Well, it seems that the combination of Steve Jobs + HTML 5 = Flash is Dead.
… No, the above is not a great sentence but it does tell the truth: Adobe’s decision is a death-sentence for Flash – a soon to be forgotten technology in the ever growing bin of dead and dying technologies:
Cobol
Macromedia Director
Java Applets
… And many, many more.
Adobe Officially Kills Flash
Adobe Systems Inc halted development of its Flash Player for mobile browsers, surrendering to Apple Inc in a war over Web standards as the company surprised investors with a restructuring plan.
While the matter might seem like inside baseball for the average person, it is likely to improve the browsing experiences of tens of millions of iPhone and iPad users, who have trouble accessing sites built with Flash.
That is because Adobe’s decision means Web developers who currently use Flash tools to produce Web content will likely move over to the newer HTML5 technology, which Adobe embraced on Wednesday.
Yes, Flash will still be used here and there for gaming web sites … at least for a little while, but soon enough HTML 5 and CSS 3 development tools will replace everything that you do with Flash.
Seeing the writing on the wall, I stopped any further development of Flash related training video courses.
Bonus: Video Blog on the Flash:
UPDATE and clarification:
In a nutshell, I think that mobile devices will very quickly be the dominant device used to surf the Web and as such, most developers (in time) will choose to develop on the universal platform (HTML 5, CSS 3 and Javascript) rather than Flash.
That all said, I bet that Adobe will turn the Flash application into a powerhouse HTML 5 and CSS 3 creator.
I occasional use emails I get as the basis for a post … here we go again:
I have been a member of the Killersites University for a while now and a very satisfied student who is learning web design well. However, I am at a fork in the road.
I have learned from Killersites about HTML and CSS and now there is HTML 5 and CSS 3. I haven’t covered any of the other videos yet. I don’t know where to go next in relation to the newest videos you have posted. Maybe I should go to PHP next, or Java Script, or Flash, or HTML 5… i dont know.
So would you please layout a course outline, in that, tell me in which order I should learn your courses. Assume that I am going to go through all of them eventually and please include the placement of HTML 5 and CSS 3. Also, just so you know why I am learning, I am a videographer wanting supplement my programs with killer websites that display video and interacts with the user. I am using Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 currently.
Thanks for all you do.
Clint
My short answer:
Hi,
I would suggest PHP next. Then maybe some Javascript and Jquery.
HTML 5 and CSS3 come later because they are still niche/mobile technologies.
Comments:
When choosing what technologies and skills you want to develop, you have to really consider your own goals and where the Web is at. So for instance, I see Flash is loosing a lot of its’ steam, and I think that it might be wise to not invest in Flash and related technologies:
– Flex
– Actionscript
– Flash Remoting
Unless of course, you are in a niche market that uses Flash a lot.
😉
I suggested PHP next (for this student) simply because:
– PHP it is used everywhere.
– PHP is very useful in day-to-day web work.
– Unlike Flash, I don’t see PHP’s popularity dropping any time soon.
Big news for web developers today, Apple has backed off on it’s blocking of Adobe Flash generated applications from running on iPad and iPhone devices:
Apple has opened up the App Store review process, dropping its harsh restrictions on the tools developers are allowed to use and at the same time actually publishing the App Store Review Guidelines — a previously secret set of rules that governed whether or not your app would be approved.
Read More http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/apple-lifts-app-store-flash-ban-publishes-app-review-rules/#ixzz0z3kq21c4
I am SURE that Android’s surging market share played a major role in this. Apple probably remembered how they got killed by Windows back in the day, in large part by making it hard for programmers to create applications for Mac.
Competition is a good thing.
… Now if we can stop the service providers from trying to create a two-tiered Internet.
According to recent reports, Android based smart phones are out selling iPhone in the US:
Android vs iPhone: Android takes the Lead with 28% on US Market – Apple has now found its match Android Manufacturers have proven that they can go head to head with Apple iPhone, In googles operating system Android have just supremacy over the Apple iPhone in the US market share. In the First few months of 2010 Android jumped to 28%, Apple had their 21% , while BlackBerry stood firm with 36% given their Business style.
Now Apple disputed that study with this statement:
This is a very limited report on 150,000 US consumers responding to an online survey and does not account for the more than 85 million iPhone and iPod touch customers worldwide … IDC figures show that iPhone has 16.1 percent of the smartphone market and growing, far outselling Android on a worldwide basis. We had a record quarter with iPhone sales growing by 131 percent and with our new iPhone OS 4.0 software coming this summer, we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon
So what does this have to do with web design and web programming?
Ah … good question young nerdling! Web professionals need to keep up to date regarding technology trends, so they (you) can position yourself (in terms of your skills) in a juicy spot, so you can land the jobs and get paid more.
Android means more freedom
Another cool thing about Android gaining ground on iPhone so quickly, is that Android supports Flash and HTML5 … I’d rather that the most popular phone out there support Flash and HTML5 than otherwise. Don’t get me wrong, I like Apple products, in fact I am blogging on my Macbook Pro now … But nonetheless, I should have the choice what software I want to run on a device I bought.
Another interesting thing about Android, is that it too (along side with iPhone OS on the iPad) will be ported to a tablet. With the growing market share of Android on smartphones and soon (I suspect) on tablets, Flash and HTML5 developers will have a great home for their apps.
… Since there are millions of Flash developers out there (many more than iPhone developers) I am waiting to see what Google will come out with (in terms of a tablet) before I even consider the iPad.
With the recent and obvious attack on Flash by Apple, where Flash is now blocked on both the iPhone (which accounts for 25% of the smartphone market) and the just launched iPad, you have to wonder if Flash’s days are numbered?
