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Real Launches New Video Player Beta

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

June 26, 2007, 1:45 PM

RealNetworks on Tuesday released a new beta version of its RealPlayer software, which takes a completely new approach from previous versions. Instead of focusing on desktop audio and video playback, RealPlayer 11 lets users download video off the Web.

After installing the software, a "Download this Video" button will appear on Web sites such as YouTube, and Real has changed gears by supporting Flash, Windows Media and QuickTime formats in addition to RealVideo. Users can then burn the videos to CDs, or DVDs with the $29.99 "Plus" version of RealPlayer 11. A future update will enabling transferring video directly to an iPod. For now, only Windows is supported, although a Mac release will follow later this year.

RealPlayer 11 Beta

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By Mando moon

edited Jul 18, 2007 - 8:56 AM

realpayer

Score: 0

By golizar78

edited Jul 2, 2007 - 12:42 AM

I couldn't download Real Player 11(Beta) to my PC !!

when I click on download; the old version real player 10 installed to my my PC.

please help me

Thanks

Score: 0

By tigger4046

edited Jun 28, 2007 - 7:07 AM

I'm a free user I noticed when i choose Guide and attempt to use "radio" I have a few seconds before the ad starts any other feature does not launch this. Now I did notice as the developer did say it did load faster and it's actually a better dvd player then Windvd 6 or WMP 11. Also it has a new feature that allows you to record clips by hitting the red button, there are even sections on the guide that ask would you like to record this or play? So I'll keep it, but my stream of music choice will continue to come from Winamp with the AOL Radio with XM & Shoutcast.So on a score of 1-10, I'll rate the product a (9) only because I think the ad feature should only kick in when it notices no activity.

Score: 0

By DaveGB

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 11:01 AM

More crap from Real networks. I bet there is a crap updater, that sits in your system tray and flashes every hour checking for udates.

I bet there is a speed launcher that reserves 20MB of memory, just incase you are forced to load their crappy player...

And it's safe to say, being a Real product, it's as buggy as hell...

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 9:05 AM

Download link has been removed from Real & BN servers.... as well RP Updater does not find it...

Score: 0

By moonoverhaddath

edited Jun 26, 2007 - 11:26 PM

I see a lot of people got some practice dishin out the dirt.

I think people have forgotten to appreciate the value of any third party software, whether you use it or not. It exists if anything for one purpose: competition. To push boundaries. What boundaries, you say?

This is just the beta. We'll see. Don't judge too quickly.

And let's not forget who else is out there. Thank Real for the inspiration for other third party software's real chance at the game, open source or not.

Score: 0

By raymondjj112170

edited Jun 27, 2007 - 8:52 AM

I downloaded and installed the new beta version myself, problem is that when I went to check the update it kept on saying "must have administration access" so I uninstalled it after I tried to set the administration access part of the update.

Score: 0

By The Dave

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:33 PM

Wow, Real Player is still around? Who in the hell would use this manure pile of software?

What a joke. It still almost looks like it did 7 years ago. It has always been super gigundus bloatware.

Score: 0

By slinkys_delsol

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:07 PM

Granted for a time, Real Player was the thing to have, but since Windows Media and Flash based Streaming, when was the last time you actually used it?

And I agree, when you buy it, why do I need to be logged into the Real Site all the time, just for the mail / notifications? Sounds like AD-WARE to me!

Score: 0

By ZenWarrior

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 3:16 PM

Will RealNetworks please just die and go away? Please?

And remember, to "buy" that Plus version, you'll have to be logged into Real each and every time you use it. Funny, but that doesn't exactly sound like buying to me. (You fooled me once, Real, but never again.)

Score: 0

By Dsfargeg

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 2:52 PM

Whee, a new version of Real Garbage Player, now with more bloat than ever!

That Real crap is about as much fun as testicles cancer.

Score: 0

By The Dave

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 4:35 PM

Actually testical cancer can be treated. Real Player cannot.

Score: 0

By ingram091

edited Jun 26, 2007 - 2:40 PM

About time!!! Real has not been very good since the old Real Player 8 days... The only down side is real has the WORST DRM system out there. I still use Realplayer 8 for my real streams because its just smoother and less of a problem to host or receive. and as such its faster cause it does not eat up resources screwing around with DRM garbage.

MAYBE now that its going Flash, it will be worth a look again. I doubt it. but I have been surprised before...

I care about how it works, not how the interface looks. hell I want RID of the interface 99% of the time anyway so I can go full screen with it. So what does it really matter how flashing it looks with the buttons and stuff. which is what was so lousy in Real 11. they did all kinds of things to get the interface looking snazzy, and the quality of the product and how it worked went downhill... as such realplayer 8 (the old version) became superior to 11. Not really too big a shock... alla windows 2000 to xp, and now Windows xp to Vista. lol same logic pattern. lol too much glitz not enough horse power.

Score: 0

By gate1975mlm

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 2:33 PM

Realplayer 11 is very buggy!

Problems with the volume not going down all the way on Windows Vista!

And also it messes up Aero in Vista!

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 4:47 AM

When has a Real player not been buggy?

Score: 0

By gazzie4

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 3:18 PM

a beta buggy, no way, we can't allow that

Score: 0

By rsx508

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 2:22 PM

A decade late and a yen short.

Score: 0

By castiglione

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 2:30 PM

I suppose you may think so, but it doesn't mean Real Networks is going down. Regardless of what you think of them, they're going to be staying for a long time to come, because people will continue to get their products (I am one of them).

RP11 is a great product. So, whether it's "a decade late and a yen short" or not, it doesn't matter anyway.

Score: 0

By Redwoodz

edited Jun 26, 2007 - 10:28 PM

This is Ben Rotholtz, GM, Web Services & Syndication, Real.

We have tried to take a very different approach with the new RealPlayer. Previous versions did get off-track and hurt the consumer experience - see http://www.realplayer.com/blog/ about Installations Gone Awry.

You'll find that the new version is considerably faster -- everything from startup to video playback. We've streamlined the installation sequence, taking a cue from the way RealPlayer installation has worked on Linux and the Mac.

With the new RealPlayer we've created a one-click simple process to time-shift video for later playback - across tens-of-thousands of sites that contain video for the four most popular formats - Flash, Windows Media, QuickTime and Real. Our goal was to be unobtrusive.

We've released the beta today - and we welcome your feedback at http://www.realplayer.com/blog It's a free download.

Thanks in advance for the heads-up on any bugs you discover (e.g. the audio volume not working on Vista).
yrs,

Score: 0

By Second Shadow

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 10:05 AM

Thank you Ben for posting here.
I appreciate software developers taking the time to ask the user community about their experience with the programs they put out. Even more so with this particular community which can be blistering in their criticism (see graphic posts above).
Anyway, it's always good to see developers learn from past mistakes and try to improve their product.

Score: 0

By rsx508

posted Jun 27, 2007 - 12:21 PM

What I find most ironic, is the length of replies to my one posting, which was one of the shortest (and kindest) of all so far.

Regardless, Real needs some infusion of interest without a doubt. There six-month stock value is off a bit... http://investor.realnetw...omToDate=10%2F30%2F2004

Score: 0

By dhjdhj

posted Jun 26, 2007 - 10:21 PM

What exactly is great about it? Why would one use it?
--->RP11 is a great product

Score: 0

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