Wow, horrible application. First, Chrome gave me warning that ActionScript is too slow. And when you click on 'tabs', a new page is loaded even though it's a flash application! And why do they need a separate page for this? Why is it not accessible when I right click a Flash movie?

<em>"Why is it not accessible when I right-click a Flash movie?"</em>

It is... the context menu always holds at minimum a "Settings" link.

For "Why is it on a webpage instead of in the SWF?", it's because Flash is part of a webpage, and is often not sized large enough to display a dialog. Unlike a browser, Flash has no chrome of its own -- it's a component.

For "Why isn't this integrated with the new browser privacy controls?", this is a work item now that browsers offer privacy controls... a Mozilla example: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=508167 https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=290456

jd, you do not get these privacy settings control when you select 'Settings' by right clicking on Flash. Those 'Settings' let you control microphone/web cam usage. You have to again click on 'Advanced' link on one of the tab, which will lead you to this page. My question is, why do I have to go to a Macromedia hosted page to change privacy settings of Flash player installed on my computer?

Because this sneaky privacy bypass is a huge selling point for Flash (for businesses, obviously).

Product manager's checklist for this functionality:

_✓_ can claim to privacy advocates cookies are viewable and clearable

_✓_ obscure enough no user ever finds it without help

_✓_ so hard to use no one would revisit casually

Your questions confirm: total success!