RealNetworks announced the public availability of RealPlayer 10 — its first major new player release in two years. The company said its RealVideo 10 codec delivers a 30% efficiency improvement over RealVideo 9, enabling DVD quality video at approximately 1 Mbps and HiDefinition quality video at approximately 5 Mbps. It also offers the ability to pause live streaming video.
Tbe RealAudio 10 codec also adds a new capabilities, including support for the AAC codec for use in CD ripping and music downloads, RealAudio Multichannel for home theatre experiences, and RealAudio Lossless quality for the highest fidelity, and professional archiving.
A free version of RealPlayer 10 can play all of the major formats used on the Web, including Real, Windows Media, QuickTime MPEG-4, MP3, as well as the secure versions of these formats used by online music stores.
RealNetworks has also significantly expanded its content discovery services. Its “Real Guide” includes thousands of free and premium audio and video clips in the News, Sports, Music and Entertainment categories and includes free 30-second samples of most premium content. http://www.realnetworks.com
