“RealDVD is only available in the U.S”

didn’t notice that last night.

i’ve emailed lacy kemp about this specific issue. because of time zone differences, it’ll be some time before i hear from her.

as jon says…”stay tuned”.

I’m in Canada.

After downloading it, I ran the install and it said, “RealDVD is not available in your Locale”

Ah well, I tried.

End of test.

Actually, my comments about not wanting Real to try and kill Real Alternative were mostly intended to be preventative. Technically unathorized distribution of files is one of the things that companies like to send their lawyers after. It’s been many years since it was an issue, but there was a Microsoft codec that originally worked in AVI files. MS later altered it so that it could only be used in WMV files. A couple web sites took it upon themselves to offer the older version of the codec file and they promptly got letters from MS demanding that they take down the file.

“And even though this article isn’t about RealPlayer, I’ll speak to your point about RealPlayer preventing people from downloading RM streams. That is inaccurate. In fact, when you watch a non-DRMd video with RealPlayer11, a “Download This” button pops up so you CAN save the stream.”

I have no experience with RP11. I still have Windows 98 and RP11 doesn’t work on it. I know RP8 had no provision to save streaming videos. Downloading streaming videos was an annoying process of running URL Snooper to find the RTSP URL, then using Net Transport to download the file.

You mention “non-DRM” videos, I’m curious, what kind of DRM does RealPlayer support that would prevent the saving of streams?

“This works with other formats too so you can save a wide range of content on the web. One more thing: RealPlayer is free. There is an premium version with added editing and portability features available, but you can get most of the functionality, including the download feature, at no cost.”

Why are things like adjusting the brightness and contrast are still considered premium features. Those should be part of the basic features.

Umm, maybe you “open yourself and your company up” to that sort of flaming — or worse — because COMPANIES TEND TO LIE. Of COURSE an employee of Realnetworks isn’t going to admit to their product being malware. the RIAA doesn’t admit that they’ve lobbied the government into granting all-but-perpetual monopolies which, in effect, ensure that the “public domain” is effectively dead at this point.

Big Tobacco didn’t admit to the health risks and shady marketing THEY did, either. And, lest we forget, the United States government itself is at least somewhat loathe to have people inquire into just what it is that their “independent contractors” really do.

It’s understandable that Kacy would attempt to “whitewash” Realnetworks, because — in all likelihood — her job depends on it.

Additionally, the fact that you mention consulting with “a lawyer” is pretty telling in itself.

One question:
You’re in “public relations”: as such, would you personally — of the record — engage in creating a PR campaign in, let’s say, defense of waterboarding? I’m just curious as to whether things like moral scruples and concern for human rights still trump the almighty dollar.

No offense meant here, just askin’.

i think you just asked her. perhaps she’ll post an answer here. if not, i’ll ask here.

from reading the faq and taking the online tour, what i surmise so far is that in order to get additional info and pictures about the film, there’s probably a link in the player to film.com. i don’t know if anything is tracked or sent to realnetworks or film.com, but it’s something to ask about, for sure.

rekrul, i also agree with you that rm is pretty much obsolete. hardly anyone imo uses rm files anymore and instead use flash online, which is one reason why video sites for the most part use it. when youtube started out and allowed everything to be downloaded, there were choices for which type of video you’d like. now it’s only flash and most videos there aren’t downloadable by a direct link, although there are many programs and websites that will grab a youtube video for you.

also i agree about the idea of subscriptions, like the realgold pass for CNN videos, which thankfully died when CNN and real finally realised it was pointless. but i wonder if the people who bought a lifetime pass got their money back.

i don’t play videos on my pc. i have a few divx/xvid dvd players, which also have usb connections for flash drives. and i also don’t listen to music on my pc. my stereo plays mp3 just fine. i hardly ever watch any streaming or flash videos, either. i’m just not into sitting at my desk to watch a film. i do also have a portable dvd player that plays divx and xvid. but i think there must be some people who need or desire something like this for various reasons, judging from the comments on lacy’s weblog.

well, i can’t at this point recommend it or not i won’t say more until i’ve had time to try it out. my testing won’t be scientific or terribly technically in nature. but i’ll do what i can and ask lacy some questions.

Real Player serves as a front end for paid subscription services and as a way to prevent users from being able to save streaming RM videos. I can’t comment on the subscription services as I’ve never used them, however I don’t know why anyone would pay for such services when there are so many free alternatives (some of them are even legal! ). As for preventing people from downloading content, there are several programs now that will download RTSP streams, like Net Transport.

