Instant Alerts Get email Alerts on stories that match your interest. To choose a keyword, click here. Choose the right expert at the right price, anytime day or night, at PC World Expert Help . The war of the media players heated up a notch Wednesday, as RealNetworks and Microsoft both announced plans for their rival products. RealNetworks announced new battlefronts on non-PC devices, and Microsoft released updates for both its media player and its media software developers kit.
Media players allow Internet users to view streaming or downloaded audio and video files.
Microsoft's Windows Media Player, which comes packaged with its operating system , and RealNetworks' RealPlayer are striving for the top position . The device will have a hard drive, modem, and wireless LAN access built in. Nokia expects it to be available in Sweden during the middle of this year, and North America and the rest of Europe by the end of the year. Last month, RealNetworks announced that RealPlayer would be available in Intel's Dot. Upgrades Galore Microsoft announced Wednesday that updates for its Windows Media Player, Media Encoder, and media software development kit are available.