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From the instant someone reads the article title starting with “RealPlayer”, PC users will say “boo! RealPlayer is fail!”… understood, but I’m not talking about the player here. RealPlayer SP is bundled with a converter that actually works out better than the player (surprisingly.) Of course, it aims for the highest quality possible (with configurable options). Most video conversion software out there may not convert RMVB to another format… or the quality may be dramatically reduced (sadly.) So the developers at RealNetworks, Inc. decided to do something right and develop a converter that converts many formats (including their RMVB format) to a format that many computers and devices can read, retaining the quality!

RMVB format, or RealMedia Variable Bitrate, is RealPlayer’s highest quality audio/video format, but may not be able to be played without RealPlayer or 3rd Party Software (like the Community-Combined Codec Pack (CCCP)… which still requires RealPlayer.) So thankfully, RealNetworks decided to develop RealPlayer SP Converter to convert to many formats for various devices… not just for a PC! Even if it’s not RMVB, there’s no reason why not to convert some other video file to another format. Hey, iPhone, iPod, PSP, Zune, Apple TV, Xbox 360… even PS3? Even I would never have thought that RealPlayer’s bundled software would be that good! Of course, you can add devices by choosing “add custom device”… HD sound good? 

Don’t worry, RealNetworks didn’t forget about mobile devices! Believe it or not, the conversion makes the output as high quality as possible for each individual device. It seems RealNetworks took a little into research into these pre-set output settings for each phone. It’s amazing what RealNetworks has developed that could be so useful!

Of course, with these amazing features, there are some downsides to it all. First off, users would need a lot of patience… or a powerful computer. It can take a very long time to convert a certain video file or a particular format. Since RealPlayer SP Converter tries to convert videos in the highest quality possible, or as configured, patience is necessary. Second and last, users need to pay or have RealPlayer SP Plus with SuperPass™ subscription (free for 14 days) in order to convert to H.264 video, a high quality format.

Otherwise, why would it be a bad thing to give it a try? 

Skype Beta 4.2 seems to be a bit of a rewind of a Skype version with improvements. Skype has even brought back two of its popular features that has been long awaited for its return: Skype Extras and Call Transfer (for incoming calls.) One new feature (which I have yet to test out) is Skype Access, where Skype users can use their Skype Credit to make Skype calls from public Wi-Fi hotspots. Improvements have been made for call quality, the aspect in which Skype has always concentrated on.

Skype Pro, the version of Skype before 4.0 for paid customers, included a feature called Skype Call Transfer. With this feature, users were given the option to transfer an incoming call to another Skype user on the menu (after the original recipient of the call has answered.) It was useful for businesses with SkypeIn numbers (numbers provided by SkypeIn Subscribers/Subscription-based users) to transfer calls to a certain user in a certain department through Skype, providing the best in call quality.

Skype Extras was removed on version 4.1 due to Skype dropping the service. On the 4.2 beta, it has returned. However, the catalog is slowly returning because developers are slowly returning for developing for  Skype Extras. Popular extras like PamFax, PrettyMay Recorder and Sharer, Chinese Checkers, Backgammon, and more have returned on Skype Extras. It is only available on the beta, whereas the option is disabled/grayed out on the stable release.

Skype has always focused on call and video quality and ways they can improve it using the Skype software, making call quality improvement as hassle-free as possible. This time, there is a simpler interface that doesn’t require users to constantly go to the options panel and adjust settings in another window.  The caller interface enables users to see the status of the item selected and have the ability to adjust the settings on the next page. Sound levels from the mic and the speakers are also displayed next to their respective icons. Computer speed is also crucial to call quality and the respective icon and information is displayed. Connection speed is a big thing in call quality, so the call quality is tested as well. Webcam quality goes as well, but it (obviously) depends on internet speed. All the information is simple to understand and using the new call quality interface is much simpler than the previous versions (stable version.) As always, video conferencing among three or more people is still not available.

Skype Access (Beta) is a service where users can use Skype Credit to access the web at a public hotspot. Their supported method is pay-per-minute, as explained on the dialog box. Since it claims that over 100,000 hotspots worldwide support this service, there may be some in the United States that may have this service enabled at competitive rates. Hopefully, that means that rates for Wi-Fi Hotspots outside the U.S. are reasonable as well. Since I have yet to access a (non-free) Wi-Fi Hotspot that supports Skype Access Beta, I have no further details about this service.

From using the Skype Beta for the past week, there have been a few bugs found. Ironically, while typing this and talking on Skype, an existing conference call interrupted my 1-on-1 voice chat and instead of hearing the Skype ringtone, I hear the ringtone along with a ringing tone. Even after declining the call, the ringing tone will continue to play and the one I was talking to won’t hear me since Skype will mute the microphone. Another bug included crashing while accessing some Skype Extras. However, that’s rare. Overall, I’m surprised that it isn’t all that buggy.