Apple is playing a dangerous game – pissing off programmers!
By blocking Flash and the whole Flash development environment, Apple has now slapped millions of Flash developers right in the face with first the iPhone and now the iPad. I haven’t had the pleasure, but I’m guessing those slick metallic looking bodies might hurt a little!
Ah, but the one who might REALLY get hurt is Apple … this is nothing new.
Back in the day, Apple had a habit of putting the smack-down on developers while Microsoft supported them. The result: programmers moved to Windows and that was a big part of the reason why Windows destroyed Apple … Windows users had many more programs to choose from.
… Ironically, it took an infusion of cash from Microsoft to keep Apple alive.
Flash will not die and Google Android might be a big reason.
On the other hand, Google has embraced Flash (and millions of Flash developers) in Chrome and so all those cool Flash games will have a home on Android smartphones and the rumored to be released Android tablets. So no, Flash is not dead and in fact, it could be that Apple with have to open the doors to Flash sometime in the future.
If you are a web designers/developer or just a geek, you’ve probably heard about the recent ongoing battle between Apple and Adobe.
The fight revolves around Adobe’s Flash and Apple’s iPhone and now the new iPad – basically Apple has blocked both these devices from running the Flash player and thus, any Flash delivered content, whether it be video or applications … can anyone say NO Flash games!
Apple says that they blocked Flash because Flash runs terribly on Mac OS. This is true. But recent events tells me that there is more to it than protecting iPhone and iPad users from the evils of the Flash player ….
“Apple Gives Adobe The Finger With Its New iPhone SDK Agreement”
This title (form a Techcrunch article) tells it all. You see, not only does Apple prevent Flash from running on iPhone and iPad, they are even blocking Flash-created programs that would then be ported to (translated into …) native iPhone-code based applications!! This is truly a poke in the teeth … from Apple to Adobe.
… Apple is blocking Flash with their new license agreement – basically, applications must be “originally written†in C/C++/Objective-C:
3.3.1 — Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).
I don’t normally swear on my blog … but WTF!?
Bottom line for web designers and developers:
We is screwed! Especially if you are Flash developer …
😉
Ok, not really … but read on for details how to get around this mess.
Apple basically want’s to kill Flash … this is clear. They want to kill it because they want to replace it. This is nothing new for Apple, they nailed Adobe with Finalcut years ago … and Apple basically took over the video editing market … took it away from Adobe.
More evidence:
Apple just announced a new tool for creating HTML 5-based interactivity, I’m not sure of the details but it just ads more fuel to the fire. There’s going to be a battle and nerds will take sides; in the end though, everyone will loose.
So what should web designers do?
Code is code and good design and good design – continue to work on your basics:
As I have been saying for years, don’t get married to a particular language or technology. Instead, try to concentrate on the key fundamentals and become language/technology agnostic … and use what works best for the project at hand. Personally, I’ve used 8-9 languages over the years to build web applications; I would look at the project and then choose the language, rather than trying to shoehorn everything into same technological box.
If you haven’t already caught them, I am releasing FREE videos from our new course on how to properly build a page layout in Photoshop to then take it to the Web.
In this video, we learn about preparing the screen dimensions for the Web in Photoshop:
I am now starting to release a bunch of free videos from our soon to be released Photoshop for the Web course. The complete video course (with source files) will be soon available on our video tutorial subscription service and soon thereafter as a download or DVD purchase.
The main goal is to teach you how to take a Photoshop CS4 based web page layout and to turn it into a website with the help of Dreamweaver CS4. Along the way, you will put to practice lessons learned from our series of articles on proper design.
Note: Even though we are using Photoshop and Dreamweaver, the lessons learned are pretty much usable with any Photo editing (The Gimp, Photopaint etc …) and web design software (Web Expression, Net Objects etc …) – these days, all these programs work in much the same way.
I’m a big fan of Flash and it has many uses .. one of them though, is NOT to create an entire website with it.
My top four reasons for not creating a Flash only website:
Limited search engine visibility.
Harder to update because you have to crack open Flash source files.
Harder to find Flash developers/designers than it is HTML/CSS nerds.
Apple’s iPhone and iPad can’t see Flash.
Learn from the past …
Back in the 1990’s, Flash only websites became a big thing for a while … then people realized that it was a bad idea, and the Web returned to traditional HTML and CSS based web sites. Let’s not make the same mistake.
Attack of the KILLER APPLE
Another fact that should make you reconsider Flash only sites, is that Apple is now in open warfare against Flash, where they will not let Flash work on the very popular iPhone and soon to be released (with much hype) iPad. That means that a Flash only website cannot be seen by millions of iPhone users.
Flash should only be used for:
Application development.
Only in parts of your HTML web sites – to do things like play video, audio or some other multimedia use.
This short article may piss-off some Flash maniacs … but what can I say, sometimes the truth hurts.
I don’t want to bore you guys to tears, but Apple’s latest move to not support Flash (and thus 99% of web video) on the iPad is very disturbing.
The facts are simple:
Millions of web pages with Flash content will break on iPhones and iPads.
Like it or not Flash is ubiquitous.
Flash is controlled by Adobe but free to anyone to write code against.
Apple is doing this to try and control content distribution – IMHO.
HTML 5’s video support is years away from being an option to use on commercial web sites.
Since Flash is not supported by the iPad or the iPhone and since the vast majority of web surfers don’t have HTML 5, if we want to deliver video on the Web, we have to support two methods of delivery.
… Just like it was during the 1990’s browser wars, where we had to write code for IE and code for Netscape. Thanks Apple for bringing back the good old days! Jerks.
Apple has to stop being a bunch of iJerks and support Flash.
