Real player.

[kfh]

Hi All,
My wife has been trying to play music clips.
Before she buy's the full CD's.
But keeps getting prompted to download Real Player.
Windows Media player can't play these files.
Is it any good and is it full of spyware.
I've been to there site and you can get a free trial.

Thanks,
kfh.


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Sequitur Patrem Non Passibus Aequis

[pentachris]

Is it any good? It does what it says it'll do.

Is it full of spyware? No, but it will make every attempt to take over your desktop.

Unfortunately, there are some content providers who rely solely on Real's proprietary format. I've heard that the Linux version is quite tame and manageable in comparison.

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[kfh]

Hi pentachris,

Thanks for that, I'll stay clear of it I think got enough progs trying to take over my comp. And thats just XP lol.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
kfh.


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Sequitur Patrem Non Passibus Aequis

[Eutychus]

I've used Real Player since 1999 and have no complaints. It will bug you to download when a new version comes out, but other than that it stays out of my way until I need it.

[Paleo Pete]

Yes, Real Player IS spyware. According to the Tom Cat (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^R|^R&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=8&mh=1) spyware list it comes bundled with Comet Cursor as a plug in, which is one of the worst. You do have the option during installation NOT to install it, but are not warned about the background server connection if you do choose to let it install.

Real Networks download accelerator, Real Download, was one of the original programs that sparked the spyware issue. Since finding out about it and that Real Networks consistently denied that their software did collect and transmit personal data "back home" I have avoided using any software published by Real Networks.

That means I miss out on some files that are only supported by real Player, but I prefer not to take the chance that it still might "phone home" even if I tell it not to. Just the fact that Real Networks produced it makes it highly suspect, IMHO.

The XP version of Windows Media Player does the same basic thing, earlier versions do as well, but those do have the option of turning off the so-called "feature". The XP version does not. Disable it and you lose a good portion of the functionality of the program. Windows Media Player (http://www.tom-cat.com/cgi-bin/spybase/spybase.cgi?view_records=1&name=^W|^W&re=1&sb=4&so=ascend&nh=40&mh=1) has the details, also from the Tom Cat list.

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If your nose runs and your feet smell...
You're built upside down!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[iisbob]

Then bubba you're an exception, 'cause ever install for real player i've ever seen literally populates itself all over a PC.

It sticks it's own search key in the registry, installs it's own console in your system tray, and attempts to " update " or " manage " your audio/video at every attempt.

Now it is a good player, and it doesn't play really any more dirty than Quick time or WMA itself-but to give it a " harmless " tag is pushing the limit! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

by the way, the new version of Real 8 is just as tenacious at trying to start up services it thinks you should have.

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iisbob

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.-Mark Twain

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 05-22-2002).]

[kfh]

Hi Guy's,
Thanks for the input.
She's not that fussed about the music clips.
So I'll stay clear of this one.
Thanks,
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
kfh.


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Sequitur Patrem Non Passibus Aequis

[Pianorak]

Never having consciously used RealPlayer I decided it would be a good idea to uninstall it to gain some much-needed HD space - only to find I had lost the functionality of AOL which apparently relies on it for its video and audio stuff. I had to reinstall AOL and lost all my Favourites in the process. I know, should have backed them up - but . . .

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Windows 98 SE - IE 5 5.50.4522.1800 - PIII, 600MHz - 384MB SDRAM 100MHz
nVidia TNT M64 32MB 2X AGP - AOL v.7

[rahulkothari]

ultra player is an alternative to real plyr.

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An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
-Mahatma Gandhi

[Eutychus]

Sorry, nothing in my system tray from the Real Player. No Comet Cursor. No ZA alerts. Not even a shortcut on my desktop. Maybe I used the custom install (my usual choice). Maybe I got a bad install and, later, a faulty upgrade. I don't know. Maybe I live in a dream world, but I have more issues with Win XP and Office XP than Real Player. Or, just maybe, I am an exceptional bubba... who will bow out of this passionate discussion. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[iisbob]

As i said, you're an except-tional Bubba. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gif

I've persoanlly yet to see a Realplayer install that didn't install a systray icon-including the Real 8, and i always choose custom installs on software.

But,...Windows is a weird bird, i've seen fresh installs get a blue screen right off the bat, reboots where the MBR was wiped, ( no, not a virus cause either ) and an NT server than ran for nearly 3 weeks straight with %100 CPU usage before it was caught. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Personally, i'm with MS on this one-one media player should be all you need to view any media format. You should have a choice to which media player you might want to use, but any one of them by itself should be able to handle all formats.

It's an IT nightmare to keep up with these things.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif


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iisbob

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.-Mark Twain

[Paleo Pete]

Good point bob, I never looked at it that way, but one media player should be all you need. If anything ever would handle every format I'd definitely want to see it. I never understood why Real Player had to have its own proprietary format to begin with...

I've had problems with Real Player installs too, it puts an icon on desktop and in task tray even when I tell it not to...associates itself with everything but the toaster...then tries to play CDs, want it to or not...definitely a pushy program...so I stopped using it long ago. I just live without the files only it will play till something else comes along that will handle them.

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If your nose runs and your feet smell...
You're built upside down!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.dreamwater.com/paleopete/computer.htm) has been moved, please update your bookmarks.

[pentachris]

This page (http://www.answersthatwork.com/Library_pages/miscellaneous.htm) has some information that can help make Real Player more bearable.

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[Japhanser]

Hoi,
I also have removed Realplayer from my system a month ago. Realplayer stacks sometimes my internet connection (cable-modem)and as was told before it rises my CPU-load up to 100 %. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Strange but true.

Japhanser. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
(De Belgen eten graag FRIET en drinken graag BIER)

[iisbob]

Thanks for the link pentachris, but i tracked down the pesky .exe from real myself.

i know [/i]exactly[/i] what services load in my system(s), and i'm not about to let some half-cocked coded program bamboozle me!! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif



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iisbob

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.-Mark Twain

[gwallen4]

Yes. Real Player is a Real Pain.

But. Being able to play sound clips from CD's that you might want to buy is way cool. I wouldn't buy an album anymore without listening to it first.

The advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

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Sandman