Smartware: Software to Make Your TV Smarter

by Charles Mohnike
Winter 1999/Spring 2000

QuickTime 4
MSRP: Free download
www.apple.com

Apple Computer added some very cool features to QuickTime 4.0, the latest release of their popular multimedia software for Macintosh and Windows platforms. Simulating a TV/VCR, QuickTime 4.0 plays, records and stores a variety of multimedia formats.

The most noteworthy addition to version 4.0 is streaming video capability that uses industry standard protocols. This makes it easier for content providers and users to view and play compatible video formats. Using a Web browser like Netscape or Explorer, you can view, control and stream all sorts of multimedia files.

In addition to the traditional controls you'd expect to find on a TV and a VCR--like volume, play and pause buttons, QuickTime offers enhanced control over streaming video with fast forward and fast rewind buttons.

Other improvements over 3.0 include a new user interface for easier control of audio and video. Apple also added a Real-time feature that allows users to view live and stored audio and video files without delay. QuickTime 4.0 also supports popular software like MP3 and Flash and Java applets.

QuickTime 4.0 is available as a free software download at www.apple.com.

RealJukebox
MSRP: Free download
www.real.com

RealJukebox is more than your typical MP3 player. The versatile music manager lets you download music from the Net and convert CD tracks to MP3 or RealAudio files so you can store your entire CD collection on your PC. You can even listen while you record. Once you've got them, you can sort and manage thousands of songs on hundreds of CDs by genre, artist and album to create custom play lists for any occasion.

RealJukebox has all the standard multimedia CD player controls, and adds an interface to view and manipulate all of your audio files. One of RealJukebox's three main displays, called "get music," provides links to Web sites where you can buy and/or download music. Another display option shows the stats on the CD currently being played, and the last one takes you to a catalog of the music files on your PC. The user friendly design of the site lets you reduce the full-sized control panel to a sleek control bar that shows only the essential buttons; all it takes is one click of your mouse.

RealJukebox is available as a free software download at www.real.com.