Real released a test version of its new RealPlayer, fully 2.5 years since the product’s last major update and well behind the explosion of web video. We give the company points for trying to add something different to all the other official options out there: a plug-in that helps you download streaming video from anywhere on the web.

The Windows-only (for now) plug-in detects a video on a page and offers the option to download it to a desktop video collection. What is lost is the context of a video on a page with the comments and links surrounding it. What’s gained is the opportunity to build a permanent web video library. Continue Reading on NewTeeVee