New RealOne Universal Player

RealNetworks is firing another round in the streaming media wars with today's release of version 2 of its RealOne Player, which is the first to be based on the company's Helix Technology. Real's goal with this release is to provide users with a single player for viewing and listening to virtually any multimedia content, including files encoded in competing formats such as Microsoft Windows Media and Apple QuickTime.

The Plus version ($19.95) can playback up over 50 different media types (including QuickTime and Windows Media), DVDs and features improved CD and MP3 ripping capabilities. The free version does not allow users to view the competition's formats and features a lesser set of CD burning capabilities. This release also adds the gold version of RealVideo 9 for improved video quality.

The company also announced a new RadioPass subscription service that gives listeners access to 3,200 stations for $5.95 a month. SuperPass subscribers can get a limited set of these stations with their current $9.95 subscription or get full access for $3 more a month.

Download the new player from Real.com.

The interesting thing to watch is how Microsoft will respond. Real developed its Windows Media implementation without licensing the technology from Microsoft. When the original Helix announcement was made in July, Microsoft took a wait-and-see approach. Now that the player software is released, will Microsoft react? Or will it let the next version of Windows Media Services (due out September 4) do the talking? Stay tuned.