This section lists additions, deletions, and corrections to the RealSystem Production Guide for RealSystem Release 8. This release comprises RealServer 8, RealProducer 8, and RealPlayer 8. The printed, PDF, and HTML versions of the RealSystem Production Guide for Release 8 reflect these changes.
RealProducer 8 introduces the RealVideo 8 codec, which creates RealVideo clips that have significantly better visual quality than clips encoded with previous codecs. Only RealPlayer 8 can play RealVideo 8 clips. For more information, see "RealVideo 8 Codec".
RealServer 8 can stream Flash 4, 3, and 2 clips to RealPlayer 8. This lets you create RealPlayer animations that use Flash interactive commands. If you have worked with Flash 2 in RealSystem before, note that Flash 4 commands work differently in RealPlayer. See Chapter 5 for more information.
RealPlayer 8 now supports the following SMIL 1.0 attributes, which have no effect on earlier RealPlayers:
dur="indefinite"
attribute makes a clip play indefinitely, mimicking a live broadcast. For more information, see "Indefinite Durations".
repeat="indefinite"
attribute makes a clip or group loop indefinitely. For more information, see "Looping Playback Indefinitely".
fit="scroll"
attribute adds scroll bars to a clip that displays in a SMIL region that is smaller than the clip's encoded size. See "Defining How Clips Fit Regions" for more information.
Through a Ram file, you can open RealPlayer 8 in its compact mode. See "Setting a Presentation's Starting Mode" for instructions.
Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 have been expanded to include more background information on RealAudio and RealVideo, respectively.
The chapter on targeting bandwidth has been deleted. Information on target audience bandwidths is now in the section "Step 3: Develop a Bandwidth Strategy".
The sections that listed streamed audio and video formats, other than RealAudio and RealVideo, have been removed. These sections were at the end of the audio and video production chapters. This information will be made available separately.
The SMIL extension that allows you to substitute a background color for transparency in a GIF image also works for PNG images. For instructions, see "Overriding GIF or PNG Transparency".
Previously, the section "Creating a Ram File Manually" incorrectly stated that a Ram file could list multiple SMIL files played in sequence. A Ram file can list multiple clips played in sequence, but not multiple SMIL files.