The RM video format doesn’t even seem to be used much any more. Many sites used to stream videos in RM or WMV format, but now they all use Flash. RM is still used by some pay porn sites, but you can usually download the videos and play them with Real Alternative.

If you want my opinion, Real should make a generic codec package like Real Alternative, making the player optional. People who want to use the subscription services will install the player, those who don’t will install just the codecs. This is how Divx does it. Of course, the Divx codec has been falling in popularity and is now almost completely superceded by Xvid.

At the very least, it would be in Real Networks’ best interest NOT to try and kill Real Alternative. Real’s image has been tarnished by past versions of Real Player, by RealOne, by Real Download, etc. Real Alternative is quite popular among users who no longer want to install Real Player. Attempting to kill it will only further annoy users.

@Reader’s Write do you want a copy too? Let me know. Thanks for your support. I can tell you with total honestly, we appreciate it.

Then “verus” now.

I recall deleting real player many times over on my computers. I was tired of the “adware” from the past and tired of them sending my info/tracks back to real player. So RP has never been installed here in a long time. Its just a “faux pas” that continues to this day with me and any system i take care of.

I await this article and await the “then verus now” changes.

Catflap, if you write this up. Please contact Lacy and ask if info is still sent back to Real networks. I really didn’t like this with their other product(s).

But good for Real Networks for standing their ground with their Realdvd app. No one should be pushed into submission like this.

so…hear from you soon?

Ok. Regarding the malware claim- this is something we’re probably going to be fighting for years. I posted recently about it on the Real Blog (http://tinyurl.com/6f5ese) and I’m going to stand by my statement, but first let me clarify what my definition of malware is. According to the Urban Dictionary: MALICIOUS SOFTWARE. It is any code, program, script, software or any instructions interpreted as attacking a computer operating system (most probably a Windows operating system). Malware includes spyware, trojans, viruses/virii, denial of service/DoS attacks.

@The Malware attackers: I’m not trying to be defiant, it’s simply not true. In no way did past RP versions put virii on your system. Here is what I will say: RP did have a ton of problems, including AdWare, which I think people assume is malware. It’s not. But AdWare is awful and annoying too. I can give you my word on this: Real has REALLY tried to focus on you, the consumer, and improve the product. It no longer contains any kind of AdWare, there is no kid of BadWare of any sort. The message center that drove so many people nuts is now opt-in instead of opt-out. We know you all have a choice in your media players. Our hope is that you’ll give RP a try again, but that’s up to you to decide.

Now- back to the topic at hand, RealDVD. The important thing to note here [in addition to my earlier point about not breaking the CSS protection] is that is a completely different product from RP, or Rhapsody, or anything else from Real. How about you get a free copy so you can see for yourself? I want you to try it. I want you to tell me what you think- love it or leave it. And, of course, it would only be fair if for both of us if you wrote an honest review of it here. Others in the comment stream so far—you can try it too. Just let me know and I will set you up.

OK, two cents. Gotcha

Cheers!

I only mean that commenting on an active site like this, on behalf of your company, can often result in flaming and backlash by readers (as it did with her rebuttal against Real products being “malware”).

When you work in public relations, you must be very careful on what you comment on. This is because the moment you say that you work for the company in a post, your comments are considered as official responses from that company, and thus open yourself and your company up to possible litigation. And in many cases, “official” comments are only made after it has been sanctioned by the company (and sometimes even checked by a lawyer).

This is way many comments that you may get from cooperations or organizations, come in the form of an email, instead of a posting in the forums.

As a stated, I presently work as a PR and media relations officer, and anything that I say with my real name and title, can be considered an official comment from the company that I work for.

In my job, I often find comments in professional web news sites, High quality information sites (I consider P2Pnet as falling within this realm), and Blogs, that I do not agree with, and sometimes malicious comments about the products which I promote. But, as an ex editor, I also know that if a big company rebuts a comment like “XXX’s software is full of bugs” or “OOO is malware”, without a good check on why that comment might have been made, is only going to fuel a flame war.

This, is why I commended her for “making a comment on sites like this”.

Love the site Jon!

Just my two cents

Cheers!

“Let me first say that I commend your effort in commenting. As a public relations and Media relations person myself, I know the risks of commenting on behalf, of your company, on sites as this.”

What risks are those?

Cheers!

i’m always looking for good reliable dvd rippers, as i have thousands of dvds from several different region codes.

i also invited her to give me a copy so that i can test it, and i’d write about it here. and depending on my results, i might recommend it.

because of the blog moderation and time zone differences, my message hasn’t appeared yet.