real
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`A
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`Healfletwnrks
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`realplayer; plus
`
`REALPLAYER 8 PLUS USER MANUAL
`REALPLAYER 8 PLUS USER MANUAL
`
`1
`
`BTN0007096
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`NEULION 1015
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`BTN0007096
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`1
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`NEULION 1015
`
`

`

`Information in this document is subject to change without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced
`or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express
`written permission of RealNetworks, Inc.
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual, Revision 1.0
`
`'RealNetworks, Inc. 2000
`
`The RealPlayer, RealNetworks, RealJukebox, RealMedia, Real.com, Real.com Take 5, RealSystem, RealAudio,
`Sure Stream, RealProducer, RealVideo, RealText, RealPix, RealServer, and the Real logo are trademarks or
`registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc.
`
`All other products and companies listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
`owners.
`
`RealPlayer User Education Team: Harold Gross (lead), Alan Bedard, Jacquelin Vanderwood (artist).
`
`RealNetworks, Inc.
`2601 Elliott Avenue
`Seattle, WA 98121 USA
`
`Corporate Information, Servers, and Tools
`http://www.realnetworks.com
`
`Consumer Software and Content
`http://www.real.com
`
`Technical Support and Customer Service
`http://service.real.com
`
`BTN0007097
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`2
`
`

`

`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`ABOUT THIS MANUAL
`
`1
`
`Document Conventions.........................................................2
`
`1
`
`INSTALLING REALPLAYER
`
`3
`
`System Requirements............................................................3
`PC (Windows based computer).........................................3
`Minimal Computer.................................................3
`Recommended Computer.......................................3
`Macintosh........................................................................4
`Minimal Computer.................................................4
`Recommended Computer.......................................4
`Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT Installation.............. 4
`Macintosh Installation..........................................................5
`
`2 WHERE TO GO FOR HELP AND INFORMATION
`
`7
`
`Help with Using RealPlayer....................................................7
`Customer Service...................................................................8
`
`3
`
`A QUICK LOOK AT REALPLAYER
`
`9
`
`Overview...........................................................................9
`Title and Menus...............................................................10
`Control bar......................................................................10
`Location bar....................................................................11
`Clip Info bar....................................................................11
`Playlist bar.......................................................................12
`Content Panel..................................................................12
`Display panel...................................................................14
`Real.com Media bar.........................................................15
`Status bar........................................................................15
`Message bar....................................................................16
`
`4
`
`REALPLAYER - THE BASICS
`
`17
`
`So now that I have this software, what do I do with it?...........17
`The Many Ways to Play a Clip...............................................18
`Navigating through a clip.................................................18
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`

