Software snags streaming audio, video

December 3, 2004

Computer Corner is a weekly video report examining the latest trends in technology. Helpful links are listed. Walt Zwirko reports from WFAA-TV in Dallas.

Radio and TV are great, but working people often can't watch or hear their favorite programs due to colliding schedules.

And while the innovation of streaming audio and video on the Internet gives many office workers the ability to keep up with live and recorded content at their desk, that's not always a boss-approved option.

Now there's software that turns your Windows PC into a VCR so that streaming audio and video files can be played on demand—and without a connection to the Internet.

WM VCR ($10) from Applian Technologies works as a scheduling tool in concert with two of the company's other software products, WM Recorder ($30) and RM Recorder ($30). The three tools in the Replay Video Suite are also available in a $50 bundle.

The two different recorders are required to deal with the two major (and—naturally—incompatible) streaming video formats on the Web, Windows Media and Real Media. Streaming QuickTime and MP3 broadcasts are not supported.

WM VCR (which works with either recorder) lets the user's unattended PC "tune in" to TV or radio broadcasts at pre-assigned times. The company provides an updated directory of radio and TV transmissions on the Internet along with a list of radio programs.

Unfortunately, it's not that simple.

While you can set your VHS machine or TiVo to record a favorite program at a specified time and channel, many Internet broadcasts are moving targets with an address that can change from day to day (or even hour to hour).

Unfortunately, the Internet doesn't have the equivalent of fixed TV channel numbers or radio frequencies.

WM VCR must know the Web address of a streaming transmission in order to record it. I tested several options from the software's list of pre-assigned online broadcasts that failed to make a connection on my test computer.

I had more success using a browser to navigate to a Web site with a streaming media link. The WM Recorder software can often intercept the address, which is saved in a log. This feature is important, because it's often difficult to identify the correct link to a media file, especially for an inexperienced user.

Once you get the link, audio and video clips are saved as standard files and can be played at will. That means you can transfer favorite radio or TV programs to a notebook computer or even a portable media player for access on the go.

A free trial download of the Replay Video Suite is available so you can see whether this software will work with your favorite streaming media content.

At this point, you may be wondering: Is this legal?

Applian Technologies, the maker of the WM Recorder software, says using its products is no different in concept from recording a TV show on a VCR. As long as you are making the recording for personal use, the company says the law is on your side.

It's a different matter, of course, if you resell or distribute someone else's content.

If you are willing to spend some time with WM VCR and its software sidekicks, you'll be rewarded with a flexible system for preserving video and audio content from the Web. Novice computer users may need some guidance from an Internet veteran to set up successful recordings.