The New, Improved "All-in-One" Real Video Player

Real Networks' (remember them?) new RealPlayer, in beta this month, will allow you to download Internet video instantly from YouTube, Yahoo and virtually anywhere else on the Web. Build a library for full-screen playback on your PC; better yet, stream it from your PC directly to your TV with Apple TV; or burn it to disc.





I checked RealPlayer's home and was treated to an earful: "Your nephew's first steps. The speech that moves you. The hilarious clip your co-worker forwarded. With the new RealPlayer , you'll be able to download them all to your personal video playlist. Grab videos from thousands of Web sites with just one click. Watch them any time, create a video playlist or even burn your greatest hits to DVD. Find the Web video you want- and Real it in."





Hype notwithstanding, the free player does enable you to download or record non DRM (Digital Rights Management) protected videos from multiple formats - including not only Real, but Windows Media, Quicktime and even Flash. (I'll wait to see how that works in the final version before giving you my take.) You can also burn your videos to disc - to DVDs with the RealPlayer Plus pay version and to CDs in Video-CD format with the free version. Transfer to your mobile entertainment / communication device of choice - iPod? (not likely) ; iPhone (ditto); Zune (possibly); etc. will be available in the future, says Real.

Are you being realed in?