Hi Mike, The SWFLoader can help to load images or SWF into your Flex apps. SWFLoader.content is a reference to whatever you have loaded in the SWFLoader, so the methods and properties that you can use depend of what it is avaible in the SWF or image that you are loading. On the other hand, the SWFLoader as Flex control has fixed propierties and methods. I agree with you, some of the properties are the same, and you can get the same effect. I guess sometimes it is a matter of preference how you want to handle it. For consistency, I would use the SWFLoader properties.