KEY POINTS:
Real Networks has released a new version of its player that allows users to download video from sources like YouTube directly to their computer hard drives.
Real Player 11 will allow one-click downloads from thousands of websites and allows users to copy the files to CD or DVD.
It will not, however, allow download of DRM (digital rights management) protected content.
Users won't be able to upload content to other websites, but the player does feature "share with a friend" capability.
It is conversant with other popular file formats, including Flash, Quicktime and Windows Media.
One-click video download is a first for a free player, but Apple's Quicktime Pro software has capable of saving streamed some formats of streamed video for some time.
Currently, Real Networks only has a Windows version available, which works with both Internet Explorer and Firefox. A Mac version is planned for later in the year.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
