Macromedia Flash 7

Periodically I'm on sites or get stuff which ask me to download macromedia flash 7 to access the site more fully or quicker anyone know much about this? I asked "Max Newman" (Ed. at xtra) a couple of months ago but didn't get a reply. Is there a free version and is it much use and safe or does it leave you open to other junk?

Hi,

Flash viewers are free from MacroMedia. I don't know about security issues surrounding its use (Google is your friend for reasearching that). Basically Flash is a system that allows people to make animations and whiz-bang interactive websites (ooh!). Generally it's a waste of time.

If you were a business owner and you told someone they couldn't buy your product/service, or even be told about it unless they downloaded Flash, don't you think that your customers would walk away? That's exactly what's happening with those web sites you describe. You are the customer, but you cannot get what you want without jumping through hoops. Download it if you want, but don't be forced to.

Andy

Thanks Andy........is it something you can download maybe try for a while and then uninstall if you find you dont want it after checking it out

Sure- it is free to download and use (from www.macromedia.com ). Here is a link to some helpful instructions for removing it:

www.macromedia.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_14157

There's no real case for "checking it out" because it does nothing by itself. Only web sites that use it will make it do anything (or, if you don't have the right version, will pop up a window to say so). What you will find is that you will stop getting the messages saying you need to install it. If you remember which web sites demanded Flash 7 and go back to them you can see what you were missing and decide if it was worth the hassle.

Have fun,

Andy