MicrosoftInternet Explorer.
| The Cutting Edge | ||||
| Browsers | Plug-Ins | Authoring Tools |
The Web hasn't exploded asmuch with real content (you know, the truly useful and informative) as ithas with multimedia and user interaction. This means more stuff like Java,ActiveX, QuickTime movies, Shockwave presentations, Real Audio, etc., etc.must come to you through your modem.
While this slows things down,it can make your Web surfing experience much more enjoyable--just flip througha magazine or something while you're waiting. It's also the wave of the future,unless you only want to treat the Web as some sort of giant dictionary.
To get the maximum benefitfrom this and other Web sites, make sure you have (at least as an option)the latest Netscape Navigator and/or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Then starttacking on the plugins.
If you want to be the odd personout, that's up to you--I'm OK, you're OK. But 90+ percent of the Web browsingmarket is right here. My suggestion: If you have one of these, make sureit's the latest version. If you don't, get one and try it out, even if it'sonly an occasionally used alternative--THAT GOES DOUBLE FOR YOU OLD AOLPEOPLE.
This thing works, its fun, and for sheer Web browsing and bookmarking is hard to beat. It's also FREE, so what's your excuse? Make sure you have at least version 3.0.
Get at least version 3.0 or the latest one. Even though the price is around $40, Netscape is a highly evolved product having set many Web standards. It also is much more stable (i.e., less likely to crash) than its predecessor.
These are simply additionalfiles on your computer's hard drive which enhance the capabilities of yourbrowser. They allow you to do things from within your browser instead ofhaving to launch separate applications. Below are some of the more importantones. Just follow the instructions at their Web site and go get them. Don'tbe shy, they're free too and worth it.
Schwechat cheap hotelsNetscape Plug Ins.
These include things like Live 3D and Cool Talk which you may have already gotten if you downloaded the full version of Navigator. These are the basic Netscape plug-ins. You may run into more Live 3D sites than the opportunity to "Cool Talk" with another buddy on the Web. Read before you jump in or else you might be wasting your time.
MicrosoftInternet Explorer supports Netscape Plug-Ins if you already havethem. Read about it here.
ActiveX
Microsoft's own implementation of the "plug-in" idea will PROMPT YOU AUTOMATICALLY when one is required to view a Web page. Simply say YES when the little certificate-looking thing pop's up. These put "*.OCX" files in your \WINDOWS\SYSTEM subdirectory so check there later (sort by date) to see what's been added if you're concerned.
This is the standard for full-fledged multimedia and user interactive Web page presentations. You will more often run into these than other proprietary technologies. This page will be customized based on which browser you are using. If your using both, you may want to visit with both.
From Apple Computer. Quick Time movies are a leading standards contender and prevalent on the Web. Read about it first then click one of their "Download" links.
Fast becoming a standard for getting high quality sound tracks from the Web. Rave reviews from most computer magazines. Real Player is free. Real Player Plus costs $30 bucks but looks pretty neat. Check it out.
View "*.PDF" files from within your browser. Lot's of documents such as help files, instructions, product descriptions, etc. are being published in Acrobat format on the Web so the chances of encountering these are pretty good.
Here are some tools for youWeb page creation nuts who would like to add champagne-looking effects toyour Web site while sticking to a beer budget.
Microsoft's Web Development Galleries. They'refun to poke around in if you're so inclined.
Java. Java is more universal since Netscape Navigator doesn't yet support ActiveX so start here.
The "Official Directory For Java". Truly a monster site of Java-based software worth your perusing.
A "freebie" from the multimedia masters that lets you build flashy banners and interactive graphics into your Web site. We use it a lot here in CIBA.
anFX.
Looks good although we can't vouch for it personally. Only $39 but you can download a shareware version free. Check it out for yourself.
Looks really interesting with some very esoteric (read that psychedelic) graphic effects. You can download a shareware version free and register it for $25. But I've found it difficult to use and help documentation is non-existent. If you can run this thing, clue me in.
WebForms™ lets you create your own forms which you can link to your home page, allowing you to conduct surveys, collect orders for your products, anything you can think of! Responses are automatically sent to your mailbox, then read by WebForms™ and collected in a Response Database! It's all controlled by YOU, and all you need is an e-mail address! No CGI?? No problem!! DOWNLOAD shareware free; register for $22 - $35 depending on the version.
An "LED" style scrolling ticker tape you can put in your Web pages that can be configured to read a standard text (ASCII) file. Change the file and you change the message. Download free; register from $5 to $35 depending on the level of technical support you need. Other stuff is also available from this page, but just click on "Ticker Tape" if that's what you want.
mBED.
Another Web multimedia creator that claims to be comparable to Macromedia Director and yet much easier to use. mBED Interactor is a point & click tool that you use to design and create multimedia interfaces for your website. Interactor gives you a visual, structured way to use your own graphics, sounds, and imagination to build an mbedlet. The resulting mbedlet is an .mbd file which is recognized and played by the mbedlet runtime engine.
It apparently is FREE. They must be trying to challenge Macromedia's current domination.
Allows you to morph between two images and output an "*.AVI" movie file. (The next tool below will allow you to convert an AVI into an animated GIF.) WHEN YOU GET TO THIS PAGE, SCROLL DOWN TILL YOU FIND IT BY NAME.
Choose either a 16 or 32 bit version for putting together animated GIFs. An indispensible tool for Web page design. $20 to register and well worth it.
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Netscape Navigator