RealAudio

RealAudio is a proprietary audio format developed by RealNetworks. It is especially designed to conform to low bandwidths, and it can be used as a streaming audio format, i.e. played at the same time as it is downloaded.

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Many internet radio stations use RealAudio to stream their programming over the internet in real time. The first version of RealAudio was released in 1995. As of 2005, the current version is RealAudio 10.

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RealAudio files normally have a file extension of .ra, .rm or .ram.

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The main player for RealAudio content is RealNetworks' RealPlayer. With RealPlayer, it is not possible to save an audio stream to a file. The free programs MPlayer and StreamBox VCR can be used for this purpose, as can HiDownload. Other free programs to play RealAudio files are Real Alternative or JetAudio, which requires a download of an additional, free plugin to play them.

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Proprietary: Proprietary indicates that a party exercises private ownership, control or use over an item of property, usually to the exclusion of other parties....

RealNetworks: RealNetworks is a Seattle-based provider of Internet media delivery software and services. The company is best known for the creation of RealAudio, a compressed audio format, and RealVideo, a compressed video format, and for its leadership in the field of streaming media....

Streaming: Streaming may mean:...