How to be able to see and hear exciting things on your browser - very simplified instructions for installing and setting up common plugins.

These notes are intended for the average Pentium user who is new to such things. Macintosh users should find more specific help on everything they need at Apple Get Info pages

• If you haven´t already got it, download Netscape 3 and install it. Although this might seem like more work, it´s going to make everything easier in the long run. Installation is fairly automatic, but it might be wise to throw out the older version first.
• Get (download) the following helper programmes and install them:
  • RealPlayer 4,0 (Realaudio)
  • Quicktime
  • Cosmo Player (VRML player for Netscape 3)

  These programmes are all fairly easy to install - usually you just double click on the file name.

• When all are installed:

  Open: Netscape

  options
  general preferences
  helpers
  then from the list which appears:
  • choose (highlight) each of the application types you have just installed (one at a time)
  • check the Launch the application box - i.e. there should be a dot in it
  • click on the browse button (bottom right)
  • find the programme in the directory in which you have installed it and click on open.
  • click on OK

  Example: to set up Realaudio:

  find from the list: audio/x-pn-realaudio   raplayer    ra,ram
  check the launch application box
  press the browse button
  find where you put the programme (Raplayer.exe)
  press open
  press OK

  Finished!

• Now when you next click on a web link which is a Realaudio recording or broadcast, Netscape will automatically start the Realaudio programme and start streaming the broadcast or playing the file.
  (provided of course you haven´t forgotten to put on your headphones!).

The same thing happens when you open any other link which needs one of the plugin programmes above. So far they cover most of the audio visual stuff that you will find on the earth and planetary science sites today.

These pages will be updated to keep track of technical developments.

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These pages maintained by Dr Georg R Douglas, Hamrahlíð College, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland