What Do You Think About Flash Now? Comment and Win 368
Some people hate it, some people love it, but undoubtedly it is preferred in a wide variety of situations, from banners and online videos to rich internet applications. I'm talking about Flash of course. Take the comic strip below as an example. It was animated with BannerSnack and output as a SWF file. Click to play it.
Pretty interactive, for a comic strip, huh?
But seriously, the recent conflict between Apple and Adobe brought into discussion the role (and ultimately the necessity) of Flash. What do you think about Flash content? Will Flash disappear or it will continue to strive along with other technologies such as JavaScript or HTML5? Comment and you may win a 1-year subscription to BannerSnack.
The Giveaway
Tell us what you think about Flash in the comments section and you may win one of the three 1-year BannerSnack licenses. The winners will be chosen randomly on July 9, 2010.
BannerSnack is an online application that allows non-Flash developers to create animated interactive Flash content such as banners, website headers and intros, and even microsites.
Love the comic!
I think with the growing support of portable media devices and platforms (such as iPod & iPad) are forcing flash out of the playing field. Now that CSS3/HTML5 are here we don’t really need flash all that much anymore.
PS – If I win, pass the prize along to someone else. I don’t really need the service, so it should be in the hands of someone who will use it.
I think Flash is still a valuable web platform, however I firmly believe that it should only be used when necessary. The problem with Flash is that the client needs the plugin to use it, even with HTML5, you still need a supported browser. It took IE6 years to lose market share (and it’s still hanging out at around 5%), just imagine how long it will take for HTML5 to gain at least 90%… Flash has already accomplished this feat.
While it’s true that the industry has discussed the merits and limitations of Flash for years, it’s only since Apple (AKA Steve Jobs) decided not to support it on Apple’s mobile platform that the whole thing has been blown out of proportion (Monkey see, monkey do.) Until an open platform comes along that replicates Flash functionality – Flash isn’t going anywhere. Like it or not there are some things that still can’t be done with HTML5 or Javascript frameworks (I’m thinking complex and interactive, sequential animations.) Anyone who thinks you can duplicate everything you can do with Flash in HTML5/JS really doesn’t understand the limitations. Even YouTube have now stated that HTML5 just wont cut it for video (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/06/30/why_youtube_still_uses_flash/) Flash might not be here to stay forever but it’s here for the forceable future. I also agree that many people who bitch about Flash, are those who don’t know how to program efficiently with it.
Honestly, I don’t think Flash will disappear anytime soon. The HTML5 Canvas element does a lot that flash can do, but it’s clunky and I haven’t seen any GUI editor for it like there is for Flash (somebody PLEASE make one!). I suppose if I want to do some vector character animation, I can export it to a video file and use the HTML5 video element, but then the filesize would be way larger than necessary and any interactivity would be lost. Seems counterintuitive to me!
For an example of flash that couldn’t be done (easily) with just html5 and javascipt, see homestarrunner.com.
As for doing video, I hope that we get a format standard that all the browsers can use without patent issues.
I think flash has it uses somewhere but it can’t realistically be replaced by HTML 5. I would however like flash to go away.
Flash doesn’t suck. When used properly, it can create dynamic effects. I am not expert, but I use Flash to create simple banners for clients. Check out the large animated ad that I created on http://southernkitchenstn.com. It adds a little visual interest to an otherwise boring ad. It really calls attention to their new consultant offering, and makes it highly noticeable.
Flash is just a tool to be used to achieve certain goals. While there may be some trouble in certain instances, it is still a viable tool to call attention to a special feature.
Flash has turned into THE cross-platform video player, so all the recent debate has been centred around how best to play video on every platform.
Flash has terribly bad performance playing video on Macs compared to other platforms, and Adobe hasn’t bothered to put any effort into fixing this. It’s no wonder Steve didn’t want a poorly-performing technology affecting the iPhone’s reputation – they’re doing just fine with the “You’re holding it wrong” campaign.
Every single flash video I’ve ever watched on a Mac uses almost 100% of the cpu, compared to under 10% for HTML5 video. I’m amazed Adobe is treating Macs so badly and then being surprised when Apple throws all their stuff on the lawn and changes the locks.
The reason HTML5 hasn’t taken over is because a) IE just won’t die, and b) the browser creators can’t agree on one codec. H.264 is the most common, but it has licensing attached which Firefox isn’t going to implement.
