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Streaming Audio and
Video |
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View detailed
findings for all Criteria Groups. Please be patient while the data
loads. |
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Client |
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The
functionality and features of the component of the product that runs
on the PC in a client/server architecture product. |
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Factor: Standard |
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Product Name |
RealSystem
G2
7.0 |
Windows Media
Technologies
4.1 |
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Manufacturer |
Real Networks |
Microsoft
Corporation |
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Group Score:
145 out of 200
Total Score:
836 out of 1085 |
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Group Score:
142 out of 200
Total Score:
787 out of 1085 |
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Standalone
Player |
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Weight: 2 |
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Weighted
Score:
6
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Weighted
Score:
6
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The player can be installed standalone. |
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The player can be installed locally and does not require a
browser to operate. |
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Netscape
Plug-ins Support |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
12
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Weighted
Score:
12
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The player can plug-in to a Netscape browser. |
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Windows Media Technologies can be embedded into a Netscape
browser. |
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Internet
Explorer ActiveX Support |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
12
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Weighted
Score:
12
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The player can plug-in to Microsoft IE. |
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ActiveX Control can be embedded into a web page and will
work with Microsoft IE. |
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Playback
Quality |
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Weight: 5 |
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Weighted
Score:
64
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Weighted
Score:
64
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Playback quality is very good. There is some fuzziness.
Audio quality is excellent. |
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Both video and audio quality are very good. |
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Program
Configuration Options |
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Weight: 2 |
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Weighted
Score:
8
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Weighted
Score:
8
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Multiple defaults can be set for transport, proxy,
performance, support, display, content, upgrade, connection, and
general user preferences. |
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The user can customize buffer settings, protocols, and proxy
settings. |
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Player
Controls |
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Weight: 2 |
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Weighted
Score:
10
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Weighted
Score:
8
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RealPlayer includes the following controls: fast forward,
rewind, pause/resume, zoom, volume, mute, status bar, digital timer,
and slider bar. RealPlayer Plus includes record control, and video,
equalizer, and audio analyzer controls. |
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Windows Media Player includes the following controls: pause,
stop, skip back, rewind, fast forward, skip forward, seek bar,
preview, volume control, mute, zoom, full screen, go to, and
status. |
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Recently
Viewed Items |
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Weight: 1 |
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Weighted
Score:
4
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Weighted
Score:
3
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The user can select most recently viewed items, and the
number of items is configurable. |
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The user can select most recently viewed items. |
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Synchronize
Multimedia Events |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
12
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Weighted
Score:
12
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The player can synchronize multiple feeds. |
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The player can receive and synchronize multiple
feeds. |
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Built-in
Diagnostics |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
16
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Weighted
Score:
16
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RealPlayer includes an extensive statistics panel that
provides a very good diagnostic tool with information about
bandwidth, packets, and streams. |
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Windows Media Player includes extensive connection
diagnostics and troubleshooting. |
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Additional
Capabilities |
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Weight: 1 |
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Weighted
Score:
1
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Weighted
Score:
1
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|
RealPlayer includes update/upgrade notification, web search
for Real Audio and Video content, and Content channels. |
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Windows Media Player checks for upgrade availability, and
provides automatic download and installation of new codecs that are
encountered by player. |
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Server |
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The
application's integral components for providing clients with
services. |
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Factor: Standard |
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Product Name |
RealSystem
G2
7.0 |
Windows Media
Technologies
4.1 |
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Manufacturer |
Real Networks |
Microsoft
Corporation |
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Group Score:
314 out of 400
Total Score:
836 out of 1085 |
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Group Score:
296 out of 400
Total Score:
787 out of 1085 |
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Multiple
Server Support |
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Weight: 4 |
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Weighted
Score:
40
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Weighted
Score:
40
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With the purchase of the Splitting Extension, a multi-tiered
network can be set up to distribute load. There is also optional
support for RealProxy which can work to share the distribution of
the load. |
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Load can be distributed across multiple servers by
configuring distribution servers that re-distribute to other servers
downstream. |
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Serverless
Option via HTTP |
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Weight: 2 |
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Weighted
Score:
6
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Weighted
Score:
6
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RealServer supports HTTP streaming, as stream may be served
from a web-server with some limitations. |
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Windows Media Technologies supports HTTP streaming; however,
it is limited in that it does not have the same ability to correct
streaming errors, so it will be lower in quality. |
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Client
Admission Control |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
16
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Weighted
Score:
12
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The administrator can restrict access to content by
controlling access via HTTP, limiting the bandwidth or connections
used, requiring a minimum player version, and blocking or
restricting access based on IP address of client. Authentication by
realms controls access by identity and can use NT LAN Manager
authentication. A commerce feature works in conjunction with
authentication and consists of an additional database or text
file. |
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The administrator can set the server to authenticate clients
before they are given access and can allow access to files by using
Access Control List checking to verify that clients have
permission. |
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Dynamic
Determination of Protocol |
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Weight: 4 |
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Weighted
Score:
24
|
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Weighted
Score:
24
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The server dynamically determines which protocol to
use. |
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When Microsoft Media Server (MMS) Protocol is used, protocol
rollover is automatic to UDP, TCP, and then HTTP. |
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Streaming
Protocols Supported |
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Weight: 5 |
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Weighted
Score:
64
|
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Weighted
Score:
64
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TCP, UDP, HTTP, RTSP |
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UDP, TCP, HTTP, and Multicast. |
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Network
Bandwidth Monitoring |
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| |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
12
|
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Weighted
Score:
12
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Network bandwidth usage is monitored. |
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Windows Media performance counters monitor bandwidth, and
there is a maximum bandwidth exceeded alert. |
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Network
Bandwidth Limiting |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
12
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Weighted
Score:
12
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RealServer allows the user to set maximum
bandwidth. |
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An
administrator can specify bandwidth constraints for a variety of
functions. |
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Performance
Optimization |
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| |
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Weight: 3 |
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Weighted
Score:
16
|
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Weighted
Score:
20
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| |
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The administrator can set maximum bandwidth use, number of
concurrent streams, and can enable cache requests. |
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The administrator can set maximum clients, maximum
bandwidth, and maximum amount of bandwidth at which a single file
can be streamed, and timeout length. |
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| |
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Traffic
Statistics |
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| |
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Weight: 2 |
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
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| |
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|
RealServer supports reporting provided by Lariat Software as
a free download. |
|
Traffic statistics are stored in a W3C-compliant format. A
basic log analyzer is included, and logs can also be analyzed with a
variety of third-party tools (including Microsoft Site Server Usage
Analyst). |
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| |
|
Installation
Wizards and Scripts |
|
| |
|
Weight: 2 |
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
| |
|
|
Comprehensive scripts facilitate the installation of the
server. |
|
Installation scripts facilitate the installation of the
server. |
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| |
|
Management
Tools |
|
| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
40
|
|
Weighted
Score:
40
|
|
| |
|
|
The RealServer Administrator is used to monitor activity on
servers; it is web-based, accessible through any Java enabled
browser, and provides integrated site monitoring and reporting. If
running on Windows NT, NT Performance Monitor can be used. |
|
Windows Media event monitors and performance counters
facilitate status and event monitoring. Windows Media Load Simulator
can be used to verify server and network performance. |
|
| |
|
Logging |
|
| |
|
Weight: 2 |
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Weighted
Score:
8
|
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
| |
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Client data is recorded in an access log, errors are
recorded in an error log, and requests for streams which will be
cached are recorded in a cached requests log. |
|
Logging can be enabled from the Windows Media Administrator.
Users can specify log path, frequency, and size. Log files are
W3C-compliant. |
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| |
|
Remote
Monitoring and Alerts |
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| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
40
|
|
Weighted
Score:
24
|
|
| |
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|
RealServer includes an HTML interface for remote system
monitoring. Email alerts can be enabled using NT Performance
Monitor. |
|
Windows Media Technologies supports remote monitoring from
any computer with Windows Media Administrator installed on
it. |
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| |
|
Maximum
Concurrent Streams |
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| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
24
|
|
Weighted
Score:
24
|
|
| |
|
|
RealServer supports up to 2,000 streams with RealServer
Professional. |
|
Windows Media Technologies can concurrently serve 2000
streams per server. |
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| |
|
Authoring &
Encoding |
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| |
|
Features and functionality pertaining to processing of the
data. |
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| |
|
Factor: Standard |
|
| |
|
Product Name |
RealSystem
G2
7.0 |
Windows Media
Technologies
4.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Manufacturer |
Real Networks |
Microsoft
Corporation |
|
| |
|
|
Group Score:
296 out of 380
Total Score:
836 out of 1085 |
|
Group Score:
276 out of 380
Total Score:
787 out of 1085 |
|
| |
|
Ability
to Encode Presentations |
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| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
| |
|
|
RealPresenter Basic is available free and enables the
encoding of PowerPoint presentations. RealPresenter Plus provides
further functionality. |
|
Windows Media Encoder can encode live and on-demand
PowerPoint presentations. |
|
| |
|
Additional
Encoder Capabilities |
|
| |
|
Weight: 1 |
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
| |
|
|
Users can add keywords and place a broadcast on a streaming
media guide hosted by Real Networks. RealProducer Plus includes a
bandwidth simulator that can be used to simulate a variety of
bandwidths and packet loss scenarios. |
|
Windows Media Author enables the creation of illustrated
audio files and the combining of several types of media into one ASF
file. |
|
| |
|
Authoring
Tools Supported |
|
| |
|
Weight: 5 |
|
Weighted
Score:
64
|
|
Weighted
Score:
64
|
|
| |
|
|
A
wide selection of media-authoring tools is available from over 25
third-party companies. |
|
Authoring Tools include: Sound Forge, Digital Renaissance,
Ulead, Veon, Terran. |
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| |
|
Available
Audio Options |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
| |
|
|
Available audio options are voice only, voice with
background music, music, and stereo music. |
|
The user can specify audio quality, sampling rates, and type
of compression used. |
|
| |
|
Batch
Encoding |
|
| |
|
Weight: 2 |
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
Weighted
Score:
6
|
|
| |
|
|
RealProducer Pro G2 supports graphical batch encoding, and
is available from the command line in RealProducer Plus. |
|
The Windows Media Author and On-Demand Producer tools
support the encoding of several files at once. |
|
| |
|
Codec
Algorithms |
|
| |
|
Weight: 5 |
|
Weighted
Score:
80
|
|
Weighted
Score:
64
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem offers 35 Audio codecs, 9 of which are stereo,
and 4 video codecs. |
|
Windows Media Technologies offers 5 audio and 4 video
codecs. Recommended Codecs: Video Microsoft MPEG-4 V1-V3, Audio
Windows Media Audio (WMA), Voice ACELP. |
|
| |
|
Drag
and Drop Input |
|
| |
|
Weight: 1 |
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
| |
|
|
With RealSystem, all encoders allow drag and drop
input. |
|
Windows Media Author and Online Demand Producer tools allow
drag and drop input. |
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| |
|
Encoder
Plug-ins Available |
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| |
|
Weight: 1 |
|
Weighted
Score:
5
|
|
Weighted
Score:
5
|
|
| |
|
|
A
wide variety of media authoring tools are available. The Adobe
Premier plug-in is automatically installed if Adobe Premier is
present. |
|
A
wide variety of third-party media authoring tools are available. The
Adobe Premiere plug-in is automatically installed if Adobe Premiere
is present. |
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| |
|
Input
File Formats |
|
| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
32
|
|
Weighted
Score:
24
|
|
| |
|
|
AVI, MOV, QT, WAV, AU, MPG, MPEG, MPA, MP2, MP3. |
|
AVI, WAV, MOV, MP3. |
|
| |
|
Live
Input |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
16
|
|
Weighted
Score:
20
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem is able to encode input from a variety of devices
for live web broadcasts. |
|
Windows Media Technologies can stream live audio or video
directly or save it as ASF files for future broadcasts. |
|
| |
|
Maximum
Video Output Resolution |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
| |
|
|
1000 x 768. |
|
352 x 288 maximum preset, with option for variable
size. |
|
| |
|
Multi-Data-Rate
Encoding |
|
| |
|
Weight: 2 |
|
Weighted
Score:
8
|
|
Weighted
Score:
8
|
|
| |
|
|
RealProducer Basic encodes for up to two separate bandwidths
and RealProducer Plus encodes for up to six separate
bandwidths. |
|
Encoding of multiple bandwidths using templates is fully
supported. |
|
| |
|
Output
File Formats |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
16
|
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem supports RM and MP3 files as output file
formats. |
|
The output file format for Windows Media Technologies is
ASF. |
|
| |
|
Preset
Data Rate and Content Compression |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
Weighted
Score:
16
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem supports preset data rate and content
compression, and the presets can also be customized. |
|
Templates provide a selection of presets for compressing the
stream for particular transmission rates. The user can also
customize the presets. |
|
| |
|
Standalone
Encoder |
|
| |
|
Weight: 1 |
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
Weighted
Score:
3
|
|
| |
|
|
Encoding is separate from any other component. |
|
With Windows Media Technologies, the encoder is
standalone. |
|
| |
|
Synchronize
Multimedia Events |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
Weighted
Score:
12
|
|
| |
|
|
The player can synchronize multiple feeds. |
|
The player can receive and synchronize multiple
feeds. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
Development |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
What
tools are provided for developing code, content, and web
pages. |
|
| |
|
Factor: Standard |
|
| |
|
Product Name |
RealSystem
G2
7.0 |
Windows Media
Technologies
4.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Manufacturer |
Real Networks |
Microsoft
Corporation |
|
| |
|
|
Group Score:
16 out of 20
Total Score:
836 out of 1085 |
|
Group Score:
16 out of 20
Total Score:
787 out of 1085 |
|
| |
|
Multimedia
Synchronization Tools |
|
| |
|
Weight: 3 |
|
Weighted
Score:
16
|
|
Weighted
Score:
16
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem provides multimedia synchronization tools using
time-indexed script commands. The player is scriptable from
JavaScript and VBScript, and also supports SMIL. |
|
Windows Media Technologies provides multimedia
synchronization tools using time-indexed script commands. The player
is scriptable from JavaScript and VBScript, and also supports
HTML+TIME. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
General |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Basic
information about the product. |
|
| |
|
Factor: Standard |
|
| |
|
Product Name |
RealSystem
G2
7.0 |
Windows Media
Technologies
4.1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Manufacturer |
Real Networks |
Microsoft
Corporation |
|
| |
|
|
Group Score:
65 out of 85
Total Score:
836 out of 1085 |
|
Group Score:
57 out of 85
Total Score:
787 out of 1085 |
|
| |
|
Documentation |
|
| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
32
|
|
Weighted
Score:
32
|
|
| |
|
|
Both online and printed documentation is thorough and very
helpful. |
|
Both online and printed documentation is thorough and very
helpful. |
|
| |
|
Plug-in
Platforms Supported |
|
| |
|
Weight: 4 |
|
Weighted
Score:
32
|
|
Weighted
Score:
24
|
|
| |
|
|
MS
Windows 95/98/NT 4.0 with SP3, Mac with Microsoft Internet Explorer
4.01 or later or Netscape 4.05 or later, Solaris 2.6/2.7, Red Hat
Linux 6.0 with browser. |
|
MS
Windows 95/98/NT 4.0/CE, and Mac with Microsoft Internet Explorer or
Netscape Navigator. |
|
| |
|
Product
Positioning |
|
| |
|
Weight: 1 |
|
Weighted
Score:
1
|
|
Weighted
Score:
1
|
|
| |
|
|
RealSystem is a complete open and extensible system, based
on standards, that enables the richest multimedia experience
available on the Internet and intranets today. The system is
comprised of Players, Servers, and Tools and includes free entry
level as well as revenue generating, advanced full-featured products
in each of these system component areas. |
|
Windows Media Technologies enable organizations and Internet
providers to deliver high-quality audio and video at every bandwidth
across the Internet or enterprise networks. Windows Media
Technologies includes the following components: Windows Media
Player, Windows Media Tools, and Windows Media Services. |
|
| |
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|
