Will Flash ever go away?

[micrometers]

The iPad 2 is impressive. When web surfing it is noticeably faster than previous-gen iOS devices and almost as fast as a macbook air. All on a dual core ARM processor.

But no flash. That puts a big chunk of internet content off-limits.

I read that adobe has stopped developing mobile flash, but still, it seems like most sites haven't really replaced flash with HTML 5 or other solutions.

 

[ponyo]

Flash is too widely used to go away anytime soon. I like Flash and use it regularly. Used it couple hours ago to watch the Knicks vs Hawks game.

 

[ChronoReverse]

We complain about flash performance but right now HTML5 performance is no better or worse in a lot of things. It also doesn't help that HTML5 is so fragmented in terms of what's supported by which browser.

 

[micrometers]

We complain about flash performance but right now HTML5 performance is no better or worse in a lot of things. It also doesn't help that HTML5 is so fragmented in terms of what's supported by which browser.

ugh. HTML 5 doesn't really work on iOS mobile devices either.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I have 2 Android and 2 iDevices. I haven't skipped a beat without Flash.

Every Youtube or embedded video has worked so far on my iPad, and even instances where I suspect Flash will be required, I've been surprised. My gf went to foodnetwork on her iPad the other day and I was about to whip out my touchPad because I thought we had to have Flash to watch some clip, but nope. I was wrong.

There was only one time when I was showing my touchpad off to my friend who works at Apple, there was some flash on the page (probably an ad or something irrelevant), where I pointed to and said "wait... see that? I know you've never seen that before... its flash."

Honestly, its useless shit. Given how Android devices are lagfests, Flash only makes life worse too.

 

[dagamer34]

Flash sticks around for two major reasons:

1) Ads. Flash ads are far more interactive than normal ads. I guess advertisers' hope is that blinking areas of the screen attract clicks.
2) Premium content - sites like Netflix and Hulu would not exist if you could easily access the .mp4 file stored on their servers.

Flash will probably never really go away, but it's importance certainly will, especially with Windows 8. Websites that demand strong DRM will likely move towards native apps that can provide sufficient protection for content owners. Advertising within apps will be HTML5-based with some more hooks that take advantage of the platform.

But it's clear, HTML5 is the way to go.

 

[theeedude]

I like Flash. Hope it sticks around. These design by committee standards like html5 will never be up to par, too many conflicts of interests. Apple doesn't really want html5 web apps competing with its app store and its big enough to hold of back.

 

[ponyo]

The only people I've found who really hate Flash are iOS fans. Which make sense their devices can't run it. So they make excuses. "I don't need it. It makes everything slow. It drains the battery." I find the excuses funny and laughable. If Flash is available on demand, what's the downside? You get Flash when you need it. When you don't, it's not on so it doesn't slow anything down and it doesn't drain the battery because it's not running. You get all the benefits with no drawback.

When I can stream live sports and foreign videos using something other than Flash, I'll say it's useless and consider switching. Til then it's valuable to me since it's the only thing that works.

 

[MrX8503]

As a web designer/developer, I'm not a fan of Flash either. For the most part, performance is similar, but HTML5 is better on a Mac.

The reason why I don't like flash is because its much easier to deploy html5 videos than flash. Yeah you have to have multiple formats, but that's only because we haven't reached that standardization yet. With HTML5 your browser doesn't require any extra plugins to work and the player controls are provided by the browser.

HTML5 was created to standardized the web and there's many many other features it offers that'll make designers/developers' lives easier and the web experience better for everyone.

IMO, I think HTML5 will be taking over Flash videos in the next few years. Flash will still be here for other needs, but I think video is the first thing to go.

 

[Pliablemoose]

The percentage of Flash content is decreasing every day, while it's not going to be gone overnight, it will go away except for some rarely updated websites.

I am an iOS user and am frustrated when a site doesn't play on my iDevice, I primarily notice video on some major sites as clinging to Flash. But, it seemed like half of the web was Flash when I had my iPad 1, now, it's rare to tun across a problem.