`

`What if I am disconnected from my ISP?................19
`Channels.............................................................................20
`Real.com Take 5..............................................................21
`Channels gleam...............................................................22
`Radio Tuner.........................................................................22
`Favorites..............................................................................23
`Sharing Favorites.............................................................24
`Location bar........................................................................25
`Playlist bar...........................................................................25
`Visualizations and Audio Analyzer.........................................26
`Visualizations (PC only)....................................................26
`Audio Analyzer (Mac)......................................................27
`Real.com Media bar.........................................................28
`Real.com Message Service....................................................29
`Real.com News and Entertainment Flashes............29
`Real.com Product Flashes.....................................29
`How do you know when you receive a Flash?..........29
`Resizing...............................................................................30
`
`5
`
`THE *PLUS* IN REALPLAYER PLUS
`
`31
`
`My Favorites........................................................................31
`Displaying My Favorites....................................................31
`To view and play clips in My Favorites....................32
`To find your Favorite clips.....................................32
`Add To Favorites..............................................................32
`Organizing Favorites........................................................32
`To Edit a Favorite or Folder...................................33
`Save Current Place...............................................................33
`Scanning.............................................................................34
`Equalizer.............................................................................34
`Frequency Gain.....................................................35
`Room Size and Reverb...........................................35
`Pre-Gain...............................................................36
`Auto-EQ and Auto-Gain.......................................36
`Video Controls.....................................................................36
`PerfectPlay...........................................................................37
`What is PerfectPlay?.........................................................37
`When should you use PerfectPlay?....................................38
`How do you start PerfectPlay?..........................................38
`Customer Support...............................................................38
`
`6 WHAT IS STREAMING MEDIA AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
`
`39
`
`Networking..........................................................................39
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`Internet ...............................................................................40
`Some (very) quick history..................................................41
`That was then.......................................................41
`This is now...........................................................42
`Streaming............................................................................43
`So what is a stream?.........................................................44
`Where do streams come from?.........................................46
`Encoding.........................................................................47
`Codecs............................................................................48
`How does streaming occur?..............................................49
`SureStream...........................................................51
`SMIL ...............................................................................52
`Multicast.........................................................................53
`Firewalls and Security...........................................................54
`Content: How to find it........................................................55
`Channels and Live Stations...............................................55
`Media Access bar.............................................................55
`Web Sites Sub-Menu........................................................56
`
`7
`
`PREFERENCES
`
`57
`
`How to open your Preferences..............................................57
`Windows Control Panel [Windows only]...............................57
`General Preferences..............................................................58
`Display Preferences...............................................................60
`Content Preferences.............................................................61
`Upgrade Preferences.............................................................63
`Connection Preferences........................................................65
`Transport Preferences...........................................................66
`Specify Transports dialog..................................................67
`Proxy Preferences..................................................................69
`Performance Preferences.......................................................71
`Support Preferences.............................................................73
`
`8
`
`TROUBLESHOOTING
`
`75
`
`Video/Display Problems.......................................................75
`How do I get Full Screen to work?.....................................75
`For Windows........................................................75
`For Macintosh......................................................76
`How do I exit Full Screen mode?.......................................76
`Why is my video playback ugly?.........................................76
`To change your color depth in Windows................76
`To change your color depth on Macintosh.............77
`Why is my video distorted or not displaying?.....................77
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`Why is my video showing in my menus [Macintosh]?.........79
`Audio Problems...................................................................79
`Why is my audio playback poor?.......................................79
`Why doesn’t my RealPlayer have a Volume Control?..........80
`Why can(cid:146)t I hear anything?...............................................81
`Connection Problems...........................................................81
`Why can’t I play clips on my computer at work?................81
`Why does RealPlayer use the wrong ISP?...........................81
`Am I behind a Firewall? Do I need to use Proxy?................82
`Other Problems...................................................................85
`How can I stop RealPlayer from loading on start-up?.........85
`What types of files can RealPlayer play?............................85
`To see which components are installed..................87
`
`KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
`
`89
`
`Windows.............................................................................89
`Macintosh...........................................................................90
`
`REALNETWORKS PRIVACY STATEMENTS
`
`GLOSSARY
`
`INDEX
`
`91
`
`93
`
`101
`
`A
`
`B
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`

`ABOUT THIS MANUAL
`
`This manual has been created not to replace the Help feature that comes with
`your RealPlayerfi, but to supplement it. To familiarize you with RealPlayer,
`this manual will step you through the following topics:
`
`(cid:149) Chapters 1-3: How to get up and running quickly with your new software.
`
`(cid:149) Chapters 4-5: Details about all of RealPlayer(cid:146)s features.
`
`(cid:149) Chapter 6:
`
`Streaming Media; what it is and how it works, answers to
`basic Streaming Media questions. It includes background
`and details that helps you under stand data streaming
`technology, the core of RealPlayer
`
`(cid:149) Chapter 7:
`
`Preferences. How you can customize RealPlayer to your own
`tastes and needs.
`
`(cid:149) Chapter 8:
`
`Troubleshooting common problems.
`
`The remaining sections and Appendixes are reference sections to help you
`quickly find answers to common installation problems and pointers to other
`less obvious features (such as Appendix A: Keyboard Shortcuts on page 89).
`
`Note
`RealPlayer has a number of short-cut or right-click
`menus for Windows users. This manual will not cover
`these specifically.
`
`Mac users can access right click menus by using a
`Control-Click combination.
`
`Specific Windows-only differences are mentioned only
`as needed throughout this manual.
`
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`

