When Flash came out as a plug in for web browsers it was a revolutionary change for most industries. Online gaming, iGaming, music players, movies streaming, and even business websites jumped on the Adobe Flash bandwagon, and who could have blamed them at the time? However, little did they know at the time that HTML5 would gate crash the party and instigate another technological spending spree!
Both fortunately and unfortunately the digital world is a fast moving one. On the one hand, it can cost some firms millions to adapt to newly released technology. On the other, the usability and innovation the new tech brings makes running the business more efficient in the long run. And eventually, all businesses must cave in and invest in the ‘new’ or get left behind.
And that is exactly the story the rise of fall of Adobe and the rise of HTML5 tells!
Now for those of you unfamiliar these technologies, you are probably wondering where this is going. You’ve heard the term HTML5, and you kind of know what flash is, but what the heck makes these digital tech phenomenon so special?
Adobe was here, it was expensive, but then it was gone!
For those that adopted Adobe Flash, the decision was a no brainer. Who could have predicted the introduction of HTML5 at the time?
In short, HTML5 is a new solution that has left software and web design departments demanding further budget commitments to bring the firm’s online tech up to date with competitors.
Why flash was so important?
One of the problems with iOS and Android apps is the upkeep and market reach. When you design a an Android only app, you are missing the iOS, Windows, and Blackberry market. The same applies if you design an app for any of the other operating systems – you will inevitably have to ignore one set of users. On top of this, with new smartphones and tablets constantly hitting the market, the apps need consistent TLC.
However, Flash uses the web browser as the app. Its technology plugs into any mobile internet browser and when you visit a Flash enables website, you get a site that looks and feels like an app. All you need to do is save the URL from your web browser as shortcut on your device and you have instant access.
There are 3 distinct advantages here:
- You can now target blackberry, Windows, iOS, and Android user simultaneously because all these devices have an internet browser installed, which is where flash works its magic!
- No more upkeep is required for your apps because Adobe Flash releases updates that auto adapt to new devices released into the market, so your website also adapts. While there is some maintenance needed, it is minuscule to that of an app!
- The cost savings of having to hire an app developer plus a web developer to design the desktop version of the website to work on a mobile app. With Adobe Flash, both desktop and mobile users access the same content, only Flash detects the device type and delivers the optimal version – that said, you need a Flash expert!
How Did HTML5 Take Over?
The magic of HTML5 is that it requires no updates, no plug ins, and it does exactly the same job as Adobe Flash but 50x better.
HTML5 is already built into all modern web browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Edge, and Safari. It detects and adapts to all device types just as Flash did. However, it is fully responsive to all devices even if a new model with a smaller or larger screen hits the market.
Furthermore, HTML5 does away with the limitations of Flash code that limited what game developers and other software engineers could do. And the reason for this is because HTML5 can transport JavaScript to your web browser – far more flexible and powerful code already based on the common HTML coding language all web developers are already familiar with.
Essentially, with JavaScript, the limitations it has are few. You can add moving graphics, games built for iOS and Android app such as those on Slotxo44 can now run via web browser using JavaScript on a web browser with absolutely no download requires meaning gaming websites do not need their members to have a client to run the game because players can instantly access the game via their web browser.
And one of the key nuances of Flash has now been eliminated. That updates Flash users need to download which were often annoying, failed, and required a complete reinstall to get it working.
Today, most websites and gaming companies have made the investment into HTML5 in the hope that this technology is the final solution. It may not be, but one thing is for sure, everything is built around it and it is hard to see something push it off the shelf!
HTML5 Advantages:
- No download needed
- No plug in required (built into the web browser)
- No annoying updates
- Works on iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry
- Utilises the incredibly flexible JavaScript
- Uses the web browser as a mobile app
