Microsoft settles with RealNetworks for $761 million

I smell a rat…

There is nothing or no-one they can't buy. Fantastic innovation guys.

It's like merging two bankrupt airlines. Where is the upside for either one? Other than the ability to do crappy business for cheaper.

If neither of these companies can complete with Apple they should ask WHY. I generally avoid REAL because their products have become spyware and clunky. I avoid WMP because it's cluttered and horrible to use. (Unless I have no options of course.)

iTunes & Quicktime (two separate products as they should be! Hint hint) are streamlined and a true pleasure to use. Get with it guys and just maybe you'll make some inroads.

Now ... let me go get a Dell Ditty.

M$ and RN are both full of BS. They talk about choice and open standards, I mean do I need to say anything else? After I read it and felt the compulsion to hear to voice my thoughts somewhere (sorry, it ended up here ;)) I'm starting to think that people have listened and it is plainly obvious that they are full of BS. Not to go on a complete tangent, but there was a comment about the Democratic Party and their woes as of the last two elections, it was that America has a built in BS detector. I think they same thing applies here, their BS detector is going off. Everyone knows M$, and for the majority of the folks who have tried to use Real, it's been more of a pain in the ass and left a sour note. ie, try downloading the free player, better yet, since you might me techno savvy, have your mom or dad do it. Vent complete, normal temp. attained.