`Document Conventions
`
`Bold text indicates the names of commands, menu choices or buttons that you
`should select or click on your screen. Bold text may also indicate a URL
`(Internet address) that you can access through your browser.
`
`Italics indicate new terms or ideas in this document. Many of these terms or
`ideas will be included in the Glossary.
`
`Monotype indicates information that you must type in or that is displayed
`on your computer screen.
`
`Points out features that were specially designed for
`RealPlayer Plus users.
`
`test
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`

`INSTALLING REALPLAYER
`
`+D=FJAH 
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`1
`
`Before you install RealPlayer, please take a moment to confirm that
`your computer meets minimum system requirements.
`
`System Requirements
`
`PC (Windows based computer)
`
`Minimal Computer
`
`(cid:149) 120MHz Intel Pentium processor or equivalent
`
`(cid:149) 16MB of RAM
`
`(cid:149) 28.8Kbps modem
`
`(cid:149) 16-bit sound card and speakers
`
`(cid:149) 65,000-color video display card (optional; required for video)
`(cid:149) Windows 95 operating system
`
`(cid:149) Internet connection and web browser (I.E 4.01 or Netscape 4.0 or later)
`
`Recommended Computer
`
`(cid:149) 200MHz Intel Pentium processor or better
`
`(cid:149) 32MB or more of RAM
`
`(cid:149) 56.6Kbps or better modem
`
`(cid:149) Full Duplex sound card and speakers
`
`(cid:149) 65,000-color or better video display card
`
`(cid:149) Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0 with
`Service Pack 4 or later.
`
`(cid:149) Internet connection and web browser (I.E 4.01 or Netscape 4.0 or later)
`
`3
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`

`CHAPTER 1: Installing RealPlayer
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`Macintosh
`
`Minimal Computer
`
`(cid:149) Mac OS 8.1 or later
`
`(cid:149) 64MB RAM
`
`(cid:149) Virtual Memory turned on, set to 65MB
`
`(cid:149) 604 PowerPC (200 MHz or better)
`
`(cid:149) 28.8Kpbs modem Internet Connection
`
`(cid:149) Browser support: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or later, Netscape 4.05
`or later
`
`Recommended Computer
`
`(cid:149) Mac OS 8.5 or later
`
`(cid:149) 64MB RAM
`
`(cid:149) Virtual Memory turned on, set to 128MB
`
`(cid:149) G3 233 (or faster) PowerPC
`
`(cid:149) 56.6Kbps or better Internet Connection for both audio and video
`
`(cid:149) Browser support: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or later, Netscape 4.05
`or later
`
`Windows 95/98/2000 and Windows NT Installation
`
`To install RealPlayer
`
`1. Close any open applications or programs that are currently running.
`
`2. Insert the RealPlayer CD-ROM into your CD-ROM or DVD drive.
`
`If RealPlayer does not install automatically when you insert the CD into
`your CD-ROM or DVD drive, you can start the installation process
`manually.
`
`1. Click Start to open your Start menu.
`
`2. Click Run.
`
`3. Type the letter for your CD-ROM or DVD drive and then type setup.exe
`(for example D:\setup.exe). The RealPlayer installation should begin.
`
`4
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`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`CHAPTER 1: Installing RealPlayer
`
`Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. If you are not
`connected to the Internet during installation, RealPlayer will attempt to
`connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in order to electronically
`register your new Player.
`
`4. At the completion of the installation, you will be shown some of the new
`features of RealPlayer and your browser will automatically connect to a
`Welcome page that will help you connect immediately to media content as
`well as offer additional information about how to use your Player. If you
`did not connect to the Internet earlier to electronically register your
`RealPlayer, your browser will attempt to dial your Internet Service
`Provider (ISP) to make the connection at this time.
`
`Macintosh Installation
`
`To install RealPlayer
`
`1. Double-click the RealPlayer Installer. The installation process will begin.
`Follow the instructions in each of the screens that follow.
`
`2. When installation is complete, your web browser will launch and take you
`to a Welcome page that will help you connect immediately to content as
`well as offer additional information about how to use your Player. If you
`did not connect to the Internet earlier to electronically register your
`RealPlayer, your browser will attempt to dial your Internet Service
`Provider (ISP) to make the connection at this time.
`
`5
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`

