Real Alternative - Features

Features

RealPlayer, beyond its function as a media player, also contains additional features, including:

• Media Browser (based on Internet Explorer) that allows web browsing while playing media.
• Playlist Editor that is similar to other media players, supporting "drag and drop" and playlist randomization.
• Theater Mode (full screen mode) video playback. This will only play on monitor 1 of a multi-monitor Windows PC (paid version offers a skin-decorated "Toolbar Mode" that uses less desktop space).
• Visualizations - graphical animations or "light shows". Five are included with RealPlayer set-up. Others are available from RealNetworks, including a 3D Visualization Plug-In Surreal.FX.
• Continuous Play (Loop multiple songs) and Shuffle Play (Play tracks randomly; however, RealPlayer will select the random tracks in sequence e.g. Track 1, Track 5, Track 2, Track 6, Track 3 etc.).
• Stay on top while playing option.
• Favorites menu to save and recall media locations for files or streams.
• Equalizer and Video controls. Crossfade and Gapless playback are included in RealPlayer Plus.
• Media library allows organization of media through track tagging and editing. The Premium version adds Audio Converter to convert between RealMedia, MP3, AAC, Windows Media, and WAV formats, and others.
• Recording audio, (RealPlayer Plus only) which records audio via a sound card.
• LivePause pauses streaming video clips without having to stop the buffering.
• Version 10.5 included Harmony technology, making the Music Store compatible with iPod and Windows Media DRM-compatible players.
• Both the basic and the plus version can burn CDs. The current burning technology is powered by NPI; formerly it was powered by Adaptec (Roxio). The free version can burn audio and data CDs; the premium version burns MP3 CDs.
• CD ripping into AAC (in MP4) (32 kbit/s - 320 kbit/s) (default), RealAudio 10 (32 kbit/s - 320 kbit/s), MP3 (32 kbit/s - 320 kbit/s), RealAudio Lossless, WAV (1411 kbit/s), Windows Media Audio (Requires Windows Media Player 10 installed) (64 kbit/s - 192 kbit/s) formats.
• RealPlayer Music Store allows users to locate, preview, and purchase songs, which cost $0.49 to $0.99.
• SuperPass - paid access to premium recorded and live video broadcasts. In the U.S., content like CBS Big Brother 24/7 is provided for a fee of around US$39.99. For Europe (except UK), this includes live broadcasts of BBC World Europe, Al Jazeera English, CNN International Europe, Euronews in seven languages, BBC News recent news clips, MTV UK music clips, and custom content from SportsNews TV, RealTV, Vidzone, and Comedy Time. Costs 17.50 € per month.
• Video Download - version 11 for Windows and OS X allow users to download Flash Video files from sites such as YouTube. MP4 files can be downloaded.
• Media Converter (RealPlayer SP) - allows converting to proper format and transferring video to iPod, cell phones, Xbox, PS3 and other devices
• Video Sharing (SP) - users can post videos to Facebook and Twitter directly from the software