RealAudio provides an audio decoder that can be downloaded free for Windows and Mac and
allows you to hear audio in Real Time - right off the Web, rather than downloading to your hard drive and then listening.
Xing Technology's StreamWorks is another
decoder that can be downloaded free and will allow you to access audio (and video) in Real Time on our sites and throughout the Web
from a Mac, Windows, or X/UNIX machine.
You'll need a 14.4 or faster connection for any of these, a sound card in your computer, and (duh) speaker(s) or headphones.
If you'd like more info on all this, visit the Real Audio
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page to learn more than anyone really needs to know about audio on the Web.
VIDEO
Xing Technology's StreamWorks can be
downloaded free and will allow you to view Streamworks video in Real-Time -- right off the Web without downloading to your hard drive -- on a
Mac, in Windows, or an X/UNIX machine.
Real-Time video viewing requires at least a 28.8kbps or faster
modem. If you're connecting at 14.4kbps, you will enjoy your viewing experience more with a decoder that first downloads the video to
your hard drive before viewing (unless you're ok with seeing about one frame per minute). Video will not work with a connection
slower than 14.4kbps.
Apple's QuickTime can be downloaded free from QuickTime site
and will work with a Mac or in Windows. Working better with
14.4kbps modems, it allows you to experience QuickTime movies by first downloading them off the Web onto your hard drive and then
viewing.
