs the codecs you need to access much of the content available in RealPlayer using a light weight media player called Media Player Classic. There are also plugins for Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome that let you interact with RealMedia content from your browser.
The application hit version 2.0 recently, but despite the rather monumental name, it looks like the update brings a handful of relatively minor updates. Probably the most significant change is that the browser plugin now works in Internet Explorer 8. The versions of Media Player Clasice and the RealMedia components have also been updated. But I figured the anniversary was a good time to point out three things:
- Real Alternative is kind of awesome.
- It's been chugging along quietly for years.
- Flash has all-but replaced RealMedia as the default media platform for the web.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mark said 5:40PM on 9-09-2009
It's nice for what it did, but honestly when was the last time anyone saw a real file? Flash and Silverlight have taken over for web media, though QuickTime is still hanging on thanks to Apple. Real Media though? It's a relic from another time. I would say if you have any old real files to just convert them to another more modern format and not bother installing Real's software.
I suppose it's possible some sites out there are still using Real, but they should mocked and laughed at rather than visited.
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motang said 10:37PM on 9-09-2009
Nice!
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William said 10:37PM on 9-09-2009
You need real alternative to playback rmvb files. RMVB is commonly used in Asian countries because it looks great even when it's encoded in low bitrates. It's miles ahead of DIVX/XVID and it might be even better than h264 at low bitrates.
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Aalaap Ghag said 8:12AM on 9-10-2009
Correct. I haven't come across a website streaming content in Real media for years, but I like the RMVB format and checking up on it every now and then. I don't think it's going to replace the standards, but it's still an interesting thing to keep track of.
jigglebling said 10:37PM on 9-09-2009
Must mention: VLC player.
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Kevin said 10:37PM on 9-09-2009
Now Buffering...........
Now Buffering...........
Now Buffering...........
Now Buffering...........
Now Buffering...........
Now Buffering...........
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Aalaap Ghag said 8:11AM on 9-10-2009
noooooooooo!!! the horror!!!!!!!!
MarkyB86 said 2:05AM on 9-10-2009
That was definitely the bane of my existence.
Dapxin said 11:56PM on 9-09-2009
RealAudio still always sound better. I listen o the BBC everyday and I only use the .ram real streams.
I use the RealPlayer though the portable version that is.
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