i dont like this program, maybe next giveaway is better

I found it to be ok.
Though I prefer Swiff Player
http://www.globfx.com/products/swfplayer/
It is free and works just fine on Vista

I was so happy to see this today because I want an flv player for WinME! Ran activate, ran set up, but I can't get it to work. It keeps telling me "reinstall SWF.max". I've tried three times.

Wow! The things you can learn when you decide to try out new software are truly amazing.

I have a number of programmes that offer to download flash videos from Youttube, all of which have had difficulties lately. Today I decided to find out where my browser, Opera, keeps videos from the internet, and to see if my flash players would run them.

I ran this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFTzuOzy7ig from Youtube and then looked for it in my browser's cache.

Well, Opera stores them as .tmp files in its internet cache C:\users\owner\apppdata\roaming\opera\opera\profile\cache4 . The .tmp file extension is not recognized as a valid media file type by either Aero or Eltima's Flash players; therefore, neither of these programmes would even attempt to open the file.

However, Media Player Classic Player http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Player_Classic played the .tmp file flawlessly.

Back in my DOS days, I would often find that I needed to open a text file created by a word processor that I did not have available. I would open it in whatever I did have available. The file would be displayed with screen garbage where my programme did not recognize the processing commands of the other word processor; but the text would still be displayed as recognizable text (because it was all ASCII). So, I still expect programmes to at least try to open whatever files I tell them to.

I would not expect a programme to be automatically opening unknown files, especially on the internet, because they would have no way of distinguishing malware from legitimate files. But when I tell them to and they don't even try, that's a little annoying.

After running the .tmp file in Media Classic and determining that it was not corrupted, I renamed it with a .flv extension and both of my flash players handled it with no problems.

I realize that the Aero player was designed with ease of use in mind, and a lot of today's computer users don't know what file extensions are (Windows hides them by default); but, I don't see why the programme wouldn't be able to try unknown files if the user tells it to.

If, however, the developers are able to add download functionality to this programme, that would be a whole lot more convenient than searching through dozens of files in the browser's internet cache.

Even though I am not big on video collecting or editing, I figured I would give this a go.

Downloaded and installed fine and I was greatly enticed by the prospect of making a flash my screensaver. However, I really couldn't figure out the control menus.

I was expecting a "Scan Disk" for media files option like new installs of audio players., but I could not find it, if it does exist. If it does, that should be right there in clear print upon install. If this is a library manager, then building the library should be the first option. I think too many get used to their own train of thought and don't realize that many might have trouble navigating menus if they are not in sync or used to the particular jargon.

Never got past that.

Hmm, all the comments sayying it won't run on Vista??? Runs fine on my Vista Ultimate Edition... and also the software is very useful as there are alot of timeless .swf animations that I like, now I can grab them and collect some of my favs Thanks to everyone the software developer, gotd, xommentors as well thanks bunches. !

@ comment 47

After reading some further remarks about updating the flash player, I see that I misunderstood the notification screen. It was referring to the Adobe Flash player and not the Aero Player. So, my conclusion that this is a trial version and not a full version were unfounded. So, I checked my Adobe version, discovered it was out of date, and updated it on the Adobe website.

@ comment 49

When I landed on http://www.swfmax.com/ I did not get redirected anywhere. Maybe you need to check your browser settings? The version there is only free if you try or buy something from one of the partner sites. So, it is not a total freebie on that page.

@ comment #50

Is the Aero player dependent on Adobe? I ask because when I use Foxit to read .pdf files, Foxit does not try to install Adobe Reader, which I have been avoiding lately due to security concerns.

I uninstalled and reinstalled to have a closer look at the Adobe Flash player update screen. I did not see any install or uninstall checkboxes, nor any install yes, no, remind me later dialogue. I had to dismiss the screen in order to proceed. Now my Adobe NPSWF32_Flashutil.exe is telling me that my flash player needs updating; yet, when I use the version checker at Adobe's web site, it tells me I have the latest version. You can see that this option has caused quite a bit of confusion; so, maybe you want to refine the dialogue screen.

I did see that the option to make Aero the default .flv player was pre-checked. That is a minor annoyance. I am not going to make anything my default until I have tried the programme and decided to keep it. I do not like having to opt out of this feature during the install.

I also don't understand why the installer wanted to create a default flash directory in my documents folder, instead of in my video folder. I've seen a lot of programmes try to put inappropriate stuff in the documents folder. For instance, I have one or two games that put their save files in the documents folder and I have a screen capture utility from donation coders that installed into the document folder by default. That's just weird!

Nice program. On W2000 SP4 works great. Would be even better if there was a control to adjust gamma, brightness, hue, and contrast.

This is a big thank you to all. Thank you to the GOTD team, for all the software, from which I have benefited many times over the months (years?). Thank you to all those who have taken their time to write their opinions and suggestions. All of which have been beneficial to me, often the deciding factor on whether or not to try the application offered. I have never posted on a website before, but I wanted to express my appreciation to all. Thank you!

@~ Robert ~
Thanks for your info. Unfortunately I've already uninstalled/reinstalled both players, by the time your comment became visible after moderation.

I've now removed this program. I have a good enough flv player. I don't think I'd want to watch too many swf files, which are most cases adverts. And I would not want create .exe flash files to give away with this prog, considering the troubles the installer had caused (removing existing file association and installing the Flash player Active-X without asking). So there's no good reason for me to keep this.

Bubby thanks for the feedback delete way.
Paul

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So where is Bubby about informing posters that the ratings issue should be addressed in the forums? He reminds us that this message board is only to comment on the offered software and is quick to point others there even when they have a software related issue. He does it just the same; it's human nature.

From BuBBy: Well the world is a big place, and the sun has just come up on this side of the globe. I have been sleeping. But thanks for your concern, diana.

@mimi_s_mum

Hi

If you go to adobe.com you will see that you still have the latest version of flashplayer installed..

Seems to work ok. There were things on my HD I didnt know where there. I sortof think that I probably wont use it very much. Not sure. If need be, there is always uninstall, but for now, I am keeping it.

Be forwarned everybody. Tomorrow, or Sunday, we will might have to endure another screamsaver. Please, GAOTD, spare us this weekend!

Downloaded and gave it a try. Upon installation it asked to be default flash player, I chose no. When program opened and run, it had made itself the default flash player anyway, so what was their purpose in asking? Tried to play an FLV video, and got nothing. IMHO, this is malware, due to the ignoring the user's installation options, and doesn't really work. My rating of this program: 0/5

#35 "As an example, if all that a utility did was to keep desktop icons from changing, I would download it, pay for it, and keep it forever. I have never found a program large or small that would do that."
I tried a lot of applications freeware and not now I can say that desksave (freeware) is the answer:
http://www.desksave.de/

I was happy to try this and say it's a great idea until I saw it removing my existing flash player.
All I can say is, WT?? HUH? This is VERY SERIOUSLY NOT OK.

I just saw the comments by ~Robert~ re flash player, and checked my flash player versions. I'm not impressed.

I don't use IE for general browsing so have not bothered installing flash player for IE. On the other hand I always keep the flash player plugin for Opera and Mozilla browsers. In short I had the latest version (9,0,115,0)for My Opera and Flock(!) but no flash player for IE7; and that's the way I like.

Now after installing this program, I have the outdated version 9.0.47.0 for all my browsers! (No warning about installing an older version, presumably because only flashpalyers for non-IE browser were update.) Now I'll have to remove flash player Active from IE and update again the non-IE flash player. Two more demerit points to the vendor.

Suggestion to the vendor:
Instead of current setup, an installation dialogue should be added asking if you've laready have flash player and if not if you want the installer to install it for you.

I'll still keep this prog for time being but will definitly not make it the default player.

@42 - I doubt any legit software is going to uninstall another party's software. Rather it probably changed the association of that file type to use their program to open it. That happens a lot and does bug me sometimes. Because I may not want it to change certain associations of file types. But nonetheless. This looks like a worthwhile program and the developer seems to want to continue to improve on it. I will probably download it and use it. I too have another viewer but I like competition and how it stimulates prices, and inovation.

@SWF.max

Adding a download feature sure would be a nice improvement
(and maybe an option to create a flv.exe..?)
Thanks for commenting.


@49 John

The free version shows nag screens and displays logos in movies and thumbnails.

A couple of observations

Activated and installed on an Admin account without issue. However it wasn't registered for other (limited) user accounts. Running Activate.exe only again on each of other user accounts fixed this issue, which begs two questions:
1. Shouldn't this info be included in the readme.txt? (a serious question to GAOD)
2. If one can run Activate.exe for other accounts after the prog has been installed in the computer, is it really necessary to run it before running Setup.exe? (just-out-of-curiosity kind of question)

Installation removed file association with pre-existing flv-player. Fortunately it did not uninstall the pre-existing flv-player itself, as #42 Talon Designs feared. One demerit point to the vendor.

Played a couple of flv files satisfactory. I'll keep it for time being.

discussion on voting removed.

@42 TalonDesigns
"BUT where are the thumbnails stored?"

The thumbnails are stored in
...\Local Settings\Temp\SWF.max Cache


@Kiril
I didn't hear much of you lately..

Thanks everyone for feedback!
I am the developer of this software.
BladedThoth, thanks for the review.
I will try to address your remarks and make requested improvements.
Talon Designs, it does not uninstall any 3rd party flash players. Except that the installer shows Adobe Flash installation dialog. You have an option to not install it :)

My plans are now to add "Download" feature (including YouTube support etc) and Master Yoda's animated thumbnails idea is also nice to consider.

If you have any comments or feature requests please contact me:
www.SWFmax.com/contact

Looks like this same version is "always" available for free from the developers site http://www.swfmax.com/. Maybe they plan to start charging soon?

Strange that when you go to their site to download a flash player, it redirects you to http://flashplayer.softoften.com/ for a media player, that claims its

"The best Media Player online!
Get instant access to a collection of CD players, audio and video players, a media jukebox, a media guide, an Internet radio tuner, a portable device you can transfer music files to, and an audio CD burner. These softwareprograms are combined in one easy-to-use application designed to make playing digital media a mainstream experience."

The site does require that you register before downloading. (More spam?)
Thanks again GOTD and BuBBy for all you do! They're not all keepers, but you put enough good ones up to make me keep coming back. Thanks too to all the experienced commenters that protect us from the "hazardous" software offerings and guide us to the worthwhile ones.

@Talon Designs

Hi
Installing SWF.max automatically updates your existing 'Adobe Flash Player' to version 9.0.47.0.
If you already have the latest version (9,0,115,0 )you will get sign that you are trying to install an 'older' version.And a please check 'Adobe.com' notice.
I can't see there is anything wrong with that.
Unless you still prefer your 8.0 version...

This programme downloaded and installed on my Vista Home Premium 32 bit HP Slimline computer with no problems. I did not have to run as admininstrator nor mess with compatibility mode. I do not know what I am logged in as; because I have never changed the logon as set up by the techs at Best Buy.

I already have a flash player, the free version from Eltima at http://www.eltima.com/products/swf-flv-player/ and downloaded this to see if it will run in Vista. I am not very multi-media savvy and did not run this programme through it's paces, so therefore did not vote.

The installer tells us that this is not the latest and most stable version of the player; so, in my opinion, if the latest version is not available for free to today's GOTD visitors, this is just a trial version. Who would want to keep this on their machine if there is a more secure version available?

The installer would also not let me run the EULA through Eulalyzer, which is a programe I use to save me the time of actually reading every EULA in every programme I try. It also would not let me cut and paste the EULA into Eulalyzer. This behaviour does not instill confidence.

This is a nice easy to use programme. however, it seems to lack a progress indicator. My Elitma programme shows me the size of the clip in bytes, frames and minutes in a streaming banner in the small screen viewer. I do not see that in the AERO programme.

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As a frequent visitor to this site, I think maybe I should speak up to this one.

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My comments on the tool:

1 - As a software developer, I created a tool very similar to this. I have a WIDE collection of SWF files on my computer for playing games offline, or viewing certain videos when I feel I have the time to do so. (Foamy is my friend ;). This tool seemed to be something that I would like to try and or buy. (I use Windows XP and I read the requirements).

2 - Install & Registration went great.. Until it "appeared" to uninstall my existing flash player. Now, I have to say this, I MAY have missed the option to do so, or I MAY have misread what it was actually doing - BUT if not? SHAME ON THE DEVELOPER.

3 - Running the tool was easy to figure out, BUT where are the thumbnails stored? Nothing in Application Data (In SWF.max folder) Nothing in the Program Files folder. I will look more to find them. At least the ability to compress the thumbnails exists, I just wish the location of them was obvious, or easily configurable.

4 - Overall I like it. I will use it, and will more than likely buy it.

It get's my thumbs up. Thanks for everyone that left "useable" comments that helped me make my decision.

I appreciate what GAOTD does, check it out nearly every day and have come across a number of useful and some unusual programs.

discussion on voting removed.

Off Topic
#35 Have you tried IconId from www.sillysot.com

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SWF.max is the best FLV viewer I've come across, both freeware and shareware. On that feature alone its worth downloading. Great full screen viewer with little or no distortion.

Cant use it. dont support vista and who edits flash anyway?

wish it was for vista..it seems as though most of the giveaways are for xp or earlyer operating systems. how about something useful for VISTA

Thanks GAOTD for the variety of software offered and thanks for supporting the concept of FREE. I agree about the rating system, but also those of you who download, install, test, and review the software are so very helpful and informative, assisting me in my decision whether to download or not.

Many of you, also, have provided links for alternative software, and I have found some of these to be most helpful. BuBBy, you provide us a connection to support, which makes me feel like GAOTD is concerned with its community. If I had the time, I'd test every offering and review it. So, again, thanks to everyone for making GAOTD my first stop every morning before I go to work.

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I also appreciate the portion of some of the comments that list alternate software. The rest of the comment is rubbish SO I draw pictures and write ugly words on that part.

Today's program: We have lots of "do-all" utilities. I don't need any more for a while. As an example, if all that a utility did was to keep desktop icons from changing, I would download it, pay for it, and keep it forever. I have never found a program large or small that would do that.
I tried "Aero" and I like this program because the few things that it does - it does well.

Useful software. The ability to create playlists makes it worth it to me. I also like the ability to generate EXE files from flash movies. This makes it easier to share videos with friends. I just wish that the thumbnails were generated from somewhere other than the first black frame.

Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover
I have been a regular visitor of GOTD and GGOTD for a long time now and have gotten some great software and some crappy software. No matter what it has all been free and non of it has trashed my machine. My gripe here is not about the software (never look a gift horse in the mouth), it's about the people that visit here. I never could understand how you can review or comment on a piece of software that you have not even tried. If the software if good say so, if it is bad, say so, but don't just say "This software is useless, I will not download." You can't know if is useless unless you have tried it. If it doesn't fit your needs, don't download it, but don't slam the program if you are not willing to give it a try. GOTD and GGOTD are doing a great favor making this available to us, let's act like we are thankful.
Thanks for your time.

if this could browse .FLA files too... would make me immensely happy, anyone knows a program that can do that?

#16. All the negative thumbs mean to me is that they show what percentage of users have no interest in the offered software period. Surely the first say two hours with many votes but few comments it is a fairly good indicator. And as such of value to the developer.
As for today's offer, I like it. Will have no regular use for it but the interface is quite ok and easy. Would I pay for it? Mwah, no. But I can see that be different for people often handling swf's.

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#25: you vote by clicking the thumb up icon (where the % are) up at the top.

@25
Hi
Marlene,just click on the thumbs up or down picture next to 'User Rating'..
:)

I find that this program is not real useful.. I use VLC and Applian FLV Player and Media Player Classic taboot, with these three I can play any format I want and all are free, so i'll pass on this one

hi all. this is #22's brother. let me just start

Pros::
Nice interface
ability to show only the file
set as background, screensaver
default dir (most have this)

Cons:::
none that i could find. i am only 12 :d

I don't know why this has got such a negative rating. I have lots of cute swfs and flv files and have had free programs before that open them. But this little program does it better I think. It took about 20 seconds to pull up 77 swf files in the media browser and this is great because the thumbnails let me see which are which. The player itself is a little better than the one I have been using. But this is more polished as does more and has more options. I really quite like it and am impressed. Definitely worth the small download.

By the way, how do you give a program thumbs up? I don't see any button or anything to do this. Is it just done through if a comment is positive?