Helper Applications:
Adobe Acrobat Reader
QuickTime
RealPlayer

Additional Resources:
BROWSERS.COM's Top Plug-ins
BrowserWatch's Plug-In Plaza!
Netscape Inline Plug-ins

The Web Browser Plug-in section of Web Tools contains direct links to information about the most widely used plug-ins and helper applications. A list of online resources is also provided which contains detailed information on these and other plug-ins and helper applications not specifically addressed in this section.

Plug-ins

Below is a compiled list of the most widely used web browser plug-ins. Each direct link contains detailed information specific to each of the plug-ins. Download information is also provided at these sites. If the plug-in you are seeking is not listed below, please use the additional resources listed on this page.

Beatnik
http://www.headspace.com/beatnik/
Beatnik delivers high-quality interactive sound from websites. It is provided by Headspace, Inc. and is available for Netscape Navigator and Communicator on both Macintosh PowerPC and Windows 95/NT. The Headspace website offers detailed information on Beatnik, as well as an array of sites that showcase the plug-in's capabilities.
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QuickTime
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
QuickTime, a product of Apple, Inc., is capable of delivering multimedia such as movies, audio, MIDI soundtracks, 3D animation, and virtual reality. It is available to Macintosh and Windows 3.x/95/NT. The QuickTime package contains a plug-in and helper applications. The QuickTime Plug-in allows QuickTime and QuickTime VR content to be viewed directly within a browser. The MoviePlayer and PictureViewer, helper applications, allow all QuickTime multimedia to be played (file creation and editing can be completed with QuickTime Pro).
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RealPlayer
http://www.realaudio.com/products/player/
RealPlayer is a live and on-demand RealAudio and RealVideo player which functions without download delays. It is provided by RealNetworks, Inc. and is available for Macintosh, Unix, and Windows 3.1/95/NT as both a plug-in and helper application. To test your RealPlayer plug-in, visit any of the sites listed in their showcase. The plug-in is compatible with many popular browsers. For a complete listing visit the RealPlayer system requirements page.
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Shockwave
http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/
The Shockwave plug-in, provided by Macromedia, Inc., allows multimedia files created using Macromedia's Director, Authorware, and Flash to be viewed directly in your web browser. The plug-in is compatible with Netscape Navigator 2.0 or later and Internet Explorer 3.0 or later on Macintosh and Windows 3.1/95/NT platforms. The Macromedia site also provides detailed information about Shockwave, including a section called Shockzone where users can view Shockwave in action.
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VivoActive Player
http://www.vivo.com/products/playfree/vaplayer.html
VivoActive Player delivers on-demand video and audio from any website offering VivoActive content. This product, provided by Vivo Software, Inc., is available for Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers on Power Macintosh and Windows 3.x/95/NT platforms. Learn more about the VivoActive Player and test its capabilities at the Vivo Software website.
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Helper Applications

Below is a compiled list of the most widely used web browser helper applications. Each direct link contains detailed information specific to each of these applications. Download information is also provided at these sites.

Adobe Acrobat Reader
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/
Acrobat Reader allows you to access PDF files on the web. It is provided by Adobe Systems, Inc. and is available for Macintosh, Unix, and Windows 3.x/95/NT.
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QuickTime
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/
QuickTime, a product of Apple, Inc., is capable of delivering multimedia such as movies, audio, MIDI soundtracks, 3D animation, and virtual reality. It is available to Macintosh and Windows 3.x/95/NT. The QuickTime package contains a plug-in and helper applications. The QuickTime Plug-in allows QuickTime and QuickTime VR content to be viewed directly within a browser. The MoviePlayer and PictureViewer, helper applications, allow all QuickTime multimedia to be played (file creation and editing can be completed with QuickTime Pro).
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RealPlayer
http://www.realaudio.com/products/player/
RealPlayer is a live and on-demand RealAudio and RealVideo player which functions without download delays. It is provided by RealNetworks, Inc. and is available for Macintosh, Unix, and Windows 3.1/95/NT as both a plug-in and helper application. To test your RealPlayer plug-in, visit any of the sites listed in their showcase. The plug-in is compatible with many popular browsers. For a complete listing visit the RealPlayer system requirements page.
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Additional Resources:

BROWSERS.COM's Top Plug-ins
http://www.browsers.com/
BROWSERS.COM, provided by CNET, Inc., is a great resource that supplies an overview of plug-ins as well as information on browsers. A few of the most popular plug-ins are always featured, and a complete listing of plug-ins is also available. As with the browsers, a brief summary of the plug-in and download options are included.
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BrowserWatch's Plug-In Plaza!
http://browserwatch.internet.com/plug-in.html
BrowserWatch's Plug-In Plaza! is an excellent service provided by Internet.com. Plug-in information is available via an alphabetical full list of plug-ins, a list organized by platform, and by type of plug-in. Platforms covered include Macintosh, OS/2, Windows, and Unix. Plug-in types include multimedia, graphics, sound, document, productivity, and VRML/3-D.
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Netscape Browser Plug-ins
http://www.netscape.com/comprod/products/navigator/version_2.0/plugins/index.html
For readers looking to download the latest Netscape Navigator or Communicator components, here is a quick link to the Netscape Browser Plug-ins page. This page provides plug-ins and helper applications. The plug-ins are organized into catagories such as audio/video, business and utilities, image viewers, 3D and animation, and presentations. There is also a What's Cool section.
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