Plug-in info The main plugin you need for this site is Macromedia's Flash 4 Player.
To really enjoy the majority of the web's multimedia capabilities, you need: JavaScript, Java, Shockwave, Flash, and RealMedia.
Below is a breakdown on what this stuff does and who makes the software. | |
| Flash Player | This allows you to view vector graphics. Vectors are cool because they are much smaller than bitmap files. www.macromedia.com makes this plug-in/ActiveX control. If you use Netscape, you call it a plug-in; if you use InternetExplorer, you call it an ActiveX control. Stupid marketing people decided to use different names for the same thing: this is the way the world works, get used to it, kids. Back to Flash, you can view cartoons and see cool menu systems on websites with it. Download the Flash Player for free from the Macromedia website. This link also includes the Shockwave 7 Player. |
| Shockwave Player | Many graphical games use this multimedia player. If you want to see good stuff which uses this, check out ShockRave, Disney's site, and Nickelodeon's Kids site. |
| JavaScript | JavaScript is something Netscape 3.0 (and higher versions) and Microsoft InternetExplorer 3.0 (and higher versions) can do. JavaScript can let you see rollovers and stuff like that. (A rollover is an image or link you move your mouse over, and it switches into another image.) The company is who invented JavaScript is Netscape. Click here to go to the JavaScript developer site. If you need a JavaScript capable browser check out Netscape's Free Browser. |
| Java | Java is made by Sun. Java lets website designers put little programs (games, menues, etc) inside of a webpage. Webpages can have: text, images, little programs, and other multimedia. Other multimedia (such as Flash, Shockwave, and RealPlayer) require a plug-in of ActiveX control. |
| RealPlayer |
RealNetworks makes this plug-in. It lets you view video and listen to music online. If you go to the Real site you can download the free plug-in. You have to click around for a while to find the FREE version.
An example site which uses the RealPlayer is Subincision's site. This is punk music. Another site is SonicNet site, which has lots of on-line streaming RealPlayer music. |
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To test out your plugins, I recommend Hotbot's plug-in bot Enough technical information! Return to www.starwarskids.com. | |