About RealPlayer

Before we start guiding you through RealPlayer, let us tell you what it is.

If you've been a long time internet user then the "Real" media brand is certainly something you're well aware of. Real Player continues to remain a pivotal part of the big-three media players which includes Microsoft's and Apple's software. Over the past two years Real has began to evolve into something much bigger and better than an internet movie player. Now Real has become your PC's central entertainment system, as it features radio stations, music downloads via Real Rhapsody, information (with clips, reviews, etc) on theatrical movie releases and DVDs, burning CDs, synching with MP3 players (iPods included!), and so much more that it's seemingly endless.

The Start
First up, let's talk about the main page, which will always greet you with something that may catch your eye. For instance, when I booted up the program, I saw a splash about Muse's new video "Starlight". I'm an enormous fan of the band and so with that one splash, I was hooked. Other splashes included Jo-Jo, Spider-Man3, trailer, a preview of the newest Survivor episode, and a trailer for "Running with Scissors". Scroll down a little further and you're greeted with more things, like music videos, celebrity gossip, new single releases, what to expect at the weekend box office and more.

The more you scroll, the more you'll see. Click on whatever interests you and you will be directed to your selection and from there you'll be able to view your selection. Want to see the new Madonna video? It's right there. If you want to see another music video, simply click on the Music tab to the left and Real will direct you to Real Rhapsody online. From there select Music Videos (below the Learn, Shop, Play tabs), and search. Of course, be aware that Real is still adding a plethora of videos everyday, so if you don't find your artist give it time.

Burning CDs
With Real you can also burn or transfer music with a few clicks. Simply click the Burn/Transfer tab at the top of the page and then proceed with the burn setup. If you've ever burned using other software, then you'll have no problem burning with Real. You can drag and drop the songs you want, or you can choose them one by one from your library via Real. You'll be able to choose to burn either an MP3, audio, or data CD. In the options, configure your settings and choose your speed -- and you're ready to go.