JetAudio - a "real" alternative to RealOne?
Lets face it, RealOne player is pure evil.
Realplayer frequently contacts realnetworks while you�re online (even if you turn this feature off), sending them god knows what info from the hard
drive, tries to entice you via pop ups to spend money, plays havoc with the windows registry and aggressively picks fights with other applications
over who�s going to play what file.
It contains programs that constantly run, using up resources and interfering with other applications.
If you attempt to close down these programs (Ctrl + Alt + Delete) they will simply start up again soon as you do ANYTHING.
If you have Realone player installed press �Ctrl + Alt + Delete� (do it now, it�s safe � click on �cancel� to close dialogue box) and you will likely
find the following two applications running.
realsched.exe
FileDescription : RealNetworks Scheduler
InternalName : schedapp
rnathchk.exe
FileDescription : RealNetworks ATH Check App
InternalName : rnathchk
If you want a good look at what applications are running on the computer install the free Ad-aware program from lavasoft (see below) and run a scan. I
would recommend you run this to find out what applications realplayer has installed so you can then check that they are all cleaned out after you
uninstall realplayer (run Ad-aware scan with realplayer open).
Use �Add/Remove Programs� (Start Menu/Settings/Control panel) to uninstall realplayer.
After uninstalling Realplayer, realsched.exe may still be there. After deleting it separately, when you attempt to empty the trash it will pop
straight back out of the recycle bin, ending up in some God forsaken folder somewhere in windows.
Use �Disk Cleanup�(Start Menu/ProgramsAccessories/System Tools) to empty the recycle bin after deleting this.
In one instance Running Norton System Works (a top utilities application) after such an uninstall, found over FOUR HUNDRED invalid registry entries
and over TWO HUNDRED invalid shortcuts related to realplayer � no wonder things were a bit sluggish!
So having rid oneself of this evil, how does one and still play Real media files?
Here are two great FREEWARE programs that between them will display any image, video, or audio file that you are ever likely to come across, including
Real file formats (rm , ram), streaming audio/video and DivX files.
No pop ups, adware or spyware. (as far as I have been able to ascertain thus far)
IrfanView:
www.irfanview.com...
IrfanView is simply one the best still image viewers available and will play all the most common audio/video files INCLUDING RAM and RM
It has high quality basic image editing tools as well as instant thumbnails, instant auto/manual slide show, screen capture, and batch
rename/conversion. It will create panorama images (join two or more images together), and will even work with ico files (make your own desktop icons)
And this all happens VERY FAST.
IrfanView also has the sweetest sound of any player full stop - great for those mp3�s!
A couple of disadvantages are a few very minor bugs and a complete absence of any sound manipulation tools, eg no equaliser (for those who like things
uncluttered this would be seen as a plus).
File size of iview380.exe is only 822 KB. Don�t forget to download the 3.5MB all_plugins.exe as well.
JetAudio:
www.cowon.com...
After you have installed iview380.exe and all_plugins.exe, there will still be some audio/video files that you can�t play (this depends to some extent
on what codecs are available on your computer)
The solution may be to install JetAudio as well.
JetAudio is a beautiful full-featured player with excellent sound and very high quality video.
It has everything you could possibly need, including a twenty-band graphic equaliser, CD ripper, and burner. (Although I still prefer to use Cdex for
ripping and Nero Burning Rom for writing CD�s).
JetAudio even has a clock and timer/alarm and WILL PLAY RM AND RAM FILES.
Some may feel this player is �over featured�, however it still maintains a remarkably uncluttered and pleasant interface with a choice of two standard
�skins�.
A small disadvantage may be the rather large file size at 17 MB (JAD5.exe).
DivX codec:
www.divx.com...
If you are still unable to play DivX files you may need to install DivX codec v5.05
A few more great FREE apps�.
Ad-aware:
www.lavasoft.de...
Find out about uninvited applications that are running on your system, easily deletes data mining cookies.
WordWeb:
www.wordweb.co.uk...
A great little dictionary.
ChaosPro
www.chaospro.de...
Generate full screen quality fractals (then use IrfanView to make windows icons). (Resource hungry).
Mozilla:
www.mozilla.org...
The latest version of Mozilla is effective internet browser. Even nice just to have a change from internet-explorer (you don�t have to uninstall
internet-explorer, so have a choice of either) Has inbuilt pop up stopper and can block specified cookies.
CDex:
www.cdex.n3.net...
Should be called Jack.
KNOPPIX:
www.knopper.net...
(Open Source) Try out LINUX without uninstalling the windows operating system. This 701 MB CD will boot up from the CD rom drive. Simply insert the CD
and restart the computer. It has the works; -Open Office, image viewers, media players and games. CAN EVEN ACCESS ALL EXISTING FILES ON C DRIVE
To go back to windows simply �log out� remove the CD and restart the computer.
[Edited on 19-8-2003 by thepresidentsbrain]