Comments on: HTML5 is not a Flash replacement and shouldn’t be seen that way

By: John Loudon

John Loudon — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:56:51 +0000

I think HTML 5 is over rated, I get that eventually it will get there, my biggest issue is by the time all the newest techs are supported (HTML5, CSS3) by that point we will be using the internet in a far different way and thus the cycle with continue. The browsers/ users move to slow to catch up with it all its a shame.

Maybe they should think of a new tech like HTML flexable, which uses something else that can be updated sort of like a lirary so it moves quickly and all sites will update at the same time. Thinking of Chromes way of doing things here. we should take the browsers out of users hands and your just on the latest. Its for there own good.

Would be safer for them as well as better for all of us.

By: Agi

Agi — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 10:08:04 +0000

Amazing Post Andrew.

You have clearly put it into perspective. I am tired of reading article after article about this topic without backing up and logical reasoning.

the digital world is changing, YES, but at the way things are going Flash will still be king in many ways.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 06:17:01 +0000

Great post, Andrew.

I really dislike this mentality that if you do something in HTML5, it’s somehow better than if you’d done the exact same thing in Flash. The problem with most Flash sites isn’t the tool used to build them. It’s just unfortunate for Adobe that Flash makes it really easy to create web content that impresses marketers and managers rather than users.

I do have one qualm:
…Flash with a 99.6% market penetration or HTML5 with roughly less then 40% of users browsers capable of understanding it.
If you look at the methodology Adobe used to come up with that number, the 99.6% penetration refers to home desktop computers only (although work computers aren’t excluded).
http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/methodology/

It doesn’t take into account any devices that aren’t home desktop computers. We need some decent Flash version penetration statistics that take all web-enabled devices into account.

By: MacOfDons...

MacOfDons... — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 07:03:27 +0000

HTML 5 is an upgraded compromise to the lowest common denominator that should have been handled long ago. Flash, while processor intensive on leaner devices, is a broad reaching and extensible plug-in that fills a lot of gaps. Let’s just leave it at that…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:47:36 +0000

The reason Steve Jobs cares so much about HTML5 is that he has a sort of vendetta against Adobe.
Back in the early days of Adobe (and Apple), Adobe coded for Apple and made Apple money. In 1996 when it looked like Apple was going to go under, Adobe started coding for Windows primarily. This made Apple very mad, and now that Apple is doing very well, they are smearing Adobe.
Thus Steve Jobs’s unconditional backing of HTML5. There are likely other reasons, but this is the main one.

(http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/04/12/businessinsider-the-real-reason-steve-jobs-wants-to-kill-adobe-2010-4.DTL)

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:01:36 +0000

>> Flash breaks the web; closed standard that search engines can’t understand, horrible user behaviour

So when everyone needs to script their canvas tag to get fancy text and animations, what happens to SEO for HTML5 then? All your content is generated by JavaScript, now you’re screwed. I also like how everyone yelling about “standards” talks about how Flash interfaces are clunky and their features are superfluous then turn around and create the same thing in HTML5 and want everyone to rant and rave about something Flash 4 did.

By: HTML5 Compatibility : GoAugust

HTML5 Compatibility : GoAugust — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:11:05 +0000

[...] supports Andrew Greig’s suggestion that HTML5 is turning into a buzzword. To some extent that would be very welcome as it could push Microsoft and other browser makers to [...]

By: Flash Is Dead. Long Live Flash! | Articles | Content Formula

Flash Is Dead. Long Live Flash! | Articles | Content Formula — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:26:46 +0000

[...] other technologies for some of the things that we have been using Flash for up until now. However, these shouldn’t always be seen as suitable replacements. Flash still gives us a lot of flexibility to do things that just can’t be done with other [...]

By: HTML 5 & Standard Web Video Delivery

HTML 5 & Standard Web Video Delivery — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 13:52:09 +0000

[...] topic still very relevant today is the HTML5 vs Flash debate, fueled by devices like iPhone and iPad that lacks Flash support (and, apparently are more open [...]

By: John Dowdell

John Dowdell — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:56:06 +0000

Thanks, Andrew. Sorry about all the adamant pseudonyms who tried to fix you.

Even the question is dysfunctional, “Can HTML replace Flash?” It’s smarter to focus on what markup should do to become more successful at what it does.

“I will continually push to utilize the best technology for the job.” I think that’s the right approach. Religion is for other venues.

tx, jd/adobe