Carol,
Broadly speaking, this is not your concern.
The person who makes the website chooses what product to use. Either Flash or Shockwave, depending on his wishes (and experience maybe). I get the impression that Flash is somewhat simpler, but less powerful, but I never used any of the two products. My simple website only uses simple html.
If you want to view a website that chose for Flash, you need the Flash-player. If you want to view a website that chose for Shockwave, you need the Shockwave-player.
It's like a putting a document on the site. Some sites do it in pdf-format. Then you need a pdf-reader (like Adobe or Foxit). Some sites do it in MS Word format. Then you need a MS Word viewer, or MS Word or Open Office to be able to see the contents.
Or an executable file. Sometimes you get an exe-file, that you can just run. Sometimes you get a zip-file, so you need Winzip or one of the free or paid equivalents or Windows XP to 'unzip' it, and sometimes you get something in between: a self-extracting zip.
Hope this helps.
Kees
Yesterday Donna posted an update for Macromedia's Flash Player. This turned out to be, yet another, area I knew nothing about. I did an online test to see IF I had it, and if so, what version. I had an older version and hesitantly updated it. (I say ''hesitantly'' because it is the first time I have updated something, I knew so little about.) I had noticed Shockwave in Add-Remove, which lead me to Macromedia's website where I found out they were separate entities. They were described as such:
'.... Each has a distinct purpose. Flash Player delivers fast loading front-end web applications, high-impact web site user interaction, interactive online advertising, and short to medium form animation. Shockwave Player displays destination web content such as interactive multimedia product demos and training, e-merchandising applications, and rich-media multi-user games. Through ''Xtras'', Shockwave Player is also extendable to playback custom-built applications'
Could someone please explain this in the most basic of terms? For instance, ''this is something that will enhance the commercials you wish NOT to see''.. The other may .. ''help you with those games that you DON''T play''. Obviously, I am saying this with a bit of sarcasm, but would like to know what they do.. and to what extent I might need them. I am presuming this may be a matter of preference and difficult to answer, but any answer at this point would certainly be appreciated.
Thanks in advance..
Carol
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! )
<-- how's that for ''cutsey''?
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