How do I use RealOne?
The RealOne Player is a piece of software that plugs in to your web browser and acts like a video or tape recorder - allowing you to view audio and video material from anywhere on the internet.
The player's controls are really simple-to-use, and combine the familiar 'Play', 'Skip' and 'Stop' controls of a CD player, with the address bar and visual display of a web browser.
Using the RealOne player can provide you with access to news, music videos, animation and film trailers.
Download and install
If you haven't already got RealOne Player on your computer you can go to the Real.com website and download a copy of either the free player ( Mac or PC) or the full version which you have to pay for.
It is available on both PCs and Apple Macs, and configures with all the main web browsers.
Download instructions are pretty simple - you just register and wait for the six or so megabyte programme to transfer to your computer.
See our step-by-step guide.
The install wizard should guide you through the rest of the process, before the RealOne Player opens up and plays you an introductory audio and video clip.
Once installed, Real One provides your browser with the necessary technology to play streaming media such as audio and video.
This may appear 'inside' the web page you are viewing or open up in the stand-alone viewer.
However, if your internet connection speed is via a 28K or 56K modem then don't expect TV quality footage or sound.
The difference between the free version of RealOne Player and the full version of the software, is access to the media channels that offer added extras such as movie previews, music and footage from across the net.
The free player has access to a few channels of content, but it is essentially just the player without graphic equaliser and other extras. it's good enough for almost everything you want to do though.
Playing audio and video
From online radio stations, animated movie clips or MP3s of your favourite music tracks, RealOne can play most formats of audio or video available on the internet.
If you see the RealOne or Real Player logo near media content on a website, then you should be able to play the clips from it.
To play audio or video clips from most websites, you just have to visit the relevant page, click on the link, and the RealOne Player will automatically open and begin playing the clip.
If that doesn't work, try downloading the clip to your computer and opening it from your desktop.
The quality of the playback and speed of download for all streaming audio and video files is related to your internet connection - the faster the connection, the better the quality of the clips.
RealOne music library
The RealOne player also acts as a music library for all your MP3s and audio files on your computer - it will even play your regular music CDs if you have a CD Drive.
Turn your computer into a jukebox of all your favourite music with audio files downloaded from the internet and tracks from your favourite CDs.
Simply select the audio file from your hard drive and choose 'Save CD tracks' in the 'Tools' menu - and you can have all your music in one convenient place.
If you have a writeable CD drive then you can even use the RealOne Player to compile all your audio and video files ready for burning onto a blank CD.