

A new media caching feature decreases startup time, while RAM consumption and CPU utilization are down dramatically. RealPlayer 7, which is available in free and "Plus" editions, builds on the success of RealNetworks' earlier media players, which have a market of over 85 million users. Oddly, the controversial multimedia tracking agent that caused headaches for the company is present in RealPlayer 7, though it is turned off by default. RealNetworks introduced the first public beta of its upcoming RealPlayer 7 on Monday, an upgrade that sports a new user interface and easier access to Web-based multimedia resources.
