If the iPad and its clones are as popular as some predict, content for this new medium is going to explode over the next year. BBT and its developers are busy preparing and our Senior Producer and technical guru, Ryan Ring has a few thoughts on the discourse between Flash and HTML5.Apple’s latest potential blockbuster, the iPad, has been turning a lot of heads lately in the development world. One of the loudest debates is over the notable lack of support for Adobe’s Flash plugin. This is of special importance to everyone in the web community, as more and more sites are being programmed using Flash software.
Apple’s concern with Flash is that, if it is supported, it will dramatically deplete the battery life of the iPad and they do not feel that its architecture is a good fit with their programming methodologies. A counterpoint is that Flash has proven itself to be a creative mainstay on the web, allowing for more creativity with design and animation than HTML has been able to offer up until this point. Proponents of Flash argue that the iPad cannot be a true netbook until it gives full web browsing capabilities.
HTML5 has been touted as the next big thing, and it may very well bridge some of the gap in Apple’s lack of Flash support. For video delivery, HTML 5 will likely find traction as an alternative to Flash video, but there are a number of licensing and technology hurdles to be resolved before we see proliferation of HTML 5 delivered video. YouTube, NBC and others have been experimenting with HTML 5 delivery recently, which is certainly something to keep an eye on in the coming months.
HTML 5 also offers some interesting animation options, but it can’t yet contend with the sophistication of a professional Flash website experience. Flash websites won’t be going away, but as technology continues to evolve we will all be curious to see what’s around the corner. Browsers (IE, FireFox, Safari, Chrome, etc.) are well on their way to supporting full HTML5 specifications and will continue to expand their support as HTML 5 evolves into a viable option over the next few years.
All in all, it is a very exciting time for web development. As we here at Big Bad Tomato continue to familiarize ourselves with HTML5 and other new technologies, we only see the creative options and client offerings expanding and getting better.
