The RealPlayer Plus 8 functions as an all-in-one personal computer entertainment station. It integrates tuner, making it easy to list favorites from 2,500 streaming radio stations. Visual plugins synchronized to the music are built into the PC version, as is an audio enhancement program (from Qsound). RealPlayer 8 now lets you play ‘more than 85 percent of web A/V material’ and also has support for streaming MP3. It has an EQ with numerous presets (similar to Sound Jam MP). The RealPlayer provided more low end and also a crisper snare drum hit than the Liquid Player.

A few things bothered us. The visual enhancements interfered with playback, adding extraneous noise and clicks . We enabled one for fun and soon regretted it. Also, its interface is cluttered with obtrusive banner advertisements. Other popular multimedia players such as the Liquid Player don't have these in-your-face sales pitches.

RealPlayer 8 coupled with RealJukebox (RealJukeboxBasic is free. RealJukeboxPlus is $29.99, gives you faster encoding times, and has the ability to record MP3 files and other digital music. You can access free music downloads, a skins library, and artist information. The RealPlayer (basic or paid upgrade) is a must for any personal computer system, providing streaming of audio and video and also playing your MP3s. Want more? Get the RealJukebox.

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