There are some animation technologies like canvas which could replace most Flash functionality, but they’re not widely supported yet. We’re basically stuck with Flash until ALL browsers provide alternates.
I m of the one who think that flash is losing tracks compare to evolution of HTML5 and CSS3.
Fast connection allow visually more astonishing flash site but they are still not referenced on search engine.
What the point having great site if limited people can see it?
About flash banner, as it can be achieve nore neatly with javascript library, i don’t see the point…
I don’t think Flash is going to disappear, but I do believe that its usage will dramatically shrink. HTML5/Javascript will rise up to create all-new methods of doing many of the things Flash was a band-aid for previously (video streaming, webcam stuff, et cetera) in a more accessible, designer-friendly manner (reflecting the shift towards those things being standard content formats instead of special pieces).
At the same time, Flash/Actionscript will be used for the kinds of things that it’s more necessary for (such as augmented reality pieces that run in-browser), and will be free to flourish there.
Flash vs Html5/JavaScript/Canvas/CSS3. All parties have their own advantages and disadvantages. I believe these technologies will continue to co-exist for years to come. The use of these technologies should be decided on a per-situation basis – taking audience and function into consideration.
I’m a full time web developer. Before I realized the power of javascript (which seems to just get better and better) I was really into flash. I liked it because I was able to write full blown games and quickly setup animations. From the start I found myself using actionscript instead of the timeline to do so. Then came the tween libraries which made that even more appealing. Flash was my first choice for interesting navigation and they came together very quickly. However, today, many years after my flash projects I can pretty much say goodbye and never look back.. The frustrations with developing with flash outweigh it’s advantages. Especially having to manage someone else’s flash file, it’s a nightmare! Do you have the fla? Do you have all the fonts, artwork, and plugins they used while authoring? Do you have a few hours to figure out where the hell all the code is? I don’t. Not to mention all the headaches of setting up paths to all your external assets.
For over a year and a half I’ve been able to, for lack of better words, fool my clients into thinking their sites have flash content thanks to javascript libraries like jQuery.
Do I think flash will suddenly die? No, it will be here for a long time. Until HTML5 is fully supported, people will continue to use flash as a way to deliver interactive content, but after that I see it’s popularity fading out pretty quickly.
Flash definitely has it’s place, but it’s quickly and utterly diminishing. The power of jQuery and other Javascript libraries are completely changing the game. For Web Applications, Flash still has a place and for banners. But when I was first learning how to create fast loading and SEM friendly websites, I never got into flash. I’m really glad that I didn’t learn too much about Flash because now 8 years later the Flash hold on the market is quickly diminishing. I would much rather learn about what’s new and fresh and SEM friendly, neither which Flash ever was.
I think it will be more of a specialized market size for Flash moving forward. That doesn’t make it bad or anything like that, just that there are better and more efficient ways of doing things Flash has always taken care of in the past.
I think what the people really hate is the poor implementation of the tools, be it flash or HTML5 if your banner is too intrusive and out of place it will be dismissed at best and hated at worst.
I think as long as designers continue to move away from learning code, letting developers do the work, Flash will still be here. It lets them use the GUI system to make animations that can be used for cool banners and fun web applications like social games. Artists make things look fun, developers make it function. But that’s only taking web into consideration, lets not forget that Flash provides a platform for tv animation. I have quite a few friends who actually have an opportunity to do 2D animation because Flash exists. It allows for MUCH cheaper production and is intuitive enough for the average right brainer. So I believe Flash still plays a big role in the world.
Sometimes I do wish the iphone had flash. myspace music. hulu.
Personally I don’t like flash simply because I don’t understand why a simple flash app can cause my processor to burn up to 88 degrees C. That is literally hot enough to fry an egg!
Flash is just a tool guys, which was (and still is) very used, for both banner/animations and web apps development. And the true is that it is not perfect, but, what app is perfect? None. BTW, It’s very natural that new alternatives to Flash be appearing, but finally if Flash will stay or not, it is something that will happen based on decision of people who will decide keep using it or not (and what new Flash candy Adobe be planning to offer). That’s it.
I like Flash, sometimes getting complex animations can be done within a few hours (use of timeline and librairies) but sometimes for a simple one i just switch to jQuery and get it done within a few line of codes only (instead of getting along with all Flash procedures..)
I barely saw the power of CSS transitions and HTML5 for animation. I’m getting preference using these ’cause Flash is not always accessible(mobile devices etc)..and for low CPU users it is sooo annoying..