Real player or windows media player?
 

which of the 2 players is better to use to view your movies and listen to music?

To my knowledge (and personal, although kind of limited) experience with Windows PCs, Real player's verdict iiiiiis: 'Utter Crap'. Apparently it messes up with your whole system. But that was my experience with kind of an old version of the player.Not much of a help there, huh?

Players
 

As a Windows XP user may I suggest you load up on many media players. Some formats do not play in Windows Media Player but play well in Real Player (Current version). I suggest getting Quicktime and a Divx Player as well. YES -- TO ALL WHO WILL SAY GET THE DivX CODECS for Windows Media Player -- I have those and I will say that I still have problems so I just load in a more convenient player. Some players have more eye candy than others but the the three I use the most (PERSONAL CHOICE BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCE) are Windows Media Player, DivX Player, Real Player, and very occaisionally, Quicktime. I have found no reason to BUY any of the PRO versions, I've never had any problems with the basic versions (keep up-to-date versions). If one player gives you an error message or corruption message then try the other players in your arsenal before putting that file that took you three days to get in the round file. You may be pleasantly surprised to find it work in another player. I would say about 80% of the time I can get the file to work in another player. As a side note, beware of long (read ridculously long) file names. Windows Media Player does not like those. Before tossing in frustration, try shortening the title. That works for me about 95% of the time in cases of a very long file name. BEST OF LUCK

Media Players
 

I would like to agree with Chicagojohn on the point about players; I too use Windows XP SP1 with Windows Media Player, Real Player, Quicktime, WinAmp, DivX and a few others that I cannot currently remember.

I use Windows Media Player for most things, both video and music, I want to play but dislike its tendency to connect to the internet and sometimes try to download unknown stuff that the media, I am trying to play, asks for.

Real Player works on most media files but will auto start, errors and fails, when I try to use Limewire to play music files.

I only use Quicktime and DivX to play film trailers I have downloaded.

As for WinAmp and the others, I user them as and when needed.

Just a small note here, all media players will connect, or try to connect, to the internet, especially if you have a broadband connection. However, I have set up my firewall so that I have the option to stop them from connecting without my knowing about it, and in most circumstances, I will not permit the connection to take place.

In addition, when a media file insists that it needs an internet connection in order to play I then delete it.

Just get VLC and end of story: it will play most everything you throw at it, be it .avi and .wmv or .ogm (I think it even plays matroska files but I'm not sure). Keep the rest of the players in the rare case you'll find something not playable byt VLC (a full list of what is playable can be found at the the videolan site. Just look around a bit)

re: real player or, & spyattachments
 

[COLOR=limegreen][SIZE=3][B]Before upgrading the endlessly bundled real player basic, i read the user agreement:

8. DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ("DRMs").
a) The Software includes a DRM called the RealSystem Media Commerce Update Software ("Media Commerce Software") and may include third party DRMs as Plug-in components, which are subject to their own license agreements. DRMs are designed to manage and enforce intellectual property rights in digital content purchased over the Internet. You may not take any action to circumvent or defeat the security or content usage rules provided or enforced by either the DRM or the Software. DRMs may be able to revoke your ability to use applicable content. RN is not responsible for the operation of third party DRM in any way, including revocation of your content. RN is not responsible for any communications to or from any third party DRM provider, or for the collection or use of information by third party DRMs. You consent to the communications enabled and/or performed by the DRM, including automatic updating of the DRM without further notice, despite the provisions of AutoUpdate defined in Section 6(c). You agree to indemnify and hold harmless RN for any claim relating to your use of a third party DRM.

According to this section the drms are in communication without any notice (your acceptance of the user agreement must provide your consent to this) & it can make any applicable music you have without licenses displayed unplayable!
Of course real player is now history. [COLOR=limegreen][SIZE=3][B]

Real Player and it's DRMs
 

Dear mstfyd

RN can write what they want, it's my computer and I am, to the best of my knowledge, in control of it, in other words it does what I want it to do not what someone else says. That's why I have a firewall that tells me when an application is trying to access the internet, and if I don't want that app to access the internet then it won't.

Quite simply, I was advised to get a firewall as soon as I got broadband and it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

The internet has changed from a place of adventure and discovery to a war zone full of traps, scammers, ID snatchers and other assorted scumbags.

Anyone that does not have protective software when surfing the internet, i.e. anti virus, anti spyware and a firewall (plus some street smarts) is just like a lamb walking into a den of wolves.



UK Bob

Re: Players
 

I suggest to choose ONLY ONE PLAYER and then you should download the other needed codecs. Almost every player (including Windows Media player) is able to pla every video.

Download and install Nimo´s codec pack it contains the most codecs:

http://www.divx-digest.com/software/nimo_pack.html

Sometimes its good to look in our our tips and trick section: ;)

http://www.gnutellaforums.com/forumd...?s=&forumid=81

Morgwen