The majority of the content that frustrated me is now available on Hulu, and the Hulu+ app provides that content near flawlessly.

I cringe when Flash runs on my Android mobile stuff, as it's like firing up LTE, the battery is toast in short order...

 

[MrX8503]

With the insane growth of mobile devices, I'm already beginning to see the loss of support for FLVs. Every new web site I work on, I've been using HTML5 for video with a FLV fallback for those still using Flash.

Mobile device accessibility is very important and because of that reason I see more developers adopting HTML5 over Flash.

 

[airdata]

Complain to apple about not supporting flash. Only porn sites use HTML 5.

 

[Bateluer]

The only people I've found who really hate Flash are iOS fans. Which make sense their devices can't run it. So they make excuses. "I don't need it. It makes everything slow. It drains the battery." I find the excuses funny and laughable. If Flash is available on demand, what's the downside? You get Flash when you need it. When you don't, it's not on so it doesn't slow anything down and it doesn't drain the battery because it's not running. You get all the benefits with no drawback.

When I can stream live sports and foreign videos using something other than Flash, I'll say it's useless and consider switching. Til then it's valuable to me since it's the only thing that works.

I said nearly the exact same thing several months back, and was ripped by the iFanatic crowd for going against the Holy Prophet.

Complain to apple about not supporting flash. Only porn sites use HTML 5.

Youtube, now a porn site.

 

[ultimatebob]

Don't forget all those those horrible yet insanely popular Facebook games that still require Flash. It's not going away until someone convinces those developers to switch to another platform.

 

[Phynaz]

Once Adobe announced they would cease development of Flash for mobile platoforms it was clear: Flash is dead.

 

[zsdersw]

Given how Android devices are lagfests

Not always.

 

[MrX8503]

Don't forget all those those horrible yet insanely popular Facebook games that still require Flash. It's not going away until someone convinces those developers to switch to another platform.

If we're strictly speaking Flash video, HTML5 is better suited to handle that. HTML5 Video requires a lot less markup and doesn't require the need of external plugins. HTML5 and Flash are used for different reasons and video is just one that they share.

If you wanna see the advantages/disadvantages of HTML5/Flash Video here's a pretty good write up.

http://www.brandflowvideo.com/blog/featured/html5-vs-flash-video-a-primer/

Both aren't perfect, but I lean towards HTML5 Video because I think its output is cleaner and its performance is more consistent across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices.

 

[ponyo]

Whether HTML5 or Flash handles videos better is irrelevant until you have the option to choose. The fact is right now there are still lot of video contents you can't access unless you're using Flash. It's like having 2G EDGE data access vs having no data signal and no access. I'll take 2G EDGE every time in that situation.

 

[AzNKiD]

Once Adobe announced they would cease development of Flash for mobile platoforms it was clear: Flash is dead.

Adobe is still updating flash for mobile. In fact, there has been two updates for ICS within the last month including one just a week ago

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.adobe.flashplayer


ICS and flash is the best of both world. The broswer supports flash, but its off by default until you click on the icon to activiate it. For example, you go to website that has flash ads and a video, page loads without running any flash content, but once you click on the video portion, flash loads that only and no ads. This is better then having no flash support at all.

 

[MrX8503]

Whether HTML5 or Flash handles videos better is irrelevant until you have the option to choose. The fact is right now there are still lot of video contents you can't access unless you're using Flash. It's like having 2G EDGE data access vs having no data signal and no access. I'll take 2G EDGE every time in that situation.

It's relevant to those who deliver the content. A lot of content is still in Flash because the majority of people have Flash. Its the same old story for Internet Explorer. A good web site should be able to support both HTML5 and Flash. That's how the web advances, by offering legacy support.

Changes to the web aren't going to happen overnight. CSS3/HTML5 is the future of web and its not supported across the board, but it will be eventually.