Keep in mind that Skype Beta is constantly being updated by developers at work. The information above can change anytime and new details may be actively updated as new information comes along. As always for all beta software, use it at your own risk and (try to) try Skype Beta on an experimenting machine, not on your primary productivity machine/home environment unless you know what you’re doing. Be sure to send feedback within the software, since the developers take almost every idea into consideration.

So you may be wondering, from the glance at the title, that it is impossible for Windows Media Player to play MKV and M4A. It’s true… alone, Windows Media Player cannot play MKV and M4A. MKV, or the Matroska Multimedia Container, and the M4A, or the MPEG-4 Part 14 audio file that can be opened primarily by Quicktime or iTunes, cannot be played on Windows Media Player because the codec isn’t included with Windows. However, anything is possible in the world of today. That means yes, MKV and M4A, as well as many other formats, can be played on Windows Media Player. In this method, Windows Media Player is not modified in any way (because if it were modified, it would be a breach of the license agreement that users agree to.) It just simply gets Windows Media Player to “call its friends for help.”

The Community-Combined Codec Pack, abbreviated CCCP, combines the tools required to play many audio and video formats. The software has nothing of a nag and it doesn’t harm anyone’s machine. With its components, such as FFMPEG and .SRT-reading software for subtitles, many media files that don’t work for Windows Media Player already may work (yes, FLV’s too!) Installations of CCCP come pre-packed with the optional Media Player Classic HomeCinema, which is a stripped down neutral version of Windows Media Player (perfect for those who would rather use a small, stable audio/video player!) It’s hassle-free to install and no other software can top what CCCP can do.

There are many things CCCP is good for! Let’s see, you want to watch a video podcast, but you do not want to open up iTunes or Quicktime Player. That’s understandable. When CCCP is installed, a user can use Windows Media Player to open up the .M4V, .MP4, or .MOV file. Even if Windows Media Player states that it doesn’t work, chances are, it will work if the data within the file is valid. Let’s say you downloaded a video, but it is in an alien format, like a .MKV or .MTS (.MTS is standard for HD Camcorders.) Yes, CCCP can do that and Windows Media Player will run it! Some software, such as Windows DVD Maker, will utilize CCCP’s services for the input-to-output processes (so now, .MKVs can become video DVD’s if the software will read it!)

There are certain downfalls to installing CCCP that users should understand and will notice for the lifetime that the user has the pack. For example, games that rely on MP3, WAV, and movie files that CCCP covers may have a short delay (depending on the machine) because the CCCP processes for FFMPEG may need to start up. Notable games include Grand Theft Auto (when using custom tracks on PC) and Audition Online (due to OGG format extraction). The good thing, however, is that some software (like Quicktime and iTunes) won’t have this issue. It’s too bad that you can’t play all the files CCCP can do for Windows Media Player on Quicktime or iTunes, but otherwise, CCCP is a great utility for your media player needs!

Copyright Information:
Image Content: 電車男 (Densha Otoko) © 2005 株式会社フジテレビジョン (Fuji Television)
Image Content: 生徒会の一存 (Seitokai no Ichizon) © 2009 株式会社スタジオディーン (Studio Deen Co., Ltd.)

As most Facebook users know, every time the layout changes on Facebook, there’s bound to be a whole lot of issues. Because of change, lots of users will tend to dislike it (where’s that dislike button now?)  There are plenty of noticeable changes that are instantly seen right on the front page. The “friends online” is now also shown on the left panel of the home page. Everything is categorized on the left panel on the main page as well. The live feed has become simply “Most Recent”, but Top News is always shown first. The right panel is no different. The bottom bar is no more.

Application & Facebook games lovers will dislike this change. Applications are clearly shown on the left panel… of the home page only. It takes a difficult hide & seek game in order to find the applications on any page except for the home page.

The commenting of the new layouts are common as early as the instant that change is noticeable. See these comments to the left? People are either confused or they dislike it overall. As like the previous change, the reactions are no different. Many can see this update to add more confusion to the usage of Facebook. Plus, many are beginning to complain that “Facebook hasn’t really been listening to their suggestions.” (Especially about the dislike button.)

For the past year or so, Facebook has been concentrating on privacy control for its users. Noticeable changes included the little lock button under posts. From that, users can control who can view a particular post or content.

Of course, all Facebook users will have to decide for themselves whether or not this update is its best… or another failure. Either way, let’s hope Facebook listens to every little suggestion given to them.