Whether you use Mac or PC, you can use different programming software packages to change the looks and interactivity of a website using widgets and plug-ins. A widget is a small application that is added to a webpage by an end user. A widget is generally created in JavaScript, DHTML, or Adobe Flash. Examples of widgets include auction tickers, clocks, flight information, weather, and event countdowns.
A plug-in enhances capabilities of larger software applications using a set of software components. Web browsers frequently use plug-ins to scan for viruses, play videos, and play new file types. Some examples of plug-ins are QuickTime and Adobe Flash Player. Other names for plug-ins include extensions, snap-ins, and themes.
If you are setting up a computer, make sure a user’s computer experience is as seamless as possible by downloading and installing some of the most popular plug-ins. There are some plug-ins that stand out among others as “must haves” for both Mac and PC. Shockwave and Flash Players are used for interactive multimedia on many websites. These are particularly pertinent if you have children who plan to play games, watch video, or engage in interactive storybooks.
Download VLC for audio and video files, multimedia presentations, and animations that stream over the Internet. Install QuickTime for virtual reality scenes, graphics, sounds, animation, music, and text. Although QuickTime seems repetitive when you already have other media players, it’s important to have both since different websites utilize different software and plug-ins.
Acrobat Reader is another handy plug-in that allows computer users to read, search through, and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files. If you want something a little more powerful and that has more offerings you might want to look into an open source package like Open Office.
Using widgets and plug-ins can enhance a computer experience both for you as a computer user and for those who come to websites you maintain. And they are for fun as well as for productivity like Filezilla for FTP. No matter what your operating system, there are types of plug-ins and widgets that are universally popular.