Flash video can be downloaded from a number of popular websites such as YouTube, Google Video and Megavideo, if you use a Web browser plug-in for snatching the media. The format usually uses the file extension FLV, and although it plays perfectly in a Web browser, external media players usually can't play this format because a few media players support the FLV codec.
VideoLAN VLC
VLC is one of the most widely used alternative media players available. Free and open source, VLC can be downloaded from VideoLAN.org and comes with playback support for dozens of codecs. The application runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X and GNU/Linux, as well as a number of other, less common desktop operating systems. Many people like VLC simply because with a few clicks, you can stream media over your network to a network-connected TV or device.
MPlayer
MPlayer is another popular alternative to VLC that runs on every major operating system. MPlayer can accomplish all of the same tasks, but comes with a stripped-down interface that minimalists often prefer. The FLV codec, along with many others, is supported by ffmpeg, the libraries used by MPlayer to decode, encode and transcode digital audio and video. MPlayer is best supported on GNU/Linux, the operating system the player was originally designed to run on.
Windows Media Player
In the past, Microsoft Windows Media Player did not fluidly support the FLV video format, requiring a lot of rigging to get the player to accept the codec. As of Windows Media Player 10, FLV files can play fluidly as long as you download and install the FFDShow codec pack that adds full FLV support. Since Windows Media Player comes with all versions of Microsoft Windows, this is likely the best option for anyone who does not want to download and install any extra media player packages on their system.
Winamp
Winamp has been around since the early days of digital media and has always supported a wide variety of formats. Although primarily a music player, Winamp has added a lot of functionality over the years, including a Web browser and video support. The latest versions of Winamp support the FLV video format on the Microsoft Windows platform.
Tags: Microsoft Windows, Windows Media, Windows Media Player, comes with, Media Player