Free downloads of the following are available from their distributors. These items are listed as a courtesy to our readers and are not meant to imply any recommendation.
- Macromedia Shockwave Player and Macromedia Flash Player
Shockwave Player FAQ Page | Flash Player Support FAQ
From the distributor: "What is the difference between the Macromedia Flash Player and the Shockwave Player? Each has a distinct purpose: The Macromedia Flash Player displays content created with Macromedia Flash such as Web application front-ends, high-impact Website user interfaces, interactive online advertising, and short-form to long-form animation. The Shockwave Player displays content created with Macromedia Director such as high-performance multi-user games, interactive 3D product simulations, online entertainment, and training applications."
Ugh, that's confusing to me, too. If you want to watch cartoons, try the Flash. If you have the capacity on your computer, consider downloading both and be done with it. There is A LOT of material using these formats.
- RealPlayer
RealAudio and RealVideo, free and fee versions, plays every major media format. - QuickTime
Video, sounds, .MP3, .MIDI, more, free and fee versions. - Windows Media Player
.WMA, .MP3, .WAV, .AVI, .MPEG, more. - Winamp
.MP3 music player, other formats.