 

[Deeko]

Flash sticks around for two major reasons:

1) Ads. Flash ads are far more interactive than normal ads. I guess advertisers' hope is that blinking areas of the screen attract clicks.
2) Premium content - sites like Netflix and Hulu would not exist if you could easily access the .mp4 file stored on their servers.

Flash will probably never really go away, but it's importance certainly will, especially with Windows 8. Websites that demand strong DRM will likely move towards native apps that can provide sufficient protection for content owners. Advertising within apps will be HTML5-based with some more hooks that take advantage of the platform.

But it's clear, HTML5 is the way to go.

Unless this has changed recently, Netflix doesn't use Flash - it uses Silverlight.

We complain about flash performance but right now HTML5 performance is no better or worse in a lot of things. It also doesn't help that HTML5 is so fragmented in terms of what's supported by which browser.

Yes, I generally consider HTML5 to be a nightmare to use as a developer.

 

[ponyo]

It's relevant to those who deliver the content. A lot of content is still in Flash because the majority of people have Flash. Its the same old story for Internet Explorer. A good web site should be able to support both HTML5 and Flash. That's how the web advances, by offering legacy support.

Changes to the web aren't going to happen overnight. CSS3/HTML5 is the future of web and its not supported across the board, but it will be eventually.

And I care because? I have Flash and can watch content NOW. Not tomorrow. Not next year. NOW. Are you saying I won't have HTML5 when time comes?

 

[Phynaz]

Adobe is still updating flash for mobile. In fact, there has been two updates for ICS within the last month including one just a week ago

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.adobe.flashplayer


ICS and flash is the best of both world. The broswer supports flash, but its off by default until you click on the icon to activiate it. For example, you go to website that has flash ads and a video, page loads without running any flash content, but once you click on the video portion, flash loads that only and no ads. This is better then having no flash support at all.

"Flash Player 11.1 is the last release of the Flash Player plug-in for mobile browsers. Adobe will not add support
for new*mobile device configurations (chipset, browser, OS version, etc.)."


http://wwwimages.adobe.com/www.adob...atform/whitepapers/flash-runtimes-roadmap.pdf

 

[MrX8503]

And I care because? I have Flash and can watch content NOW. Not tomorrow. Not next year. NOW. Are you saying I won't have HTML5 when time comes?

I think we're misunderstanding each other. You're saying you prefer flash because you can use it now.....Well you can use HTML5 too when you can use it now. Your ability to use it now has nothing to do with the advantages/disadvantages of Flash/HTML5

Unless this has changed recently, Netflix doesn't use Flash - it uses Silverlight.
Yes, I generally consider HTML5 to be a nightmare to use as a developer.

Netflix still uses Silverlight. Its funny I find Flash a nightmare to use, I'm sure its different for everyone.

 

[smartpatrol]

The only people I've found who really hate Flash are iOS fans. Which make sense their devices can't run it. So they make excuses. "I don't need it. It makes everything slow. It drains the battery." I find the excuses funny and laughable. If Flash is available on demand, what's the downside? You get Flash when you need it. When you don't, it's not on so it doesn't slow anything down and it doesn't drain the battery because it's not running. You get all the benefits with no drawback.

When I can stream live sports and foreign videos using something other than Flash, I'll say it's useless and consider switching. Til then it's valuable to me since it's the only thing that works.

I could just as easily say that the only people I've found who really care about having Flash on a tablet are Android fans. Which makes sense because it's one of the few things Android tablets do that iPad can't. So they try to make it into a huge deal, even though 95% of users couldn't care less about it.

I own a Galaxy Nexus and an iPad 2. I can honestly say I have never been bothered by lack of Flash support on either device. I can still use Youtube, Netflix, etc on both devices. Nearly all embedded video I have seen works on both devices (in fact, some HTML5 video players actually seem to function better on the iPad).

To be honest, I'm glad that iOS has delivered the death blow to Flash. Time to move to a universal standard that isn't controlled by one company.