Real Player goes universal

I use iRecordMusic to timeshift the RealAudio content I listen to (mostly BBC). I set up recordings to be in mp3 or aac format so I can listen to shows on my iPod. If you don't like RealPlayer you could do this. Set up recordings when you're sleeping, then you won't even have to look at the software... but in my opinion, RealPlayer is a useful app, and its good that Real are supporting the Mac.

The BBC does podcast some programmes but the vast majority of their stuff is either streamed live via RealPlayer or available online for seven days via RP. I listen to the BBC a lot and so need RP. It is ironic that the BBC who pretty much embrace technology should still be relying on RealPlayer to broadcast their shows online. Several years ago they experimented with OGG files for example. I hope the exclusive use of streaming with RealPlayer comes to an end soon.

Camino crashes and burns instantly when trying to go to a page with embedded Real content now that I have installed it. It works fine with Safari, but Camino chokes.

MotoGP.com content is streamed using Real (and WMP). It's like picking the lesser of 2 evils. I wished they'd stream them using QT. Quality would be _SO_ much better

While I understand the arguments of the "as long as some content is being done with it, it's a necessary evil." and "It's the only way I can watch ______." people, I have to disagree. Real Player is a steaming pile of crap on any platform and it always has been.

It's a completely unnecessary evil. Sites will stop supplying content in it when people refuse to use it. Personally, if the content is in Real only, it goes unviewed by me. They can't make a product that works to my satisfaction, so I don't use it.

Hey, I hate Real just as much as the next guy. But as long as some content is being done with it, it's a necessary evil. And if it's going to be evil, it might at well have some universal goodness to soften the pain, right?

I listen to NPR's Marketplace, which is still in Real format. Such is life.

For me, REAL player is indispensible if you want to watch or listen to internet TVs or radios.

Examples:
-- BBC (lots of Radios Stations to choose from)
-- C-Span (3 TV channels)
-- Radio Australia (English and Chinese)
-- Deutsche Welle (Live TV and Radio)
-- Radio Air America
-- Radio Franch Int + Some local tv channel
-- NASA TV
-- NPR...

Just the tip of the iceberg.

I am a Mac user, why can't Quicktime do that?

But don't the BBC podcast alot of their Radio shows through iTunes now?

I have not admit I don't like Real Player, but I listen and watch a lot of stuff on the BBC website and they use it.

Why do these sites use Real instead of a QuickTime or iTunes stream? (Excuse my technical ignorance.)