Real Problems

Universal Nerd writes "Could Real be its own downfall? According to 'Find the Download in a Haystack', it could be. The difficulty folks have in reaching the free version of RealPlayer is forcing Minnesota Public Radio to look towards Windows Media Player as an alternative. I prefer good old MP3 or OGG streaming like the feeds offered at WCPE but I'm sure no 'serious' company would consider it because they don't have their digital rights preserved." See the CarTalk story from yesterday.

FP

[Wiz]

Hey, I might get my first ever first po... BUFFERING.........

Re:well ...

[JoScherl]

I thinkitwas quite simple - just search the samllest link, somewhere at the bottom.

Could be Worse...

[acroyear]

I went to try to download a Flash plug-in from Macromedia for Mozilla (back before the plug-in auto-install stuff was standardized in 1.4), and found that the download page was, logically enough, a Flash animation that I couldn't actually view in order to get the plugin.

Re:Let's make it easy for Real

[nukem1999]

I don't know about the different colors part. I can just see it now:
Premium = red text on purple icon on white background
Free = white text on white icon on white background

Re:well ...

[no longer myself]

just search the samllest link, somewhere at the bottom.

It was on display on the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying "Beware of the Leopard."

Sorry... It just reminded me so much of that quote.

My favorite quote...

[Logan_Fu]

...from the article:

"Jeff Chasen, general manager of desktop players for RealNetworks, said the company has made "great strides" in redesigning the download page to make it easy for people to find what they want right away.

"We're working on improving that page and working to get people what they want as much as possible," he said. "It's tricky. We have to offer both somehow."

Here's how you do both, Jeff. Clearly label the free player. Clearly label the one that costs money. Let the user choose which one he wants.

Re:They are doomed... DOOMED!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Tell me about it. Earlier today I was at comedy central's website, and I wanted to watch some of the daily show clips [comedycentral.com]. Much to my chagrin, the clips were in real media format. I gave up trying to find the POS real installer and just found some porn on usenet.
*sigh*

Do people want to register with Real? NO!

[mttlg]

I wonder if they know how to take a hint over there...

[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.
[e-mail] already has an account.

Re:It was the best of advice, and the worst of adv

[Anonymous Coward]

There is nothing wrong with the codec pack. What the grandparent is saying is "I installed the codec pack, and shortly after opened the FUNNY.EXE attachment in my email and my computer got messed up. It must have been the codec pack." because everyone knows that is exactly what happened.

Re:Real might be more appealing without the SPYWAR

[Sivar]

Yeah, and a search for "Real Player ate my dog" comes up 119,000 hits.
Does that mean that there are 119,000 instances of people discussing Real Player eating their dogs?