PLUG INS flash, quicktime, java applets, etc

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

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

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

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

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

Flash Issues Flash 7+ can use a microphone or webcam initially, they were on by default! Its not easy to check the settings Flash has LARGE cookies it can store outside browser cookies Advertisers are using flash to watch you

Flash Benefits REALLY GOOD browser integration Javascript cross communication Used to hack in support in older browsers Fonts, javascript audio, PDF, video SVG:

Flash Threat SVG: OPEN xml version of Vector Graphics HTML 5: video, audio, javascript, 2D, 3D DOM3: more options than Flash Java Applets - historically poorly treated Most potential for missing abilities

What’s the tag? IE 5.5 and higher no longer support xHTML 1+ killed is the FUTURE - ( including JAVA applets)

How do I do it? Read plug-in author’s directions tags are easy, but SKIP USING THEM 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

Backward Support HTML 4 : Use BOTH for 90s browsers 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

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

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 but often not installed PDF not very common (yet)

Alternatives Direct file link NO plug-in: download the file (might auto open the file too) If plug-in: displayed in the browser Link to alternate formats (manual or auto)

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!)

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; } }

Example

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

click me

Graceful HTML5 if supported: is used OTHER tags are ignored If not supported: OTHER tags are used - use If object doesn't work, it should show HTML