Most likely, most users do not need to explain what Flash Player is . They understand perfectly well: without this applet, playing any multimedia content posted on the Internet is not possible. However, for those users who only understand the basics of working with operating systems and web browsers, you can provide some tips on using this extension. But first, let's dwell on what it is.
What is a flash player?
This applet was originally developed by Sun Microsystems. It was only much later that a similar software product from Macromedia appeared. Ultimately, seeing the popularity of the program, the IT giant Adobe took advantage of the purchase of everything that was connected with multimedia developments, including the merger of subsidiaries under its wing.
But what is Flash Player in the original sense? At the dawn of the development of flash-technologies, the player was created in the form of a separately installed player for playing animated videos in this format. Over time, Flash Player for Windows underwent qualitative changes, becoming exclusively a plug-in for installed browsers on systems.
But Apple decided not to stop there, releasing a universal player and plug-in in one package called QuickTime. It is to him today in most cases that the SWF extension is mapped, as well as additional formats like FLA or image objects.
What is this extension for?
Speaking about what Flash Player is, one cannot ignore the question of how this player became a browser add-on. The fact is that with the development of Internet technologies with the possibility of publishing multimedia content on websites, no one thought much, preferring to use only the text part. And when it came to the understanding that the user entering the page wants to not only read the text, but also watch videos or listen to music, the attitude towards this plugin has changed dramatically.
How does Flash Player for Windows work?
Now the main applet began to work exclusively as an extension installed for web browsers. As an independent player, finding it today is quite problematic.
Sometimes it may be necessary to manually enable the installed plug-in if this did not happen automatically.
But it is precisely when integrating into browsers (moreover, automatically and in everything) that you don’t have to worry about playing content. Even the player itself does not need to be started manually, since playback starts with the usual pressing of the corresponding button or without it, and the plug-in is loaded in accordance with the contents being played. This add-on does not have its own interface, although on the sites themselves when playing audio or video, a completely different graphical shell developed directly by the creators of the Internet resource can be displayed.
On Windows 10, Flash Player works the same way on all other systems. At the same time, neither the browser used, nor the operating system matter. Only architecture is considered during the installation or upgrade process. If you look at the development of systems of this type, Microsoft specialists could create such a tool for a long time and include it in the standard tools, however, apparently, they are in no hurry to engage in such developments. Indeed, why, if there is already a ready-made solution nearby? Another thing is that the corporation could buy this development, and then establish its own copyrights for it. But Microsoft cannot compete with Adobe.
Plugin installation issues
But we were a little distracted. Let's see how to install Flash Player in Windows 10, because it is not in the initial package after the first installation of the system.
First of all, you need to download the installation distribution kit from the official site and in no case use third-party resources on which the latest version of the player can be uploaded. There you can easily pick up viruses.
Actually, you will install Flash Player for Windows 7 or for another system - not so important. The fact is, already at the entrance to the developer’s resource, the architecture and type of the operating system will be determined automatically. The main thing here is to pay attention to the fact that when passing through several steps on one of them, a recommendation may be issued to install additional software. Here you just need to uncheck the corresponding item. If this is not done, then do not be surprised that some kind of antivirus or something else will appear on your system.
Further, when the main file is downloaded, in Windows 7 Adobe Flash Player may require permission to install correctly. Therefore, the installation package must initially be run as administrator, and then just wait for the installation to complete. All browsers and programs that can use this applet (for example, the sidebar) should be completely disabled at the moment.
Update
As for updates, when installing the player itself, a special service is integrated into the system that monitors the release of fresh updates. It merges into the startup section and starts with the system.
Some people disable this service. Nothing wrong with that. It will be completely elementary to reveal that the plug-in is out of date when, on a certain site, when trying to play multimedia or run scripts, the resource will display an error message about the need to install the latest version of the player.
Again, the redirect will be made to the official website of the developer. But here is the interesting thing. Updating in automatic mode is not performed. Roughly speaking, you need to download the distribution kit again and install the plug-in yourself, having previously refused to install additional affiliate software.
What else can I use?
At this point, consideration of the question of what Flash Player is can be completed. However, if you do not like this plugin, you can use a similar development from Macromedia in the form of an extension of Shockwave Flash, which is not inferior to the original player in anything.