Comparison of HTML5 and Flash: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:51, 11 December 2010

Revision as of 03:57, 11 December 2010

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Flash has been in existence since 1996 and, because of this, has a strong base of developers and consumers. Flash’s ActionScript language is an Object-oriented programming language, with many similarities to the highly popular JavaScript. This allows for more developers to quickly pick up the language and create a Flash project. Support for Flash is also abundant, with Adobe continuing to build upon and update its product. Because of its success, companies and developers continue to create content for consumers.

Flash is known for its high CPU usage, which can result in a considerable and noticeable slow-down in certain computers.<ref>"Flash - CPU Usage - FPS - Frame Rate." Online posting. 10 Dec 2008. Reader discussions, Adobe Support Forums. 10 Dec 2010. http://forums.adobe.com/thread/230334</ref> Furthermore, Flash can be vulnerable and be used to harm the computers it is running on. There have been known cases where trojans, such as keyloggers, can make their way into computers because of these exploits.<ref>"Flash exploit used to steal gaming passwords." Virus Bulletin. 29 May 2008. Web. 10 Dec 2010. http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/05_29.xml?rss</ref>

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In January of 2007, Apple released the first generation iPhone with its innovative iPhone OS operating system, currently known as iOS. Although the iOS web browser renders most websites properly, it cannot load Flash files. Subsequent iPhone releases and other iDevices (iPod Touch and iPad) continue to lack Flash support, leading proponents of Adobe software to argue that the Apple Corporation has banned Flash from their mobile devices in order to promote their App Store. By blocking specific content from their devices and providing alternatives that benefits the company, Apple has been accused of being proprietary. Popular Flash games, such as Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies, are accessible for free on computers and Flash-ready devices, but iDevice users must download them for a fee.

In his statement entitled “Thoughts on Flash,” Jobs identifies his official reasoning for Apple not supporting Flash.<ref>Jobs, Steve. "Thoughts on Flash." Apple. Apr. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2010. http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/</ref> He believes that the web should be open source and progress should not have to depend on Adobe:

:“While Adobe’s Flash products are widely available, this does not mean they are open, since they are controlled entirely by Adobe… Adobe’s Flash products are 100% proprietary... and Adobe has sole authority as to their future enhancement” – Steve Jobs

:“While Adobe’s Flash products are widely available, this does not mean they are open, since they are controlled entirely by Adobe… Adobe’s Flash products are 100% proprietary... and Adobe has sole authority as to their future enhancement” – Steve Jobs

Jobs further explains that iDevices relies on their multi-touch interfaces and thus does not have a mouse-over state, which Flash is reliant on. If Flash were to be available on Apple mobile devices, users would be unable to correctly access and interact with certain elements due to the lack of appropriate functionality.

Despite Job’s denouncement of Flash, in September of 2010, Apple lifted some of its App development restrictions. Now, “developers can use Flash to develop your apps, and then compile them to work on the iPhone and iPad with a tool called Adobe Packager” (.<ref>Sorrel), Charlie. "Apple Eases App Development Rules, Adobe Surges." Wired. Wired, 2010. Web. 12 Sept. 2010.</ref> Adobe Packager “offers Flash developers a fast and efficient method to reuse existing code from ActionScript 3 projects to deliver native applications on iOS devices” (Adobe Labs). This advancement means that developers can create Flash applications for Apple mobile devices, however, Flash web content still cannot be viewed.