Ad ware/Spyware free Real Player

  • Thread starter Thread starter mister2u
  • Start date Start date
mister2u said:
According to a post at www.boingboing.net the BBC had Real produce an
ad free version of Real player get it here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/audiohelp.shtml?help
Click to expand...

At just a glance, there appears to be something different about this
version. Not exactly sure what that difference is.

1. The BBC site offers 2 different versions of Real that can be downloaded.

2. This is the URL one is redirected to when clicking the Real 1 download
link.
(this may wrap)
http://forms.real.com/netzip/getrde...&p=RealOne+Player&oem=bbc&tagtype=ie&type=bbc .
This would seem to indicate that this is a download that is unique to the
BBC.
 
My own experience with Real Player has been horrible. I have
vowed to never allow any software that comes from this
company on my computer ever again. Installation last time
made over 5,000 changes to my system; the printout of these
changes took 46 sheets of paper. To remove it, I had to make
two passes each with two different uninstall routines, and
then pick more pieces out of my registry. Luckily, I use an
great uninstaller in advance that I can't recommend for
various reasons connected with acquisition by a low-life
corporation that won't support their products.

I have been using Real Alternative (the set of codecs) in
conjunction with Media Player Classic. I've also been using
jetAudio. These free alternatives play streams from media
sites without any problems for me so far, and my firewall
has not reported their contacting Real for any reason (such
as Real's frequent addiction to "loading new software").

I have recently noticed that some sites that deliver Real
streams are working with a special additional interface that
I don't understand. It seems to be a different format for
each of the sites (KQED, BBC, WBUR, Chicago Public Radio)
where I've found it. They all seem to be an additional layer
that duplicates the player in use; they appear klutzy but
they all function fine.

Richard
 
My own experience with Real Player has been horrible. I have
vowed to never allow any software that comes from this
company on my computer ever again. Installation last time
made over 5,000 changes to my system; the printout of these
changes took 46 sheets of paper. To remove it, I had to make
two passes each with two different uninstall routines, and
then pick more pieces out of my registry. Luckily, I use an
great uninstaller in advance that I can't recommend for
various reasons connected with acquisition by a low-life
corporation that won't support their products.

I have been using Real Alternative (the set of codecs) in
conjunction with Media Player Classic. I've also been using
jetAudio. These free alternatives play streams from media
sites without any problems for me so far, and my firewall
has not reported their contacting Real for any reason (such
as Real's frequent addiction to "loading new software").

I have recently noticed that some sites that deliver Real
streams are working with a special additional interface that
I don't understand. It seems to be a different format for
each of the sites (KQED, BBC, WBUR, Chicago Public Radio)
where I've found it. They all seem to be an additional layer
that duplicates the player in use; they appear klutzy but
they all function fine.

Richard
Click to expand...


Richard,

Not sure if you're a sports fan, but are you able to check and see if
you're able to view audio and video from MLB.com (baseball) using the
Classic player and these codecs? I can't seem to be able to view their
..rm files.

Thanks,

Eric
 
Eric said:
Not sure if you're a sports fan, but are you able to check and see if
you're able to view audio and video from MLB.com (baseball) using the
Classic player and these codecs? I can't seem to be able to view their
.rm files.

Thanks,

Eric
Click to expand...

I'm not into commercial sports. However, I recommend that
you chcek the file associations in both programs and ensure
that the various Real stream types are selected. You will
probably have to reboot your machine for the settings to
take effect.

Richard
 
Richard,

Not sure if you're a sports fan, but are you able to check and see if
you're able to view audio and video from MLB.com (baseball) using the
Classic player and these codecs? I can't seem to be able to view their
.rm files.

Thanks,

Eric
Click to expand...

Real Alternative doesn't work with streams, only downloaded files (same with
Quick Alternative, from what I remember...)
 
Real Alternative doesn't work with streams, only downloaded files (same with
Quick Alternative, from what I remember...)
Click to expand...

I was wrong about Quick Alternative: you can install an IE plugin that will
stream QT files in a webpage (like on Apple's trailers page...)
 
Real Alternative doesn't work with streams, only downloaded files (same with
Quick Alternative, from what I remember...)
Click to expand...

Latest versions stream quite well. RA comes with the latest codecs (don't
have to
go to Real.com and get the codecs.
 
Ron Allard wrote:

| Real Alternative doesn't work with streams, only downloaded
| files (same with Quick Alternative, from what I remember...)

Sure does work with streams. I just listened to a Real stream
with it yesterday. Not a saved stream (you can't save Real
streams), but one transmitted "live." Real Alternative handles a
nice range of both audio and video streaming, as well as saved
files.

Richard
 
Anonymous wrote:
|| Real Alternative doesn't work with streams, only downloaded
|| files (same with Quick Alternative, from what I remember...)
|
| Latest versions stream quite well. RA comes with the latest
| codecs (don't have to
| go to Real.com and get the codecs.

And this a very significant advantage!

Richard
 
According to a post at www.boingboing.net the BBC had Real produce an
ad free version of Real player get it here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/audiohelp.shtml?help
Click to expand...
Don't be fooled by this. Downloading UK versions could easily result in:
a. talking very unamerican,
b. using strange expressions:
1. Put on the telly love and we'll have a go at Vanna White.
2. G'day mate, I'm off to knock up my sweetheart now.
3. I'll buy you an orange Christmas.
c. measuring distances in metres instead of feet.
d. having an uncontrollable urge to stand up at a bar.
You have been warned,
POKO
--
P. Keenan - Webmaster
Web Page Design
Manitoulin Island, Canada
http://manitoulinislandwebdesign.it-mate.co.uk/
(e-mail address removed)
 
why not an alternative like quintessential (http://www.quinnware.com/)
or WinAmp?



At just a glance, there appears to be something different about this
version. Not exactly sure what that difference is.

1. The BBC site offers 2 different versions of Real that can be downloaded.

2. This is the URL one is redirected to when clicking the Real 1 download
link.
(this may wrap)
http://forms.real.com/netzip/getrde...&p=RealOne+Player&oem=bbc&tagtype=ie&type=bbc .
This would seem to indicate that this is a download that is unique to the
BBC.
Click to expand...

nondisputandum
 
message | why not an alternative like quintessential
(http://www.quinnware.com/)
| or WinAmp?
|

The tool I need must be capable of playing streams made with Real
Networks technology. Does Quintessential?

I'd sure appreciate your program if it played Real Networks
streams following the Golden Rule: that is, no clandestine
activities, no spying on users, no reporting what the user
listened to or watched to the "mother ship." So far, all methods
of rendering Real streams abuse the viewer as above.

Note that WinAmp is not an AOL product. AOL is on my shitlist.
So, my apologies if I don't want to take you up. There's some
very nasty software out there. Thanks for offering.

Richard
 
Similarly, aol is on my version of your list. I downloaded Winamp at my
son's request and got a load of aol files dlls and other crap along with it.
Took me about half an hour to get rid of the garbage.

D. W. Plezia
 
Richard Steinfeld said:
The tool I need must be capable of playing streams made with Real
Networks technology. Does Quintessential?
Click to expand...
==========================================

Here is a question that gets asked fairly often, and must be answered
for the benefit of newcomers to a.c.f.

Real, Inc. files ... are constructed with proprietary algorithms. They
can be played ONLY, ONLY (repeat .. ONLY) if your
computer has the correct set of Real, Inc. codecs installed. This can
happen only in two ways: by installing an honest-to-goodness
Real, Inc program called RealPlayer, RealOne ... or by installing one
of either RealAtLast or RealAlternative. These last two are merely
quick installations of the Real, Inc codecs .. bundled for convenience.
They do NOT include the RealPlayer/RealOne program itself. Yet,
in RealAlternative, some enterprising code-savvy hacker has
manipulated an older version of WindowsMediaPlayer into
recognizing a number of media formats, such as Real files and some
video formats. It can do this trick ONLY because
those Real, Inc. codecs have been installed. Likewise, other 3rd
party programs, such as Winamp, Irfanview, MusicMatch, UltraPlayer,
can also play these files ONLY if you have the Real, Inc. codecs.

Likewise, a similar QuickAlternative installation, places the needed
codecs on your computer without also installing QTimePlayer itself.
Similarly, the included hacked WindowsMediaPlayer will now play
QTime files.
 
Quintessentials is not my program,.. but I do know that it has no
known spyware or ather nagware.

I don't know if it plays .ram but it sure does .pls (winamp)
You can download & test it via a link on my site
www.nondisputandum.com and try it out with the links to some streaming
..ram.



message | why not an alternative like quintessential
(http://www.quinnware.com/)
| or WinAmp?
|

The tool I need must be capable of playing streams made with Real
Networks technology. Does Quintessential?

I'd sure appreciate your program if it played Real Networks
streams following the Golden Rule: that is, no clandestine
activities, no spying on users, no reporting what the user
listened to or watched to the "mother ship." So far, all methods
of rendering Real streams abuse the viewer as above.

Note that WinAmp is not an AOL product. AOL is on my shitlist.
So, my apologies if I don't want to take you up. There's some
very nasty software out there. Thanks for offering.

Richard
Click to expand...

nondisputandum
 
I want to say a couple of things.

| Note that WinAmp is not an AOL product. AOL is on my shitlist.

1. This didn't come out right. If I recall correctly, WinAmp was
purchased by AOL. And true to form, another poster said that when
he idly installed WinAmp, he got a whole lot of AOL crap
installed on his system. This once happened to me with a brand
new computer. There was a Netscape icon on the desktop. I idly
clicked on that icon, and in a flash, a whole gaggle of programs
were installed, both for AOL and companies in "partnership" with
AOL. The only way to get this crap off my system was to reformat
my hard disk and install the OS again. That's it: no more
business or trust from this guy.
If it is AOL, Time, Warner: any affiliated company; out!

2. Concerning Real Alternative,
I have examined this file set. As far as I can tell, the entire
shebang sure looks like a product straight from Real Networks.
The set even includes a Real icon! Further, and even more
serious, it is spyware. I found all the sites I'd downloaded
streams from listed in a log file named "cookies.txt." Cookie
killer programs (such as the module in my System Suite) won't
touch this file because Real has cleverly put it in a "cruel and
unusual" place: the Real Alternative files directory rather than
Windows' C:\windows\cookies. The cookie killers don't know to
look _there._
 
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