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Comparison of HTML5 and Flash

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HTML5 can be used as an alternative to Adobe Flash.[1] Both include features and functions for adding animation, video, and interactivity to web pages.

Current uses and availability


Flash


Flash is used for many reasons but mainly, it is known as the go-to technology for creating the following:

  • Videos
  • Animated ads
  • Interactive experiences (be they games or websites)

Flash is a major platform for video streaming.  Because Flash Player’s popularity and browsers’ support of the product, using Flash as a means of distribution makes sense since designers and developers can assume users will have easy access to the content. High-traffic video sites, such as Hulu, uses Flash to stream their shows to audiences. In the same vein, because of this accessibility, marketers and advertisers can also rely on Flash ads to be viewable by consumers. 



The main strength of Flash is the level of interactivity possible in its products. Instead of having static images, motionless structures and predefined interactions in a website, Flash opens up a new dimension to designers. In Flash, audio, video and animations can be embedded within a scene. It can also be programmed to animate or transition uniquely upon a mouse-click. Hence, many websites and games are built in Flash as it allows for more untraditional customization and immersion into the digital environment. Likewise, Flash makes up a large portion of online banner ads, since their animations and mini-games can easily catch a user’s attention.



ActionScript is the programming language behind Flash and allows for vector shapes, animations, events and any other Flash capability to be created and modified through coding rather than a graphical user interface. The script also allows for custom functions to be built, just like any programming language would, and can incorporate other technologies, such as XML. Because Flash makes use of this Object-oriented language, the medium is powerful, flexible and malleable.



 HTML5


Although still in development and constantly evolving in its functions and capabilities, HTML5 is already live on parts of the Internet. The advancements made thus far include features that were once only possible via Flash. So far, HTML5-created content is mainly for the purposes of experimentations and demonstration, though the average user can still find the result useful. More and more sites are incorporating new features as they come. For example, video and audio playbacks have their own standard tags using HTML5. Youtube.com made a use of this by allowing an opt-in trial in which some of their videos will be played through HTML5, rather than a Flash player. Currently, more interactivity between the user and an HTML5 site is also possible, with the addition of a drag-and-drop feature. This will open up the door for designers to create a site that involves more than mouse-clicks. The new markup language includes a canvas element as well, allowing drawing to happen natively within the browser.

Advantages and disadvantages

Flash

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.[2] 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.[3]

HTML5

HTML5 is the natural progression from XHTML, which continues to be the backbone of all websites. As such, once completed, it will be the standard for which all future websites must use. Because of this, support for it, both in terms of development and consumption, will be strong. However, the markup language is still very young. Currently, HTML5 is not supported universally or fully by all browsers and there are not many websites putting its available features to use.[4] HTML5 is in draft state at the time of writing and contains many bugs.[5]

Apple

As of April 2010 Apple did not support Flash on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod, having adopted HTML5 instead.[6][7] Steve Jobs noted that Flash is not an open standard: it is controlled by Adobe whereas HTML5 is controlled by a standards committee.[6]

Despite Jobs' denouncement of Flash, in September 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”.[8] 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).

References

  1. ^ Bilton, Nick (June 30, 2010). "Amazon to Introduce Web-Based Book Previews". Bits. The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  2. ^ "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
  3. ^ "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
  4. ^ "HTML 5 Demos and Examples". Web. 10 Dec 2010. http://html5demos.com/
  5. ^ "Bug/Issue Tracking Service." W3C. 11 Dec 2010. Web. 10 Dec 2010. http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/buglist.cgi?query_format=advanced&short_desc_type=allwordssubstr&short_desc=&product=HTML+WG&long_desc_type=allwordssubstr&long_desc=&bug_file_loc_type=allwordssubstr&bug_file_loc=&status_whiteboard_type=allwordssubstr&status_whiteboard=&keywords_type=allwords&keywords=&bug_status=UNCONFIRMED&bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_status=REOPENED&emailassigned_to1=1&emailtype1=exact&email1=ian%40hixie.ch&emailtype2=substring&email2=&bugidtype=include&bug_id=&votes=&chfieldfrom=&chfieldto=Now&chfieldvalue=&cmdtype=doit&order=Reuse+same+sort+as+last+time&field0-0-0=noop&type0-0-0=noop&value0-0-0=
  6. ^ a b Jobs, Steve (April 2010). "Thoughts on Flash". Apple Inc. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  7. ^ Bilton, Nick (January 31, 2010). The New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |Title= ignored (|title= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Sorrel, Charlie. "Apple Eases App Development Rules, Adobe Surges." Wired. Wired, 2010. Web. 12 Sept. 2010.
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