It’s been two years since Macromedia Inc launched its Shockwave plug-in for adding animation to web pages, and 37 million downloads later the company has launched Smart Shockwave, which enables users to automatically download, install and play the latest version of Shockwave without having to leave the current web site. Shockwave began as a collaboration between Macromedia and Netscape Communications Corp to add dynamic media to web sites, and emerged as the first browser plug-in. Shockwave players are currently being downloaded at the rate of one million a week, and are also distributed through product CD-ROMs from Netscape, Microsoft Corp, America Online Inc and Apple Computer Corp. Smart Shockwave uses Netscape’s JavaScript to automate the download process. A smart Get Shockwave button detects if the visiting browser has Shockwave installed, or if a more current version is available, and if necessary, sets an automatic installation process in motion, with a small status window telling the user what’s going on. Macromedia recently began shipping preview versions of Shockwave Java edition.
Content from our partners
