Adobe Flash: Another nail in the coffin
If you’re considering coding a website using Adobe’s malodorous multimedia middleware, unless you want to do it again very soon, think again. When Microsoft ships Windows 8 in 2012, about 365 days from now, one of the two browsers on offer won’t support plugins of any kind and that includes Adobe’s Flash.
Quoting executive in charge of Internet Explorer, Dean Hachamovitch, ComputerWorld reports that Microsoft has followed Apple’s lead and is deprecating Adobe Flash. That is, of the two versions of Internet Explorer that will ship alongside Windows 8, only one will support plugins — the second is HTML5 only.
“The Metro style browser in Windows 8 is as HTML5-only as possible, and plug-in free,” said Hachamovitch. “The experience that plug-ins provide today is not a good match with Metro style browsing and the modern HTML5 Web.”
Why on earth would Microsoft choose to obviate Flash? Their reasoning sounds very much like the points laid out by Steve Jobs in his now seemingly precient Thoughts on Flash delivered more than a year ago.
“Running Metro style IE plug-in free improves battery life as well as security, reliability, and privacy for consumers,” said Hachamovitch.
So, if you make your living coding for Flash, now’s the time to start learning a new programming language. The writing’s on the wall…
What’s your take?
September 15th, 2011
This article incorrectly refers to the Flash plugin as a ‘coding’ language. ActionScript is the programming language used to write programs and interactions that can be viewed with the Flash plugin.
What ActionScript can also do is compile down to native iOS applications to be sold on the Apple App store. It can also be run in the AIR player that is on desktops, phones and tablets. If you are an experienced ActionScript developer, you can write code once and run it on a wealth of devices and environments. You can’t say the same for Objective C, the primary language of development for Apple products.
Keep on coding ActionScript developers, don’t let misinformation and spin like this article discourage you from working with ActionScript. The author should get his facts straight.
September 15th, 2011
The problem with write once and deploy everywhere is that you then get the lowest common denominator UI. Secondly this approach takes away from Apple’s strength which has been the UI.
So why would Apple support Flash. Why would I as a consumer want to support developers that can’t be bothered to write customized code for me and prefer to write once for every device and make me have to deal with the Android or Java experience. I am not saying the Android or Java experience is bad, I am just suggesting it as an argument.
Best to avoid write once deploy every where apps.
September 16th, 2011
Hard to believe people still believe that Flash is still marching on and couldn’t accept the fact that it is on its last leg…
September 16th, 2011
Not just Flash, but Java, Silverlight…. as well.
September 18th, 2011
It’s been over 5 years since Apple and some of their enthusiast customers started trying to convince people that having the option to consume Flash based content was evil.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/209765/apple_iphone_users_overwhelm_flashfriendly_app_skyfire.html#tk.mod_rel
If you hate Flash don’t use or develop on it and leave the rest of us alone to make our own choices.
Only Apple fanatics routinely argue the lack of something is really a benefit.