Firefox Plugins lists Shockwave Flash 12.0.0.70 but Adobe lists this as Adobe Flash Player, and Version 12.0.9.149 as Adobe Shockwave Player, so wtf is going on
Flash causes us all immense confusion, and Firefox is adding to the problem. My Firefox Add-ons page lists (under Plugins -- isn't there a difference?) that I have: Shockwave Flash 12.0.0.70 which is set to "Always Activate". Adobe websites list: Adobe Flash Player 12.0.0.70 Adobe Shockwave Player 12.0.9.149 -- so what on earth is the Firefox-listed "Shockwave Flash"? This simply adds to the utter confusion already surrounding Flash Player -- which I cannot find anywhere amongst my Programs -- but which I can find under "Uninstall or change a Program" where it is listed as "Adobe Flash Player 12 Plugin". There is also the thorny issue of FlashPlayer vs. FlashPlayerDownloader...... I need a flash of inspiration to get me out of shock -- I'm not waving, I'm drowning!
All Replies (5)
Shockwave Flash is the Adobe Flash player. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Managing+the+Flash+plugin The Adobe Shockwave Player is a different plugin previously known as "Shockwave for Director", so do not confuse the two plugins.
The Shockwave for Director plugin is hardly use these days, so you can consider to uninstall this plugin.
Firefox needs to use exact same terminology as the supplier of the Plugin to avoid more confusion. We don't need ambiguity in an already mixed up situation.
The Flash plugin identifies itself as Shockwave Flash plugin as you can see in the System Details List.
Adobe refers to them as Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Shockwave Player
Shockwave Flash no longer exists -- Ask Adobe! Firefox needs to call a spade a spade, and referencing Wikipedia is pointless sidetracking when you should reference Adobe directly.
In the internals of the plugin it is still referenced as Shockwave Flash. That hasn't changed as it would break websites that check for a specific plugin name. You can see that on the about:plugins page and in the properties of the Flash plugins file.
You can open the Web Console (Firefox/Tools > Web Developer) and paste this JavaScript code in the command line to see how the Adobe Flash Player plugin identifies itself:
console.log(navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"].name); console.log(navigator.plugins["Shockwave Flash"].description);
On disk you will also see Macromedia for folder names used by the plugin.
- 32 bit Windows: C:\Windows\System32\Macromed\Flash\
- 64 bit Windows: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash\
- C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\Macromedia\Flash Player\