Advantages and disadvantages of flash usage in web design

Flash allows web developers to create interactive content, such as animations, animated menus, movies, games and more. Flash animations can be made rapidly, using a certain type of software which provides the developer with visual tools easy to use and understand.

Flash is based on vector graphics, which means
that flash animations can be rescaled without losing the image quality. Flash animations can be embedded in HTML pages as menus, movies or web site layouts. You will be able to create presentations, short courses, quizzes, Flash being an effective multimedia tool in business marketing and e-learning due to the possibility of easy control and model of the degree of interactivity for a certain animation. Flash movies have a high loading speed, being rendered with controllable quality by all major modern web browsers.

There are also disadvantages of Flash, depending on its implementation in a web site structure. For example, if your website needs the presence of many customers, it’s recommended to avoid the excessive flash usage, especially in web sites intros. Flash is not optimized for search engine indexing, and as a consequence, the content of your Flash animation is not visible for search engine spiders.

If your flash intro will contain unoptimized raster images, the final animation size will determine higher page loading times, which could mean losing many of your visitors or customers. On the other hand, updating the Flash content of a given website could be more expensive than traditional content non-Flash based.

The selection criteria of Flash editing tools is also important, due to performance of optimization options and their cost. In conclusion, as a function of your website destination, you should carefully select the parts where Flash animations will fit in, and never overuse Flash animations.

Top 51 Free & Useful Downloads

Once upon a time you actually had to pay for great software or use illegal cracked versions. The scenario has totally changed today. Luckily we are out of that world now. If you want to make your PC more productive, secure, informative and entertaining, try these softwares listed below. We've compiled a list of the most useful softwares available for download - and they don't cost even a cent!

Tweaking Windows XP

• Fresh UI - Configure and optimize your system, hardware, and Windows application settings.
• Microsoft Power Toys For Windows XP - PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released.
• Tweak & Tune - Access hidden Windows system settings.

Tweaking Windows Vista

• Tweak VI Basic - Tweak hundreds of hidden features of Windows Vista.
• VistaBootPRO - Featured in PC Magazine, Microsoft's Tech Net Magazine, and hundreds of online articles worldwide.
• EasyBCD - Modify, back up, and restore configurations of Windows Vista bootloader.

Security Tools

• Ad-Aware SE Personal - Scan your system for ad-supported software components and remove them.
• Avast - Scan your computer for viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.
• ZoneAlarm - Protect your Internet connection from hackers and other security breaches.
• AVG Anti-Virus - Protect your computer from viruses and malicious programs.
• SMAC - View, change, and validate MAC Address.
• Microsoft Windows Defender - Remove spyware from your PC and prevent unwanted software from being installed without your knowledge.
• Spybot Search & Destroy - Search your hard disk and Registry for threats to your security and privacy.

Registry Cleaners

• TweakNow RegCleaner - Remove obsolete entries from your Windows Registry.
• CleanMyRegistry - Clean your Windows Registry.

System Information

• Belarc Advisor - Plug a PC audit into your browser with details on hardware and software.
• SpeedFan - Monitor fan speeds, temperatures, and voltages in computers with hardware monitoring chips.
• M2 Information - Get your system specifications quickly for easy reference when filling in technical-support questionnaires.

E-mail Clients

• Thunderbird -View e-mail and news the way you want it, with intelligent junk controls and personalized themes.
• Eudora - Send e-mail to and receive it from friends and coworkers.
• Spamato - Add-on for Microsoft Outlook, an extension for Thunderbird and Mozilla Mail, and as a stand-alone proxy component.

File Sharing

• AllPeers - Share anything with people you choose
  
• Pando - Bypass e-mail attachment limits when sending big files.
• uTorrent - Manage BitTorrents for Windows with scheduling and other features
• Skype - More than just talk
  
• Yahoo Messenger - Communicate instantly with your friends on YIM and Windows Live using custom avatars, PC-to-PC calling, and lively emoticons.
• Trillian - Chat and share files with all your friends on mIRC, AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo Messenger.
• Google Talk - Talk share with your friends for free.
• Microsoft Windows Live Messenger - Connect and share instantly on the worlds most popular IM network.

Desktop Search

• Google Desktop - Search your hard drive for e-mail, files, and your Web and IM histories.
• Copernic Desktop Search - Search files, e-mails, and popular multimedia formats on your PC's hard drive.
• Windows Desktop Search - Search your computer for virtually any kind of information.

Office Suites & Word Processors

• OpenOffice.org - Take an open-source approach to office productivity.
• Easy To-Do - Manage important tasks at home or in the office.
• NoteTab Light - Edit text and HTML documents of any size.
• Crimson Editor - Edit programs in HTML, C/C++, Perl, Java, and other languages.
• EditPad Lite - Try a general-purpose Notepad-like text editor.

Backup & File Synchronization

• Everyday Auto Backup - Automate your file backup routines.
• Microsoft FolderShare - Find, access, share your files anywhere
  

Video Players

• VLC Media Player - Play audio and video files with this cross-platform media player and streaming server.
• iTunes Foobar2000 - Listen to music with an audio player that supports several popular audio formats.

Image Editing

• Google Picasa - Find, edit, and share pictures faster.
• IrfanView - View and edit most graphics formats available today in a fast and simple way.
• StudioLine Photo Basic - Import, manage, edit, and share your digital images using e-mail, slide shows, and Web galleries.
• Microsoft Photo info - View and change metadata properties for digital photographs in Windows Explorer.
• FastStone MaxView - View, edit, and manipulate your images.
• GIMP - Create and alter photos and graphics manually or via scripting.
• Paint.net - Create and alter photos using layers, effects, and other tools.

Audio Players

• Nullsoft Winamp - Play and organize a variety of audio and video files.
• iTunes - Create MP3 playlists, burn CDs, and download music with this top-rated jukebox.
• Audacity - Edit your digital audio files.