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June 12, 2007

RealPlayer 11 Lets You Download Videos from the Web

The much-hated RealPlayer will get an upgrade that adds an easy way to download videos from the web, a slicker interface and a friendlier relationship with your computer. "The new RealPlayer gives consumers more control of Internet video than was ever possible before. By floating a download this video button next to video seen on thousands of Web sites, RealPlayer makes it one-click simple," said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO of Real in a press release.


The feature works for video streams and for most video formats available online (Flash, Windows Media, QuickTime, and Real), including those hosted by video sharing sites like YouTube. The same YouTube whose terms clearly state that "you will not copy or distribute any part of the Website in any medium without YouTube's prior written authorization". The same YouTube that sent a Cease & Desist letter to TechCrunch for hosting a tool that downloads videos from YouTube.

In the meantime, Real Player is a part of Google Pack and Real has some distribution deals with Google. It will be interesting to see if Google/YouTube tolerates this. I know there are many sites that let you download FLV videos from YouTube and even extensions that integrate with those sites, but RealPlayer will definitely be more visible.

Although the application will be officially released at the end of the month, Cybernet News managed to find it at this address [13.3 MB, Windows].
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousJune 12, 2007 at 3:03 PM

    I imagine that Real got YouTube's permission. They wouldn't want to jepordize all those downloads with Google Pack.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJune 12, 2007 at 4:29 PM

    Real is also actively fighting software makers which let people download RealVideo streams, e.g. Streambox VCR.

    Now they put the functionality to download 3rd party streams from the web into their own player. Hypocrites.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJune 15, 2007 at 12:30 AM

    maybe one day, Google would buy Real Player.. :D

    p.s: borrow your image. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. gurugordonApril 28, 2008 at 9:55 AM

    As an owner of a site with subscription video content, this is blatant encouragement for online piracy. From a company which has fought so hard to protect its own rights and software this is, as another blogger stated, hypocrisy.
    May they fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotches of all those who work and control Real Player development.

    ReplyDelete

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