`12
`
`BTN0007107
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`

`

`+D=FJAH WHERE TO GO FOR HELP AND
`INFORMATION
`
`2
`
`RealNetworks wants your use of RealPlayer to be as easy and trouble
`free as possible. However, everyone needs help sometimes.
`
`Below are several resources to assist you in resolving any problems
`you encounter.
`
`Help with Using RealPlayer
`
`Your first source for assistance when you have a question should be this
`manual or the Help file. To access Help, select Contents from your RealPlayer
`Help menu.
`
`Note
`Help files can be updated online. To check for and
`download the latest Help files, click Help/Check for
`Updates.
`
`If you don(cid:146)t find your answer in Help or in this manual, RealNetworks has
`several other resources available on the Web (http://service.real.com).
`
`Tips and Tricks:
`The new Real.com Message Service offers RealPlayer Tips and Tricks delivered
`directly to your RealPlayer. To turn on Tips and Tricks, go to the Upgrade tab
`of your RealPlayer Preferences. Click Settings... in the Real.com Product
`Flashes section and then check RealPlayer Tips and Tricks. Learn more about
`RealPlayer messaging in Real.com Message Service on page 29.
`
`Service and Support:
`Service and Support is available to answer your otherwise unanswered
`technical support questions. Service and Support can be reached via the
`Internet at http://service.real.com.
`
`7
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`

`CHAPTER 2: Where to Go for Help and Information
`
`RealPlayer Plus, Version 8, User Manual
`
`Customer Service
`
`Customer Service:
`Customer Service is available to help you with questions about your order,
`delivery, or payment.
`
`Customer Service is available from 8am - 5pm (Pacific Time), Monday
`through Friday, toll-free in the United States and Canada at 888-768-3248.
`Outside the United States and Canada, please dial 206-674-2650.
`
`You can also contact Customer Service via the Service and Support Web pages
`by going to http://service.real.com.
`
`8
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`

`

`A QUICK LOOK AT REALPLAYER
`
`+D=FJAH !
`
`3
`
`Overview
`The following figure, Figure 3-1: RealPlayer Plus, is a visual quick
`reference for all the displays and controls that are on your
`RealPlayer (including the Plus features). Each of the specific areas
`labeled in this figure are illustrated and explained in detail later in
`the chapter. For additional information about each of these
`features, see Chapter 4: RealPlayer - The Basics and Chapter 5: The
`*Plus* in RealPlayer Plus, as well as the Help file available from your
`Help menu (select Help then Contents...).
`
`Figure 3-1: RealPlayer Plus
`
`This view of RealPlayer shows all of the bars and panels available in the default
`View/Normal display of the RealPlayer Plus.
`
`9
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`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`Tip
`You can change the order of how these are stacked by
`using the drag bar to move any bar higher or lower in the
`stack. (Just click and drag.)
`
`Note
`Macintosh users will notice several minor visual
`differences from Figure 3-1: RealPlayer Plus.
`
`Title and Menus
`
`The Title Bar shows the program title (RealPlayer Plus) and the title of the
`media clip that is being played or was last played. (See Figure 3-2: Title, Menus,
`and Control bar.) Each of the pull-down menus lists commands to control the
`functions of RealPlayer. Most of the menu commands duplicate command
`buttons located on the player.
`
`Figure 3-2: Title, Menus, and Control bar
`
`Click to connect to Real.com
`
`Media Clip Title
`
`Title Bar
`
`Menus
`
`Play
`
`Stop
`
`Fast
`Forward
`
`Pause
`
`Rewind
`
`Position
`
`slider
`
`Drag bar
`
`Compact Mode
`
`Equalizer
`RealJukeBox (PC only)
`
`Control bar
`
`The Control bar allows you to navigate through the clip you are playing, with
`player control buttons and a playback position slider.
`
`The Control bar also gives you access to the Equalizer (Plus only),
`RealJukebox(cid:153), and the Compact Mode toggle (which switches between the
`Normal and Compact views).
`
`Additional Information
`Learn more about Navigating through a clip on page 18.
`Learn more about how to use the Equalizer on page 34.
`
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`

