Updating to the latest plug-ins

     Plug-Ins are small helper programs that integrate with your Web broswer. Plug-Ins help browsers display Web content like movies and animation  that are written in a proprietary language by another company. Apple, Microsoft, Adobe, Macromedia, Real, and many other companies make proprietary Web content. These companies sell the creator applications to Webpage designers for lots of money, but the player plug-ins are free to everybody in the audience. 

    The next step, after updating your browser, is to install or update the five most frequently used plug-ins -- Acrobat Reader, Quicktime Player, Real Player, Macromedia Flash, and Macromedia Shockwave. Below are links to the free download sites and short descriptions. Install what you want, or what you don't have (voluntary, but recommended).

How Do I Know if I Have These Plug-ins?

If you are unsure whether or not you have any of them installed now, know that Acrobat, Quicktime and Real Player all put icons in your Start >Programs list and sometimes on your desktop. Look for them (yours may look different than the examples illustrated depending on your system and version). You can open them and check existing version numbers against the latest available versions just as you did with your browsers.

     You can check to see if you have a functioning (though not necessarily the latest version) of QuickTime by visiting the Apple Test Site: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/troubleshooting/  While there, match your version number with the latest one available and upgrade if necessary.

     You can check to see if you have Macromedia Flash and Shockwave installed by visiting the Macromedia Test Site: http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/welcome/

     The Streamlined Easy Way: It is OK to simply install all five now without checking your system. If it turns out you already had the current version of one or more plug-ins, a reinstall is benign and will not alter your current settings. If you are hesitant or unable to make these updates now, you can always wait until a need arises later in the course and then return here and upgrade at that time.

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