Trying to transform a grass-roots movement into a business, RealNetworks has debuted a software system that positions the company at one of the most controversial intersections of the Internet -- digitally downloaded music. The company's new product, RealJukebox, can play and record MP3 files, the audio file format that is creating questions for old-line music companies and opportunities for new Internet music companies.
Many media players can already play individual MP3 files and full-featured MP3 applications, like the shareware Winamp, have been around for a while. But RealJukebox marks the first time a name-brand company has released a program for playing, encoding, and managing MP3s.
