What is a plug-in?
Plug-ins add multimedia functions to your computer. They are called plug-ins because they do just that, plug in to your browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape) and allow you to interact with images, listen to music or watch videos.
How do I know if I need one?
Typically, when you go to a site that requires a plug-in, your browser will detect whether you have the specific one needed, and if not, will prompt you to download it. From there it is a simple case of following the prompts and the plug-in will install automatically.
Get kitted out
Here's a list of the most common plug-ins used to access music, movies and animated sites. To download the latest versions of these players, follow the links below. Streaming media players (videos and music)
- Windows Media Player
The Microsoft media player that comes standard with Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. It plays video and music and comes with a range of added extras including radio station and media guides.
- RealOne Player
- Quicktime
- Macromedia Flash Player
- Macromedia Shockwave Player
The main rival Windows Media Player for PC users. It plays video and music plus offers an excellent online radio station guide and includes a built-in browser.
Apple's media player that also works for PC users. As well as playback of video and music it includes the ability to view VR and interactive content
Many broadband sites use Macromedia Flash technology to create moving graphics on web pages. This plug-in allows you to see Flash enriched web sites.
With Macromedia Shockwave Player, you can enjoy multimedia games, learning applications and product demonstrations using 3D technology.
Web Essentials
