Linux and Real Player

[stewart]

Hi all
I'm looking for the easiest way to get Real Player on a linux operating system - I've run a network cable out to my workshop so I can listen to internet radio out there (or even have a quick browse of the forum). I've looked in passing at Ubuntu in the past but I'd like to give Linux a proper go and as I'm the only one likely to use the machine in the workshop and don't need to retrain the family I thought this was my opportunity. However, I did a quick test run, this time with Kubuntu as the machine in 'shop is likely to be very low spec and couldn't understand how to put Real Player on it! Is there an eaiser version of Linux to use or any pointers as to how to install Real Player (like a really ***** proof walk through...I have 'googled' but am still confused :? )
Any help gratefully received.

 

[mr]

Hi Stewart
I have tried for many hours to get real player running on Ubuntu and failed. There isn't a specific release for it, more of a kludge (Helix) which as I say I never managed to get working. There are other linux net radio players around though. VLC for one.

Alternately you can download realplayer.bin from the realplayer site itself if you cant get it from one of the repositories.
http://uk.real.com/download/player/linux/en_eu/

Then as long as you chmod the permissions so that it is executable (chmod a+x RealPlayer10GOLD.bin) you should be able to run it from the terminal (./RealPlayer10GOLD.bin) and have it install itself. (follow the prompts from there).

Hope that helps such as it is.

CHeers Mike

 

[stewart]

Thanks, Mike
Your failure to install it heartens me, I have to say! I think I follow what you say but I'm not familiar at all with linux terms or working procedures so I think I'll have to have a look at some basic stuff.
Maybe I'm asking the question the wrong way round, though. I want to be able to access BBC radio on the net which uses RealPlayer by default. Do you know if VLC could be used instead?

 

[bodgermatic]

Stewart,

What Linux distribution are you using? I installed from an RPM package (commonish Linux package format). This is the file I used: http://yum.inter-systeme.ca/fedora/6/i3 ... 6.i586.rpm
If your Linux distribution supports RPMs and is properly set up, then you might find that just clicking on that link from your browser will bring up an option to install it once it's downloaded.

I listen to BBC radio all day on RealPlayer.

Hope this helps,

Chris.

 

[mr]

Hi Stewart
You can listen to Beeb radio with VLC, to prove it I am listening to Wogan (random choice - honest) via VLC as I type. Its a bit of a roundabout solution in the first instance You have to click on the listen link which will openand then fail as you don't have the plugin. If you then identify listen in standalone player on the menu (on the left hand side) you can copy the link location to the clipboard and then open it as a stream with VLC. You can save the address as a playlist in VLC and return to it like a bookmark in a browser.

Bit of a roundabout way but it does work. THis is what I had to do after failing to get Real player to work properly. There are reports in the wild of real player working on K / Ubuntu but I have no first hand evidence and the manual installation proceddure I described earlier should work but doesn't - at least not for me.

Incidentally The RPM packages that Chris mentions won't work unfortunately. Ubuntu distros require a .deb package. You can install an RPM if you have to with a package converter like Alien http://kitenet.net/~joey/code/alien/ but , not having done that myself, I would suspect that it's prone to failure without a reasonable deep level of understanding of installation routines and dependencies etc.

Cheers Mike

 

[stewart]

Hi Chris
thanks for the tip - I don't mind which type of Linux I use as long it can run on a fairly low spec machine (we're talking a processor well below 1 gig!). I'll have a look at fedora to see if it's ok.
Thanks also, Mike. I'm glad there's another way to listening as the tip about VLC looks like a good solution if I can't get realplayer working. I usually use the listen again programmes but I suppose that vlc will work with them as well although it might be a little longwinded each time. I assume there's no way to let linux know to run vlc each time a realplayer link is clicked?

 

[mr]

depending on your browser you may be able to specify what applications open which files, for example Firefox | preferences | content tab - you can specify what file extensions to open which which applications. VLC will et you save a streamed station as a play list though so this is a process you only have to do the first time. After the first time you can just open the playlist and pick the channel you want.

Having said all that I wish the bbc would ditch the proprietary formats. But thats an argument for another day.

Incidentally have you looked at Xubuntu which is specifically designed for old or underpowered machines?

Cheers Mike

 

[stewart]

Thanks for the further reply, Mike. I haven't looked at Xubuntu - I thought that Kubuntu was for a low specced machine. I'll check Xubuntu when I get my hands on the machine I'm going to use - currently gathering dust in a corner of the school staffroom waiting for the hard drive to be removed...maybe I should do it myself 8)

 

[titan]

Hi Chris
thanks for the tip - I don't mind which type of Linux I use as long it can run on a fairly low spec machine (we're talking a processor well below 1 gig!). I'll have a look at fedora to see if it's ok.

Contrary to popular belief most Linux versions require a fairly up to date machine, (assuming you want a full desktop) you could have a look at PClinuxOS, I just put it on an old laptop works fine it comes with Mplayer so should play most stuff out of the box. It also has a nice configuration GUI if you are just starting out in linux. It runs also as a live distro so you can run it first to see if it likes your hardware and should be able to try the radio out. Although it will run slower in live mode, if you like it just click the install icon on the desktop and follow the instructions

Ian

 

[stewart]

Thanks for the tip, Ian.
I'll check it out.