Microsoft Windows Live Messenger Version 8.1 has made instant messaging a bit more fun. You can sketch in the message window in addition to typing regular text. Only other Live Messenger users will be able to see the sketches and other enhancements in this upgrade to msn messenger, sorry GAIM (now Pidgin) and […]
The actual truth is that the limitation has more to do with the size of the total email rather than the number of messages. In a default installation, Outlook saves all messages into a special file called a “.pst” file. When your .pst file gets to big, Outlook gets temperamental… even more so […]
It’s no secret to most computer users that files are not actually deleted until the storage space has been written over with new data. Even gone from the Windows recycling bin doesn’t really mean “gone” from the drive. Flash media, like the CF card in your digital camera, as well as computer hard […]
Yes, many of us have had to upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 to meet the requirements of online software used by our companies or employers. The new menu bar, command bar, and buttons layout leaves much to be desired. For better or for worse, many find the changes confusing and just want […]
Windows users have been converting their CD music collection to mp3 files for several years, many using an old version of Winamp in combination with the free Nullsoft MP3 output plugin. With this combination of shareware and freeware they produced acceptable bitrate mp3 audio files of 128kbps or better. It is kind of […]
Having problems with your GAIM instant messenger program when you attempt to add your MSN screenname? Well, you aren’t alone! “Gaim versions 1.5 for Microsoft Windows will crash if you attempt to connect to MSN. The error message is “gaim.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.” The Linux versions simply will […]
With your new AMD Dual Core Athlon system you anticipate your favorite game classics to be faster than ever. Yet, to your disappointment some of the games freeze, lock up, crash, and just plain run poorly. Puzzled, you wonder why some of them run okay, while others are afflicted with disease. Furthermore, […]
Everyone has different preferences to UI navigation. I prefer having my frequently used application shortcuts on my desktop, in specific locations. I group them according to purpose. I keep other files directly on my Windows desktop also. If you are a stickler for having your Windows desktop icons arranged in a certain way, and find it frustrating when Windows scrambles them, this little shareware program is for you. Desktop Icon Positions are stored with Desktop Resetter by No U-Turn Software. It takes a snapshot of where all your desktop icons are, how they are arranged, and stores that information. If your icons get scrambled the program restores them to your organized positions.
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With basically the same quality, you can fit an entire DVD movie onto a regular CD, or, fit several movies onto a DVDr disc. Moreover, you can download a DVD quality movie from the Internet in just one file, that is only around 1/2 a Gig. You can watch it on your computer […]
Ever wanted to save a Real Player video stream to your hard drive? Unless the stream provider enables it, Real Player will not allow you to capture and save a video or audio stream. The terms “capturing streaming video, recording streaming video, downloading streaming video, and saving streaming video,” all refer to the same thing, saving the video to a file. There are many legitimate reasons why you would want to do this, and there’s one straightforward and totally free answer, “R7C“.
Tired of trying to watch a Real Player stream, having it pause “buffering” and cut out several times during the video event? Want to record the video event to watch later at your convenience when you have free time? Two legitimate reasons why you would want to capture and save the Real Player stream are easy to recognize. But unless the stream provider allows “saving” as an option, Real Player users are out of luck.
Real Media’s Real Player is obnoxious, and third-rate software. Even better than just saving the Real Video stream would be the option of converting it to another format, so Real Player wouldn’t even be required to watch the video. It still has to be installed, but just not “used”.
Streams like live streaming video, streaming news video, streaming movies, streaming music videos can be captured, recorded, downloaded with special software called Stream Rippers or Stream Recorders. This article focuses on capturing Real Video stream, converting it to a more desirable format, and saving it on your hard drive.
There is commercial software to accomplish this, a well know example is called Replay Video. Replay Video captures many different stream types and is loaded with features. However, for those interested in doing it for free, you need only use R7C “Real7ime Converter” (warning: it’s a .ru). The program doesn’t seem to contain any detectable spyware (at the time of this writing), works with standard Windows codec’s, and is free.
Real7ime Converter downloads Real Video and Real Audio Streams via the protocols HTTP, RTSP, PNM (TCP), PNM (HTTP) and you can capture rm, ra, ram and smil streams. R7C can convert Real Media files (ra, rm) to AVI, MP3 or WAV files. R7C bandwidth is controlled by Real Player (or Real One Player) under the Tools, Preferences, Connection, and Bandwidth dialog. Real7ime Converter needs the I420 codec to work, which is already on most computers running Microsoft Windows XP.
Real7ime (Download)
Replay Video Software (Web Site)
Real Player (Information and Download)