GreenWorks.tv FAQ

Page Index
What is streaming media?
Does RealPlayer 7 Basic automatically overwrite older versions of RealPlayer?
Why do some videos have options for 28.8k and 56.6k video presentations?
Why is the video display so small?


1. What is streaming media?

Streaming media is a method of delivering video files from the web to your computer that allows you to start viewing the video while it is still transmitting. In most cases, you should have to wait only 10 to 15 seconds for the first segment of a video file (called a "packet") to download, before the video starts playing. As you watch, the next video segment is downloading. Before streaming media, you had to wait for the entire video file to download before you could view it.

2. Does RealPlayer 7 Basic automatically overwrite older versions of RealPlayer?

If RealPlayer G2 is installed on your computer, installing RealPlayer 7 Basic will overwrite it. You cannot have both versions G2 and 7 installed on your computer simultaneously. The RealPlayer 7 Basic setup/installation program will take care of transferring your custom channels and favorites from the previous installation.

RealPlayer 7 Basic will not overwrite RealPlayer 5.0 or earlier versions, unless you install it in the same directory.

3. Why do some videos have options for 28.8k and 56.6k video presentations?

The older GreenWorks.tv videos had to be encoded for two separate bandwidths (internet connection speeds). Newer videos no longer have this limitation: recently-encoded videos using the G2 technology are compatible with all connection speeds. When you are starting one of the older videos, select the bandwidth option that is less than or equal to the speed of your internet connection.

4. Why is the video display so small?

Video files are relatively large and, as a result, slower to download than HTML (web) pages. Videos that are encoded to run in a large display area (in other words, at a higher resolution) are much larger and longer to download than videos encoded to run at smaller size. To accommodate the typical internet user's connection speed and minimize the time you need to wait during downloading, most web videos are encoded to run in a display area that may seem small.

It is possible to enlarge the video viewing area in RealPlayer 7 Basic, although the image will appear somewhat coarser when played at a larger size. This does not change the size of the video file. GreenWorks.tv help topic, "Step 4: Play a Video," tells you how to change the size of the video image in RealPlayer 7 Basic.