`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`Location bar
`
`Figure 3-3: Location bar
`
`Back
`
`Drag bar
`
`Forward
`
`URL of current clip
`
`Drop down list
`of previously
`played clips
`
`The Location bar displays the URL, or address, of the currently loaded clip; this
`is similar to the address bar in your Web browser. Clips can be files stored on
`your computer, or they can be streaming media from a web site. Use Back and
`Forward to jump back and forth between the clips you were playing, just as
`you would with your Web browser. (See Location bar on page 25 for more
`information.)
`
`Clip Info bar
`
`Figure 3-4: Clip Info bar
`
`Drag bar
`
`Title/Author/Copyright
` display
`
`Rollbar
`
`Displays
`More Info
`
`The Clip Info bar displays information about the currently loaded clip. By
`clicking the rollbar you can make the information scroll past again. Clicking
`More Info opens a dialog with additional information if the content provider
`has supplied any.
`
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`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`Playlist bar
`
`Figure 3-5: Playlist bar
`
`Drag bar
`
`Displays title
`of current clip
`in Playlist
`
`Jump back to
`previous
`clip
`
`Skip to
`next clip
`
`Current clip
`of (cid:147)x(cid:148) clips
`in Playlist
`
`The Playlist bar will open automatically when you are playing a multi-clip (a clip
`that contains other clips in sequence). When the playlist is displayed, the title
`of the clip currently being played is displayed in the left text box; the number
`of clips in the playlist and the number of the current clip is indicated in the
`right text box. (See also Playlist bar on page 25.) To open the Playlist bar
`manually, use the View menu (View/Playlist).
`
`Additional Information
`You can create a multi-clip by selecting playable files
`(clips) from your local directory and dropping them
`into the player. (You can do this with a simple click and
`drag.) This creates a temporary *.ram file that links the
`selected files.
`
`When a multi-clip has been loaded into the player, the clips will be listed on
`the playlist bar and can be played in sequence or in random order (select menu
`command Play/Shuffle Play). Individual clips from the list can be selected from
`a pull down menu in the clip title box, or with the Jump back and Skip next
`buttons.
`
`Content Panel
`
`The Content panel provides access to RealMedia(cid:153) on the Web. My Channels lists
`media channels that offer immediate access to new streamed multi-media
`content. With RealPlayer Plus, the Content Panel can also show My Favorites; a
`directory of folders that can be created and used to organize and access your
`favorite media clips. (More about favorite clips later, but this can include radio
`stations, media channels, and locally stored media clips.)
`
`12
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`

`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`Figure 3-6: My Channels
`
`Click to open
` Channels
`
`Click a
`Channel
`to
`connect
`
`Click to goto
`real.com(cid:146)s
`Take 5 site.
`
`Headline
`from
`associated
`Channels
`
`Last time
`Headlines
`were updated
`
`Access
`Options
`
`My Channels shows a list of streaming media channels that you can
`personalize from the available RealChannels provided by Real.com(cid:153) for your
`RealPlayer. (See Figure 3-6: My Channels.) Above the Channels list you will
`also see Real.com Take 5. It’s an all-media intenet experience. Real.com Take 5
`is updated each morning, along with a special "best of" weekend edition.
`Click on the Real.com Take 5 icon to start playing this feature. (See Real.com
`Take 5 on page 21.)
`
`You can customize your Channels list whenever you are on-line. Select from
`dozens of Channels provided by leading news, music, entertainment, sports,
`biz/tech, and health/science sources. (See also Channels on page 20.) All
`RealPlayer Channels take advantage of the new SMIL format which offers a
`richer experience by using multiple types of streams at once (see SMIL on page
`52).
`
`When you come across content that you want to return to regularly, you can
`use the Favorites/Add to Favorites command to bookmark the location (just
`like bookmarks on your web browser). You can display and select your favorite
`channels from the Favorites menu.
`
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`

