New RealPlayer Downloads Video Clips

Ostensibly acknowledging that focusing on its own audio and video formats has become a losing proposition with the near-ubiquity of Flash video, RealNetworks is preparing a new version of its oft-maligned RealPlayer software that supports Windows Media, Apple's QuickTime and even Adobe's Flash.

Rather than continuing to focus on building software for media already on the desktop, Real is taking a unique approach by letting users download videos off the Web. Although independent developers have created tools for downloading Flash videos from sites like YouTube, such capability is not currently supported by the major industry players. Users will be able to burn the clips to CD or DVD, and share the links with friends directly through RealPlayer. A free version of the new software is expected next month.