Another multimedia plug-in, this one is a small but perfectly formed gift for animations and graphics. A tiny sub-200Kb download, it enables streamed graphics to operate so well that commercial animators have jumped on the Flash standard with a vengeance. Use the WebWise step by step guide on how to install the Flash 4. A free multimedia plug-in for listening to audio and watching video files. Quicktime can also be used to add interactivity, a bit like Flash.
Many sites make use of it, so it's well worth downloading.
And it also supports RealAudio files within presentations. Winamp is the most popular MP3 player. MP3 is a sophisticated, high quality standard which allows CD quality sound to be sent to your computer at relatively fast speeds. The record industry is up in arms about MP3, claiming it encourages piracy, but there is no doubt that the standard is here to stay. MP3 files in themselves are not illegal, and many bands are starting to offer legitimate, taster songs via the MP3 format.