`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`Figure 3-7: My Favorites
`
`Click to open
`My Favorites
`
`Click a folder
`to open it
`
`Double-click
` a Favorite
`to connect
`
`Click to add
`current clip to
`My Favorites
`
`Access
`Options
`
`My Favorites is a list of links similar to bookmarks in a browser. You can add,
`remove, arrange, and even send Favorites to friends and co-workers (see
`Sharing Favorites on page 24). Favorites can be organized in folders and a
`single click will play the selected media. (See My Favorites on page 31 for more
`information).
`
`Display panel
`
`Figure 3-8: Display Panel (PC)
`
`
`
`Figure 3-9: Display Panel (Mac)
`
`
`Display
`area
`
`Audio
`Analyzer
`
`Display
`area
`
`Click to
`through
`cycle
`different
`Analyzers
`
`Zoom
`Video
`controls
`
`Mute
`
`Volume
`
`Visualizations
`
`Zoom
`
`Mute
`
`Volume
`
`Video
`controls
`
`The Display panel is where the visual part of a clip will be shown (text, graphics
`and images). It also hosts the Zoom, Video Controls(Plus onlyon;y), Mute, and
`Volume, as well as Visualizations (PC) or the Audio Analyzer (Mac) controls.
`
`Learn more about the Visualizations and Audio Analyzer on page 26 and
`about the Video Controls on page 36. More can be found about the Zoom
`function in(cid:147)Resizing(cid:148) on page 30.
`
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`

