Starting with their RealOne Player Version 1 which came out couple of years ago, Realplayer software seem to got too big for their own good. The newer versions contain a browser and Jukebox player, and anytime Realplayer is opened, the browser open automatically launching into real.com web site...whether you like it or not :)
The worst part is that Replayer have embedded some type of program in their software that request/send information to some web site even when realplayer is not open/launched. I have a Firewall software and it warns me if any programs on my compute try to access Internet without my permission.
Realplayer "spyware" try to contact the Internet at least couple of times a day, and of course I deny the permission. And that is when realplayer is not open. So, it make one wonder to what information is send when Realplayer IS open and it already has permission to access web from my Firewall!!
Here are the older versions of Realplayer software which are much smaller and don't contain the browser, and no spy software (from RealPlayer 8 and lower):