Flash Player v RealPlayer

[french frank]

I always install the latest version of FlashPlayer (oh, yes I do!) because there have been occasions when the BBC site seemed to require it when accessing some content. The latest version tells me there is an 'issue' with RealPlayer (which I have installed, oh, yes I have, because some content on the BBC site seemed to require it).

Now Flash Player is advising me to remove RealPlayer. But what is the 'RealPlayer "browser download button"'?

Shall I just chuck them both out? What will be the repercussions? Or just ignore the advice and wait until I have a problem?

Worried of Bristol

[Russ]

There has been, both on PCs and Macs, a long-running problem between Adobe's Flash and the Real Player 'Download and Record Plugin'. I have not found a recent instance to confirm Adobe's categorical statement that "Adobe Flash Player crashes when exiting a page that has SWF file content and the RealPlayer browser download button feature is enabled.", so I regard what they say as an out-of-date statement and a way of taking a commercial swipe at Real Player. If you have the latest version of Flash (which, from your message, you obviously have done, but if you want to see what version you have installed, check here) and your browser is up to date, there shouldn't be a problem. At least there shouldn't be a problem anymore for a PC, but I can't comment on your Mac situation. I suggest keep both Flash and the RealPlayer plugin until you experience an actual problem with your setup.

Btw, I haven't come across any recent (post-2009?) BBC content that requires realplayer interaction or streaming, but I expect those streams are still available.

Russ

[french frank]

Btw, I haven't come across any recent (post-2009?) BBC content that requires realplayer interaction or streaming, but I expect those streams are still available.

Thanks for that, Russ. Certainly, my memory of having to download RealPlayer for the BBC site dates back a few years.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks for that, Russ. Certainly, my memory of having to download RealPlayer for the BBC site dates back a few years.

Mine was recent - members might recall the difficulties I was having playing iplayer - now thankfully sorted by my computer whizz kid.

[OldTechie]

Btw, I haven't come across any recent (post-2009?) BBC content that requires realplayer interaction or streaming, but I expect those streams are still available.
Russ

No, they dropped real player. See the bbc radiolabs blog at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radiolabs...n_update.shtml

[cancom]

i removed real player long ago when it was just getting on my nerves with advertisements. never missed it so far!