RealPlayer Alternatives

December 3, 2004 6:40 AM

My mother wants to use realplayer to listen to streaming audio from her browser. After looking at the latest version of realplayer, what with the ads and spyware, I suspect that it would be best if she were to use something else that can read real files. I need something that's integrated into the browser. She's fairly intimidated by computers, so ease of use is essential. What would be the best player/codec/whatever for her?
posted by unreason to Computers & Internet (10 answers total)

Get Real Alternative - Real Player without the spyware or the crappy media player app. It comes with Media Player Classic and you can also install a Quicktime alternative if you want to later.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 6:49 AM on December 3, 2004

Real has made a crap free version of their player for BBC, have her use that.
posted by riffola at 6:50 AM on December 3, 2004

Real Alternative. Not only crap-free, but much smaller and friendlier. I've had problems getting the codec to work with other players (e.g. BSPlayer), but the included Windows Media Player Classic works like a charm.
posted by rxrfrx at 7:14 AM on December 3, 2004

Unfortunately, Real Alternative doesn't play nicely with browsers. I have yet to get an embedded real file to play with the RA plugin.

I'd go with the crap-free BBC version.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:23 AM on December 3, 2004

I've never had any luck with Real Alternative and streaming, dunno why. But I filled out the crap forms and got the RealPlayer enterprise edition, which omits the ads and bells & whistles.
posted by mookieproof at 9:30 AM on December 3, 2004

the real alternative and quicktime alternative installers let you install media player classic with it...originally i had media player classic and i installed the Real alternative and quicktime alternative without installing the packaged media player classic (that is to say i installed it seperatly). I had problems getting it to work in the browser. However, if you install the media player classic version that comes in the package it should work fine. I use firefox and every works great. I can play quicktime and real.
posted by EvilKenji at 9:57 AM on December 3, 2004

What about using the Internet Radio in iTunes, works on Mac or PC, has plenty of genres and no spyware.

Also, I remember reading that the BBC realplayer is not any different than the normal version ... but that could be incorrect.
posted by milovoo at 10:42 AM on December 3, 2004

jetAudio reads RealPlayer streams more than adequately, and while it doesn't embed in the browser, it will launch automatically on clicking a .ra file.

What's more, the free version comes with an alarm/timer and basic audio recorder, for giving those streams a permanent place on the hard drive.
posted by Tufa at 12:43 PM on December 3, 2004

I have Realone on my PC, and never see a pop-up ad. You just have to install it with the correct options. The idea that Real install spyware without letting you know is an online urban myth.

It is a flabby program though, and will slow your PC down when used.
posted by ascullion at 6:15 AM on December 4, 2004

I'd like to basically repeat what ascullion said: The idea that the RealPlayer installs spyware is a myth. And the ads you see on launch of the RealPlayer will 1) not be seen when the player is utilized as a webpage-embedded app, and 2) are easily turned off by closing the Media Browser using the globe button on the right-hand side of the window.
posted by xiojason at 2:45 PM on December 4, 2004