Alt to Win Media Player, and Abobe Flash???

[Rockrz]

Anybody know of any alternates to Windows Media Player, and Abobe Flash???

Both of these programs want to upgrade all the time and who know how much spying they are doing, so please let me know there are any alternatives, preferably good quality open source alternatives

[loyukfai]

http://alternativeto.net/software/windows-media-player/

http://alternativeto.net/software/flash-player/

BTW, your Windows update itself all the time too, not worried...?

Cheers.

[Rockrz]

BTW, your Windows update itself all the time too, not worried...?

No, I have Windows set to let me know what updates are available and to not automatically download and install.

This is why I wanted to go ahead and get Win 7 because I'm hearing in Win 8 you will not have that option.

And, since I use Acronis.... if they kill that option in Win 7, I'll just restore back before that took place and start picking and choosing what updates I allow.

[Rockrz]

Wow! The only alternative for Adobe Flash is Microsoft Silverlight?

Seems like somebody would have an open source alternative.

[Neil]

If what you want to do is watch Flash video online, you must have Flash installed in the browser you are using. There are alternatives, like HTML5 and Silverlight, but you have no control over when or how they are used. It's up to the developers of the sites you visit to determine what infrastructure they are built on.

If you are just looking for an alternative way to open .SWF files, you can use SWF Opener. Or just opening the .SWF file with your Flash compatible browser should work OK too.

[Rockrz]

I'd like to get rid of Adobe Flash which I understand is required to view flash files on some websites that use flash.

Half the time I hear of security flaws in Adobe Flash, and Adobe uses this program to track your online activity for marketing purposes I'm hearing which is why I always give a Yahoo email address I rarely use, and I need to look at getting a VPN setup to hide my IP from marketers and other nefarious practices performed through the net.

Just looking for ways to make my setup as secure as possible without going all tin foil hat on everyone... You know how it is...