1. PLUG INS flash, quicktime, java applets, etc

2. Browser Plug-ins Netscape wanted a method to extend features of the browser became an unofficial standard Later, Microsoft added Active-X controls unprecedented # of security problems it is more secure than it used to be

3. Plug-in Future todays will be around a long time XML namespaces allow any number of XML formats to be combined in the SAME document Plug-ins will adapt into XML file type handlers with tight HTML integration

4. Issues Browser without the plug-in will either bug the user about it ignore it Users don’t like to install plug-ins beginners are afraid & should be advanced users are skeptical

5. Issues Browser can’t be trusted to educate the user! Plug-ins lower browser stability and can waste resources Plug-ins add more security holes, can weaken the OS too Plug-in quality/support differs

6. Issues Users could BLAME YOU for plug-in related problems Inconvenience can scare users away Often plug-in content takes more bandwidth or SLOW page loading (java) Without alternatives, you lock out users

7. Flash Issues Flash 7+ can use a microphone or webcam initially, they were on by default users don’t know and its not easy to check the settings Flash has LARGE cookies it can store outside browser cookies Advertisers are using flash to watch you

8. The Flash Threat Flash, Shockwave, Silverlight, etc Initially: vector graphics Now: proprietary multimedia platform Flash 9 supports HTML & Networking its 99% away from being an alternative web to HTML.

9. Flash Benefits REALLY GOOD browser integration Javascript cross communication Used to hack in support in older browsers http://code.google.com/p/svgweb

10. What’s the tag? IE 5.5 and higher no longer support xHTML 1+ killed is the FUTURE

11. How do I do it? Read plug-in author’s directions tags are easy, but are phasing out. tags are complex and have many parameters you can pass to the plug-in Most plug-ins have tools out there to aid in generating the HTML

12. Backward Support HTML 4 : Use BOTH XHTML: Use XHTML transitional and use both Validators will not be happy but OLD browsers will handle it Provide alternatives; old browsers likely don’t have the plug-in

13. Java Java applets are slow to load Run anywhere; no extra plug-ins Secure + great track record Must check what version java of java they have (in the java applet) Java is no longer installed by default in Windows

14. Plug-ins in use All video/audio formats are plug-ins Common:.mp3.mp4.avi.wav Flash is often installed BY DEFAULT Java is common PDF not very common (yet)

15. Alternatives Direct file link (not in the HTML page) NO plug-in: download the file (might auto open the file too) Plug-in: displayed in the browser Link elsewhere (the HTML version) Alternate formats (manual or auto)

16. Javascript Some plug-ins support javascript access allows you to manipulate the object; or just talk to it...it depends. documentation is often located at the developer’s website Java applets support it Quicktime (video control, even editing!)

17. Checking for a plug-in Browser Object: navigator.plugins plugins is an array of plug-ins you loop thru it and compare names: if (navigator.plugins) { for (i=0; i < navigator.plugins.length; i++ ) { if (navigator.plugins[i].name.indexOf("QuickTime") >= 0) { haveqt = true; } }

18. Example http://www.apple.com/qtactivex/qtplugin.c ab http://www.apple.com/quicktime/authoring/embed.html

19. HTML 5 & MIME MP3, MP4, OGG, WAV, MIDI,MOV Multiple types can be listed at 1 time does NOTHING without properties or javascript to cause it to play

20. click me Properties: width, height poster = URL to image placeholder until played autoplay = anything not false to start playing loop = anything not false to loop controls = anything not false to show controls