`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`Real.com Media bar
`
`Figure 3-10:Real.com Media bar
`
`Drag bar
`
`Connect to
`Radio Tuner
`
`Connect to
`Real.com Guide
`
`Connect to
`Search
`
`Open Real.com
`Message Service Menu
`
`Connect to
`Real.com
`
`Click on the icons on the Media bar to access the following Real.com
`locations:
`
`(cid:149) Radio Tuner: Find links to real-time radio broadcasts.
`
`(cid:149) Search: Real.com(cid:146)s world wide web RealMedia search engine.
`
`(cid:149) Guide: Go to Real.com Guide, an up-to-date guide to streaming media on
`the web.
`
`(cid:149) Message Service: Select and view daily updated news and information
`messages.
`
`(cid:149) Real.com: View Real.com(cid:146)s home page.
`
`Status bar
`
`Figure 3-11: Status bar
`
`Status of clip
`(Play/Pause/Stop)
`
`Bandwidth
`
`Indicates
`G2 content
`
`Time played/Total length
`
`Drag bar
`
`NetHealth
`
`The Status bar gives you quick answers about your current connection and the
`actual length of the clip you are playing. If you are connected to a live feed
`(such as a radio station that is currently broadcasting) the word (cid:147)Live(cid:148) will
`appear instead of a time. More detailed information about the Status bar is
`available in your Help file (Help/Contents...).
`
`Additional Information
`(cid:147)G2(cid:148) content refers to streaming media that is encoded
`or streamed with the advanced data streaming
`technology developed by RealNetworksfi.
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`CHAPTER 3: A Quick look at RealPlayer
`
`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`Message bar
`
`Figure 3-12: Message bar
`
`Drag bar
`
`Type of Flash
`(Tips and Tricks shown)
`
`Click to play Flash
`
`The Message bar appears if you receive a priority message (such as a Product
`Flash) from the Real.com Message Service. To play this message, click the
`message text on the message bar.
`
`Note
`You can select in advance which Product Flashes you
`receive by setting your RealPlayer Preferences. See
`Content Preferences on page 61 and Upgrade
`Preferences on page 63.
`
`Click to play Flash
`
`On Windows systems, Flashes are also indicated as
`an icon in your Windows Tool Tray (where the time
`is displayed, shown to left). Click the icon to launch
`the message. If you have StartCenter running (see
`page 59), your RealPlayer icon will flash or have a
`gleam on it.
`
`Learn more about the Real.com Message Service on page 29.
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`REALPLAYER - THE BASICS
`
`+D=FJAH "
`
`4
`
`With every new version of RealPlayer, RealNetworks tries to improve
`your experience, not only in what you hear and see, but also in how
`you use the program. This chapter describes the basic functions,
`common to both RealPlayer and RealPlayer Plus.
`
`Additional Information
`Check your Help file for additional information about
`RealPlayer features. (Be sure to download the latest Help
`file update. Just go to Help/Check for Update.)
`
`So now that I have this software, what do I do with it?
`
`RealPlayer gives you access to multimedia files, both on the Internet and those
`stored locally on your computer and your LAN. With RealPlayer you can find
`and play Channels, Live Stations, and other clips directly without having to
`launch your web browser first. My Favorites and Scanning (features of
`RealPlayer Plus, detailed in Chapter 5) let you organize and search for clips
`with just a few clicks of your cursor.
`
`Note
`Clip is a catch-all phrase to describe anything RealPlayer
`plays. A clip can be video, audio, video with audio,
`RealTextfi, RealPix(cid:153), Real System G2 with Flash, any
`combination of these, or any other form of audio-visual
`media that a plug-in is available for.
`
`Some clips contain more than one song or video; these
`are called multi-clips. A multi-clip strings together several
`individual clips of content, but you only have to click on
`it a single time to hear or see all of the media associated
`with that clip.
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`CHAPTER 4: RealPlayer - The Basics
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`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
`
`The Many Ways to Play a Clip
`
`There are two very different ways to play media (clips) on your computer. The
`first is local playback. Local playback is when you use the Open File... option
`from your RealPlayer File menu.
`
`The second way clips are played, is as streamed content. This is any clip that is
`played in real-time over the Internet. But before you can play a clip on the
`Internet you have to connect to it. You can connect to streamed content by
`clicking on links in a web page, using the Open Location... option from your
`RealPlayer File menu or by using any of the new options RealPlayer has to
`offer: My Channels, My Favorites (Plus only), and the Real.com Media bar.
`
`Note
`For a complete discussion of streaming media and the
`Internet, please see Chapter 6: What is Streaming Media
`and How does it Work? on page 39.
`
`Navigating through a clip
`
`When you start playing a clip, you have loaded it. A clip remains loaded until
`you select a new clip. Loading a clip means either that you are connected to it or
`that it was the last clip you were listening to during the current session of
`RealPlayer. A session starts when you launch RealPlayer and ends when you
`close it. Stopping a clip does not unload it. Stopping a clip just resets it to play
`from the beginning. However, just because a clip is loaded does not mean you
`are necessarily connected to the Internet. Loading a clip only means that
`RealPlayer knows where to look for it and what clip it should work with when
`you click any of the control buttons (see table on next page).
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`RealPlayer 8 Plus User Manual
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`CHAPTER 4: RealPlayer - The Basics
`
`
`
`Button
`
`Action
`
`Navigation
`
`Play starts a clip from the beginning or from where you
`paused it. Live streaming media (example: live radio) starts at
`the current point in the program.
`
`Pause freezes playback of the clip. If you pause a clip for
`several minutes, you may be disconnected from the clip. When
`you resume playback there may be a delay while RealPlayer
`reconnects to the site. Real-time streaming media is not
`buffered while puased and will reconnect at the current point
`in the program.
`
`Stop halts playback and resets the clip to the beginning.
`
`The Position Slider indicates where you are in the clip.
`Dragging the slider to a new position will let you jump around
`a large clip(cid:151)watch the time indicator on your Status bar for
`your location. (Not available during Live media play.)
`
`The longer you hold down Fast Forward, the further ahead in
`the clip you will jump. (Not available during Live media play.)
`
`Th