player

Apr 27 2009

What’s Real really doing?

What’s Real really doing?
By: Jon Gales

If you are an OS X user
there is a 97% chance that you’ve asked yourself… "Where’s Real for OS
X?". I’ve been asking this since last year and have yet to find an answer.
After searching Real’s notorius hellish* site for several
minutes I found:

"RealNetworks
is fully committed to the Macintosh and we’re actively working on bringing
our latest technologies to the Macintosh platform." [real.com]

Big talk but no results.
I don’t buy it. A company that has ignored the fastest growing alternitive operating
system in the world for 14 months is crazy and is not to be trusted. If you
buy a Mac today you get OS X. Isn’t it fair to have a player for the default
OS? I believe so, that’s why I am asking for your help. I’ve already written
letters but my meager offereings don’t do anything.

I’ve written a form (below)
that sends what you type to Real as an email. Maybe if 3,000+ people send there
wishes for an OS X version of RealPlayer they may wake up and smell the roses.
If you would like to share you comments with me, or want them posted on MacMerc.com
please email or AIM[jonknee41] me. Thanks
for your participation!

Also, if you get a reply
send it to me – I am going to be making a page containing official Real
communications. Most Mac users want to be informed on the progress of Real so
with your help we’ll be the place!

The form also uses an amazing
bit of technology that I myself created (just a few months ago). You will recieve
an email as soon as Real opens your letter (as long as they use an HTML capable
mail reader)! I’m not kidding! Obviously if you put a fake email address you
won’t get anything icon razz Whats Real really doing? . If you have the "Let MacMerc publish" button
checked your email will be saved in our system for review and possible addition
to the site (sans the name and email address). If you don’t want us to save
anything just uncheck the box!

We have posted some of the initial letters sent to Real! Thanks for your support and please continue to write Real!

TALK TO REAL FORM:

Name:

Email:

Comment:

Let
MacMerc publish?

 

 


*By hellish I mean hard to navigate. All the pressure is to get you to buy.
I’d pay but there is no version available for my computer. Too bad.

By admin • Articles, Editorials • 0 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apr 27 2009

What’s Real really doing? Part 2– Real Letters

By: Jon Gales

Here are some of the better
responses MacMerc fans wrote to Real
regarding the lack of an OS X player. If you haven’t yet written
one please do! We still need more! It doesn’t take long at all. Just tell them
you want Real for OS X or at least an explanation.

READER LETTERS:

"RealNetworks folks,
How much longer do MacOSX users have to wait for a version of RealPlayer that’s
built for our operating system. MacOSX was released more than a year ago, and
we still don’t even see a beta version available. As an owner of RealPlayer
8 Plus, I’m ready to see not only a version built for OSX (that contains all
the Windows features) but one that is also stable. I think you owe your customers
a response! "

–

"Dear Real,
I have been a PAYING Customer of your macintosh products since you first entered
the Mac market. As one of the few companies/ products successfully competing
against MIcrosoft, it makes no sense for you to ignore a natural, affluent constituency…"

–

"Dear Real:
I am a Mac user and regular web surfer. I consider the RealPlayer to be a cornerstone
of the internet experience, and have been frustrated in my move to OS X by the
lack of a compatible player. Running the Player in classic is not an adequate
option, as any user of Mac OS X will try not to run classic if at all possible,
and to launch classic (nearly a minute) in order to play a short video clip
seems ridiculous. As a result I have stopped viewing RealPlayer clips, and there
is a hole in my net experience.. Where are you, Real? Bring the Player to X!
"

–

"I hope you’ll
release a public statement soon about the availability of RealPlayer for Mac
OS X. Many large advertising companies, such as my employer, utilitize growing
numbers of Mac OS X systems. Before the end of the year, every Mac in our company
will be running Mac OS X due to the need for better integration and interoperability
with our network/server infrastructure. If RealPlayer isn’t available for Mac
OS X, our company will likely pressure vendors to employ Windows Media format
or Quicktime content on their websites, rather than RealNetworks content Thank
you. "

–

"Hi, I’m a Macintosh
Technician in Manhattan and deal with several large-sized clients along with
single end-users thrown in every once in a while. Almost every week I upgrade
an OS or two to Mac OS X and am asked "Oh… a don’t forget Real Player…
I like that…’" after which I need to tell the client that there is no
Real Player (or Real Plus) for Mac OS X yet. With the release of another major
update of MAc OS X coming soon and the availability of products from Microsoft
and Adobe (among others) I am seeing a large amount of business devoted to OS
X. If you could release Real software for OS X soon I know of a lot of clients
that would install it the same day. Please release Real software for Mac OS
X. "

–

"Just the other
day I realized that it had been a year since I started using Mac OS X. I also
realized that it had been a year since I last used RealPlayer to play any online
video or audio content. This is really a shame. I know that I have missed out
on some valuable online content because you have yet to bring RealPlayer to
Mac OS X. Then I read that you have been promising to do this for over a year.
I find it hard to believe that it is really taking you this long to bring RealPlayer
to Mac OS X."

 

Of course – the
usual one liners were sent as well but that will always happen. Everything helps
our cause. For those that couldn’t care less about Real, competetion makes products
better! We don’t want to have QuickTime the only game in town! Pass this
around to friends. Get as many people to send letters as you can If you get
official replies from real please send
them to me. I’ll post all that I can. Any communication from Real directed towards
me about this article and email form will be posted as well. Thanks! – Jon

By admin • Articles, Editorials • 0 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apr 27 2009

Maximizing Studio MX

Yes, congrats to Macromedia on selling 250,00 copies of Studio MX. For those of you lucky dogs who have it, today’s downloads will make sure you’re getting the most from it. I also have something for those of you who don’t have it yet.

Studio MX

That’s right, our first free download for Studio MX IS Studio MX. Though only free for 30 days, that is one heck of a deal. With the incredible tools in MX, you ought to be able to make enough from your first project to buy it. Also, if you are a student, you can get Studio MX for the obscenely low price of $199.

Flash Player 6r60

Be sure you’re using the latest version of the Flash plugin. What difference there is between 6r58 and 6r60 I couldn’t tell you. But hey, it’s free, right?

Macromedia Extension Manager

If you have Studio MX, then the free Extension Manager is your window to the outside world. Macromedia’s Exchange is one of the most useful user communities you will ever be a part of. This site hosts hundreds of extensions for Dreamweaver and Flash. Using these extensions can expand the capability of Studio MX and save you hours of tedious programming.

So, just because you plunk down a wad on Studio MX does not mean you can’t enjoy the freebies too. And, if you don’t have Studio MX, you can download it and live a month of the good life for free.

Brian

By admin • Articles, Freeloader Friday Download of the Week • 0 • Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »