We all knew it was coming, now it is here. (Heidi's note: boo.) Earlier today, RealNetworks launched RealOne, or "the single source for consumers to discover, play and manage digital media," as RealNetworks is calling it.

"This is a watershed event for consumers and the industry. With RealOne, consumers now have access to the richest media experience ever available on the Web, and media companies have an unprecedented platform to build new revenue streams," said Rob Glaser, chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc.

RealOne Player provides consumers with the tools they need organize their media including the ability to stream and download, browse the Web, create CDs and use portable devices. Immediately, RealOne will offer premium content from companies such as abcnews.com, CBS Survivor Insider (Heidi's note: does anyone care?), CNN , E! Networks, FoxSports.com, MLB Advanced Media, and NBA through RealOne Membership. With RealOne Music, music lovers will also have access to their favorite songs from such artists as Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, The Corrs, Eric Clapton, Faith Hill, matchbox twenty, N*SYNC, and Britney Spears. RealOne Music is the first consumer subscription offering of MusicNet, the world's first digital distribution platform for streaming and downloading music from major and independent music labels.

"We've worked with RealNetworks from very early on because we have shared the same goal. With RealOne we are once again providing our audiences with the news and information that they want, when and where they want it," said David Westin, president, ABC News.

The RealOne member service is a network of the Web's, brand name digital programming for news, sports, entertainment and music. Built upon the success of RealNetworks' popular GoldPass subscription service, RealOne members enjoy new integrated premium and exclusive programming. Members of RealOne have access from a single online destination, with a single log-on, to subscription content and are able to take advantage of the enhanced features of the RealOne Player such as theater mode for video, faster CD ripping and high-end video and audio controls.

RealOne Player is available today for free download for the following operating systems: Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me and Windows NT. RealOne Membership with access to premium channels is $9.95 (Heidi's note: money) per month. RealOne Music is priced at $9.95 (Heidi's note: money) a month and offers 100 streams and 100 downloads per month. For $19.95 (Heidi's note: more money), RealOne Gold Membership provides access to both premium content and 125 music downloads and 125 music streams. GoldPass members are able to transition to RealOne membership. Information on all products and services is available at real.com.

Enjoy.

me me me me me.....who are they kidding? Unlimited somewhat good, free quality music or crappy, limited music for 20 bux a month? Hmmmm...don't think too hard about it. I know it takes a lot of thinking.

Q, you are very smart. I see all those math classes back in school finally paid off.

Pay money for SOME music = bad. Pay no money for LOTS of music = good.

~Heidi

****climbing atop my soap box****

Ahem...THIS IS A CROCK OF SHIT AND IS DESTINED TO FAIL.

****climbing off my soapbox****

Thank you for listening.

-Frawg-

P.S.-Has anyone out there actually seen a box of soap large enough for a person to stand on?

Yes, bargon boxes of soap bought from whole sale discounts are quite large enough to fit 2 full grown midgets on them.

Wut a pile of Crap!

Thanks for the info.

~Heidi

First reports of those who have tried the service are tricling out and they aren't good...people sending hours downloading and installing only to have their system crash due to software conflicts, unable to get any music, etc.

Get Real: No Not The Software!
Get Real as in a suggestion for Real Networks!

Addendum: Streaming really sucks when most internet users are dragging content in by the teaspoon full by slow dial up.

buy_trash.wma
pay_listen_but_not_copy_or_anything.ram

we dont wanna those!!

THEY'LL NEVER WIN.
boycott all: Vivendi,Sony,Disney,Real,etc etc..
free thinking,free speech,free minds, and share what you want, not what they want.
yes to artists, no to The Minds Censors!

We'll never pay for music ever again. We're a generation that knows we don't need to pay for music, movies and software. They can't stop us. We are large. We're getting bigger. Freedom to trade! Fuck Real and fuck anything trying to make money from media!

real networks really doesn't understand what networks are real good for: copying.

realone is real pain.