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For Windows users using Internet Explorer, the easiest thing to
do is to go back to the Windows Update page, click on the box next to
Windows Media Player on the list, and click on "Download." Media
Player will be downloaded to your computer, and will install automatically.
Again, this program is free to download and use.
Note to Windows 95 users: The most recent version of Windows Media
Player is 7.1. However, Windows 95 users have to install the older version
6.4. Don't worry, 6.4 will still play all the file formats that 7.1 will
play. The primary feature 6.4 lacks is a more advanced (but also slower,
less stable, and in many ways, much more annoying) player interface.
 Installing
RealAudio can be a bit trickier than installing Windows Media. Real Networks
(the company that makes RealAudio) has several different websites, not all of
which lead directly to the download of the player. Furthermore, there are two
kinds of players that you can download: a free version, and a version that costs
some money. The free version is somewhat hard to find on the download pages,
but it is still available, and is generally all you need to listen to most RealAudio
content.
When you hit Real's home page at (here), you'll see a big advertisement
for RealPlayer Plus -- that's the version that will (ultimately) cost you money.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you'll see a button for RealPlayer
8 Free. Clicking on this button, however, will take you to a page where the
RealPlayer Plus is advertised yet again, but if you look carefully on the page
you'll see a link that says RealPlayer Basic -- which, in this case, is the
same as RealPlayer 8 Free.
The differences between RealPlayer Basic and RealPlayer Plus
can be found in the advertisements for RealPlayer Plus on the page. The player
itself has a few more options, such as more advanced audio and video controls.
The biggest difference, however, is the inclusion of Real's "GoldPass,"
which is a subscription service for Real's radio stations, MLB game rebroadcasts,
and various other perks. Again, however, most RealAudio content available on
other sites can be viewed or heard using RealPlayer Basic.
Clicking on "RealPlayer Basic" will take you to another page
where Real asks for some information (e-mail address, computer type, etc.) before
you can download. If you don't want to receive any e-mail from Real, make sure
that any checkboxes that might say "Send me news from Real" or something
similar are unchecked.
Just before you download the installer, you will be taken to a page
that asks you what you want to download -- RealPlayer 8 "minimal,"
"standard," or "complete." If you choose anything other
than "minimal," Real will try to get you to download and install two
of their other products -- RealJukebox and RealDownload. Our advice is to avoid
downloading and installing these programs. Generally speaking, they're very
obtrusive and none too stable, and you can get similar functionality in other,
better-behaving programs. Choose "minimal" and click on the download
button.
On the next and final page you will see is a listing of places from
which to download the installer. The best thing to do here is simply click on
the location nearest you. For example, U.S. users should probably choose "Seattle,
WA," since it is the only US location listed.
Once you click on the location, you will start to see RealPlayer download
-- with the RealDownload application, which we said not to get. Don't worry,
though: this is just a small program that you won't see after you've finished
downloading RealPlayer.
Once RealPlayer has finished downloading, it will install itself. It
might ask you to restart your computer. It might also pop up a dialogue asking
you to again enter some information such as your e-mail address. Like before,
if you don't want to receive e-mail from Real, make sure the necessary boxes
are unchecked.
Next page:
Listening to streams
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