ReaL Media Format
Strengths
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Real Media video and audio formats are copetitive with other formats with
regards to quality. Real has a player for Macintosh and Windows computers.
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Real's Helix server can host Real, Quicktime and Windows Media files, which may simplify some
basic hosting solutions. Since Windows Media Server and Quicktime Streaming Servers are free
and within their respecitive technologies more powerful products,
this advantage in reality has rather minimal benefit to the users. It more often than not causes
compatibility problems with more recent players.
- The DoIT Streaming Servers support Real Media format only for currently hosted content. We plan to phase
out Real media completely.
Weaknesses
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Encoding software for Real has been limited to expensive commercial tools. Real provides a
basic tool for free, but it doesn't allow backward compatible files to be encoded, forcing
users to upgrade their players to see your content.
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Real Media player has less than desirable support for backward
compatibility. Users may be required to upgrade their player
to view content. The format has been losing general appeal and
DoIT stopped offering the service for new customers due to lack
of demand. We now consider the format a legacy solution.
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It is difficult for users to find the free Real Media Player
on the Real Web site. Users often find themselves being asked
to purchase a player or asked to enter a credit card number
to subscribe to an online service. There are ways around
this, but it is difficult. We suggest creating a direct
link to the free download player.
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