Real Networks is upping the download ante. It’s just released a new version of its trademark free RealPlayer that will allow users to download video and burn it to CDs and DVDs. The beta is coming this month to the company’s web site. Users will be able to download video that doesn’t have digital rights management (DRM) protection. All you’ll need to do is click the “download this video” button as you watch the video, and several videos can be downloaded simultaneously. Once the download is complete, the videos can be burned to CD. Users owning RealPlayer Plus can burn to DVD. Users can also share video links. The initial version is set to work with Windows, both Internet Explorer and Firefox. However, a Mac version is slated for later this year. The player will support Real, Windows Media, Flash, and QuickTime downloads and Real, Windows and QuickTime streaming. Flash streaming support is also in the works, as is the ability to enable transfer of downloads to portable devices. “The new RealPlayer gives consumers more control of Internet video than was ever possible before,” said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of Real.”The new RealPlayer is a major step towards realizing our vision of bringing great digital entertainment to more people on more screens around the world.” According to the company, more than 1.5 million copies of its RealPlayer are downloaded every day.
Tag Archive: Rob Glaser
Real Buys WiderThan, Teams with PlayPhone
You’d think winning hundreds of millions of dollars from Microsoft in exchange for settling antitrust caims against the software giant would make RealNetworks bullish on Windows…maybe it is, but they also can’t seem to live without their cell phones. Yesterday, RealNetworks announced it has acquired South Korea’s mobile entertainment developer WiderThan for some $350 million; today, the company announced the launch of the new RealArcade Mobile content site in partnership with PlayPhone.
Google, Real Networks, and Mozilla Buddy Up
Google, Real Networks, and the Mozilla Corporation have signed onto a multi-year deal under which Real Networks will offer the Google Toolbarand Mozilla’s Firefox Web browser with Real Network’s RealPlayer media player application. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed; thearrangement builds on an existing two-year arrangement between Real Networks and Google in which Real Networks promoted the Google Toolbar.
“Real and Google share a common passion for innovation that has enhanced the Web experience,” said Rob Glaser, CEO and chairman of Real. “The Google Toolbar has been a welcome addition to Real customers because Google simplifies and enhances how they interact with the Web. We think our customers will feel the same way about the Firefox Web browser.”
RealNetworks Unveils Browser-based Rhapsody
RealNetworks has announced a beta launch of a browser-based version of its Rhapsody music subscription service. Dubbed Rhapsody.com, the site lets customers access Rhapsody’s music library—which includes more than 1.4 million tracks from all five major labels plus independents—and popular features of the Rhapsody service from a Web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Apple’s Safari) rather than from a Windows-only jukebox application. For the first time, the move makes the Rhapsody service accessible to Mac and Linux users.
“With Rhapsody.com, we’re bringing the jukebox-in-the-sky to every internet user in America,” said Rob Glaser, RealNetworks’ CEO.
Real Targets Apple With 49 Cent Downloads
From RealNetworks’ press release:
RealNetworks, Inc. today announced the biggest music sale in history to kick off the Freedom of Choice campaign. For a limited time only, every song in the RealPlayer Music Store — from a-ha to ZZ Top — costs just 49 cents, with most albums available for just $4.99. Consumers can take advantage of this offer by going to www.real.com/music.
Apple ‘Stunned’ Over RealNetworks’ Harmony
Apple has issued a statement in response to RealNetworks’ announcement of its Harmony software, which allows consumers to transfer protected digital music to any device they choose, such as Apple’s iPod.
In a short and to the point news release, Apple Computer stated that they are “stunned” by RealNetworks’ actions:
“We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod(R), and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA and other laws. We strongly caution Real and their customers that when we update our iPod software from time to time it is highly likely that Real’s Harmony technology will cease to work with current and future iPods.”
RealNetworks Snaps Apple’s iPod Exclusivity
The new ‘Harmony’ technology found in RealPlayer 10.5 supposedly emulates the proprietary copy protection used in Apple’s iTunes store. We can only assume that Apple is going to lash back with alawsuit over the controversial software.
From the press release:
Harmony Technology frees consumers from the limitation of being locked into a specific portable device when they buy digital music. Now consumers can build their library of downloads secure in the knowledge that it will play on virtually whatever device they choose.
Starz, Real Launch Broadband Movie Service
From the press release:
RealNetworks, Inc. Starz Encore Group LLC (Starz) today announced the immediate availability of the first premium subscription movie service delivered over high-speed broadband connections to PCs. Offering major, recently released motion pictures, the service, called STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies, is available at http://movies.real.com or www.starz.com.
STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies gives subscribers unlimited access to a rotating library of premium, major motion pictures for only $12.95 per month. Unlike pay-per-view services, STARZ! Ticket on Real Movies does not charge a separate fee each time a movie is downloaded. Offered in RealVideo 10 and through RealPlayer, movies will take as little as 20 minutes to download depending on the speed of the subscriber’s broadband service. Additionally subscribers will have access to a streamed version of the STARZ! linear service, marking the first time a premium movie channel has been delivered simultaneously over broadband.
Linksys Ships Real Rhapsody Media Device
RealNetworks, Inc. and Linksys today announced that the companies are working together to make it easy for consumers to access and enjoy online music on their high-fidelity home stereo systemsby making Linksys’ devices and RealNetworks’ Rhapsody Internet jukebox service work together seamlessly.
“Linksys is a powerful partner whose innovative product designs, marketing expertise, and extensive retail presence has helped take home networking into the mainstream,” said Rob Glaser, founder and CEO, RealNetworks. “We believe that Linksys will also play a major role in the emerging digital media device market, and we’re truly excited to be working together. Combining our Rhapsody service and Linksys’ easy to use device makes the celestial jukebox a reality.”
Apple Rebuffs RealNetworks’ Approach
Seattle-based RealNetworks said Thursday that Apple chairman Steve Jobs had rebuffed an offer by RealNetworks’ chief executive Rob Glaser to meet and discuss forming an online music alliance involving Apple’s best-selling iPod portable players.
“He’s in the neighborhood, but whatever meeting Rob wanted with Steve isn’t happening,” RealNetworks spokesman Greg Chiemingo said Thursday. “Steve just doesn’t want to open the iPod, and we don’t understand that.”
Read more at the Star Tribune.
