RealNetworks sues Microsoft. Yawn.
RealNetworks sues Microsoft. Yawn.
RealNetworks claims Microsoft is using its monopoly clout to force Windows Media Player on the world and, in so doing, barring them from market share. The lawsuit asks $1 billion in damages. Microsoft says, hey, you guys claim to be number one, so why are you suing us? What the folks at Real should be doing is fixing their player, in the humble opinion of this observer. I view tremendous numbers of Websites with video and have the latest version of both products. The Windows software simply outperforms RealPlayer. In fact, the difference is so stark to me that I cringe whenever I find a news Website with an exclusive deal with RealNetworks. Quicktime and Div-X play MPEG4’s (the standard) beautifully, and they’re not complaining to the courts. In terms of streaming video, however, I like the advantages of playerless technologies, like EyeWonder. Speed is everything on the Net, and I don’t care much for waiting. For fullscreen video, give me anything except RealPlayer. The lawsuit should be interesting for its soap opera value. RealNetworks’ boss, Rob Glaser, used to work for Microsoft, and the two companies were cozy until he testified against his old boss in the government’s anti-trust case.
