Wikipedia

Comparison of HTML5 and Flash

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pnm (talk | contribs) at 03:35, 27 December 2010 (Remove section consisting entirely of essay-like OR). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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.

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.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comparison_of_HTML5_and_Flash&oldid=404398086"