What are plugins?
Netscape Navigator 2.0 supports a new functionality-enhancing feature that
provides inline support for a huge
range of Live Objects. With Live Objects, developers can deliver rich
multimedia content through Internet sites,
allowing users to seamlessly view that content with plug-ins such as Adobe
Acrobat, Apple QuickTime, and
Macromedia Shockwave for Director in the client window - all without
launching any external helper applications (Netscape Corporation).
How are plugins used?
Plugins are placed in the "Plugins" folder which can be found in the main Netscape 2.0 folder. The Acrobat Reader, WebFX and Shockwave plugins allow for the application to appear within the browser window. The functionality of plugins is as varied as the software programs which the plugin supports.
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Live3D A VRML plugin from Netscape |
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VRML plugins, such as Live3D, turn flat Web documents into spacious
3-D environments. For example, the university library (previously
depicted as text links or at best a well-crafted image map) becomes a
"virtual" space. The user enters and exits rooms of the library virtualy
and may select "object hyperlinks" such as a book or the library
computer. Other examples of VRML virtual spaces may include the Moon, an
Amazonian rain forest or downtown Boston. Live3D is available for Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and Windows NT.
AIM Lab has produced a VRML demo page. NCSA activities in exploring the presentational opportunities of VRML can be reviewed at their NCSA VRML page. |
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Amber A .pdf document reader plugin from Adobe |
| The downloading of large .pdf (Portable Document Format) files is a process of the past. Abobe's Acrobat Reader plugin, Amber, makes it possible for users to download pages of .pdf documents on at a time. The .pdf document appears embedded within the web page. Amber also gives hyperlinks within the .pdf document (which previously could only link to other .pdf pages) may link to pages on the Web. |
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Shockwave A Director plugin from Macromedia |
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The static image maps and graphics displayed on the Web are being
replaced by animated interfaces and dynamic logos. Shockwave, a
Macromind Director plugin for Netscape 2.0, allows Director
presentations to be displayed within a Web document. The Director
presentation can act as an image map or self-contained experience.
Sound effects, narration and music is also introduced into the Web with
the Shockwave plugin.
Macromedia's Shockwave Gallery has links to many Shockwave multimedia presentations. |
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Viewmovie A Quicktime movie plugin for the Macintosh |
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The Viewmovie allows Apple QuickTime movies to be viewed within a Netscape 2.0 browser window. Apple Quicktime 1.6 or greater, Viewmovie plug-in, and Netscape 2.0 are required to enable movies to be viewed in this manner. Extensive information including troubleshooting and advanced coding for Viewmovie is available. |
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Talker A text-to-speech plugin for the Macintosh |
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The Talker plug-in adds to the presentational options of web page by using voice narration. When the page is accessed a text file is loaded into the plugin and the text-to-speech voice reads the text. A wide range of narration, from simple introductions to longer lectures, are possible. Since the narration's source is a text file, the download of the narration is much faster than the equivalent audio file. |
How can other plugins be obtained?
An excellent location to download plugins for both Mac and PC is the Plug-In Plaza at the Browserwatch site. The site contains links to plugin information and download sites of many plugins.