The Internet. You love it, right? But it’s always changing, and it can be hard to keep up with all the different technology you need to use it to its full potential. One of the best things you can do to enhance your internet experience is use and understand the most common internet plug-ins.
A basic web browser is designed to view static HTML pages. It’s the plug-ins that let web content come alive, allowing you to watch movies, listen to podcasts and music, play games, and more. But how do you know which plug-ins are really useful and which won’t do much more than slow down your computer?
You only need about a dozen plug-ins to handle nearly everything the Internet will throw your way. One of the most useful is Flash Player. Nearly 75 percent of online animated content runs on Flash. Without this plug-in, you’ll miss out on a lot.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is another common plug-in. Downloadable forms, information and other documents are almost always viewed this way. Windows Media Player, or another audio/video player, is also a must. Enjoy watching viral videos? Itching to see the trailer for an upcoming movie? You can’t do any of those things without this type of plug-in.
Other helpful plug-ins include anti-virus software and a pop-up blocker; Real Audio Player and Windows WinAmp to play audio files; and a browser toolbar to make navigating the web a little easier.
It sounds like a lot, but most of these are free and easy to find online. Oftentimes, if you land on a site that requires a plug-in you don’t currently have on your system, you’ll automatically be prompted to download it. Just one word of warning – make sure you’re downloading a legitimate plug-in and not spyware. If you’re not sure what you’ve been prompted to download, do a quick internet search to see what others are saying about it before you say “yes.”