[happyrock]

RealPlayer Gets Slapped with "Badware" Label...
Versions of RealNetworks' RealPlayer have been labeled "badware" by the organization StopBadware.org.
http://www.stopbadwa...p/help_identify
StopBadware.org is a nonprofit consumer organization that is sponsored by Google, Lenovo, PayPal, VeriSign, and Sun Microsystems.

StopBadware claims RealPlayer 10.5 fails to "accurately and completely disclose the fact that it installs advertising software on" a user's computer. It also claims RealPlayer 11 is badware because it "does not disclose the fact that it installs Rhapsody Player Engine software, and fails to remove this software when RealPlayer is uninstalled."
Certain types of badware not only adversely affect your browsing experience, but how your computer itself functions. Some badware is known to interrupt your internet connection or even cause your computer to crash.

Ryan Luckin, spokesperson for RealNetworks, insists that both versions of RealPlayer are not badware, but acknowledges mistakes and user misconceptions exist in both products.
see complete article here..http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006421.html

the fix...
get the realplayer alternative here...http://www.download.com/Real-Alternative/3000-2139_4-10698783.html

do the same for quicktime
get quicktime alternative here...http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

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And I agree, RealPlayer is a true bug. Popups, system hog. I really hate it and I don't have it installed on my system. I also don't like QuickTime, it's very annoying and tends to take over other programs.

If you do want to play Real and QuickTime files, get the alternatives happyrck mentioned in his post

[Tal]

And I agree, RealPlayer is a true bug. Popups, system hog. I really hate it and I don't have it installed on my system. I also don't like QuickTime, it's very annoying and tends to take over other programs.

If you do want to play Real and QuickTime files, get the alternatives happyrck mentioned in his post

[Caffeine_Powered]

I have RealPlayer v.11 and haven't expierenced any of the aforementioned problems with popups or being a system hog, though for music playing I generally use Windows Media Player or VLC Media Player.

However upon looking into my Programs it did install Rhapsody Player Engine. Which kind ticks me off cause I didn't know i had it until now. Out of curiousity what does Rhapsody Player Engine do, and should I remove it?