LOGIN | REGISTER NOW | SUBSCRIBE
 
print Printable version 
Most Read Latest News Blog Resources
Three non-programming books for your booklist
Aside from programming skills, developers should know how management works and how to oper...
A fast start for an open-source cloud
Three developers from the OpenStack project talk about its already-thriving community and ...
Integration Watch: The intractability of parallel programming
Not much progress has been made in the field of parallel programming. What can be done to ...
Windows & .NET Watch: LightSwitch turns up
Microsoft's newest development environment will need to go a long way to fulfill its poten...
Digg!  Digg
Reddit  Reddit
Slashdot  Slashdot
Share on facebook  Facebook
Share on Twitter  Twitter


            iphoneapp GET THE APP!

Flash or HTML5? It depends on the user


By David Rubinstein
June 22, 2010 —  (Page 1 of 2)
If you’re creating software without a mobile consideration—such as for intranet portals or content-heavy, browser-based applications—Flash would be the best technology for the user interface. If accessibility from mobile devices is a requirement, HTML5 might be the better choice.

These are the observations of Anthony Franco, president and cofounder of the consulting company Effective UI, who said it’s becoming more critical than ever for people executing on the application’s front-end design to understand the needs of the user.

However, the conversation is made more complex by Apple’s refusal to allow the Flash runtime onto its iPhone and iPad devices. In an open letter posted to the Apple website in April, Jobs explained that Flash technology is not only proprietary, but claimed that it’s also old technology that uses too many resources and crashes too often. Adobe, of course, rebutted that Apple simply wants to keep tight control over everything that runs on its company’s devices.

The irony, according to UI designer Jeff Gothelf, director of user experience at TheLadders.com, is that Jobs is becoming a proponent of a very open standard HTML, while everything else Apple does is closed and locked down.

From Franco’s seat, the war between the technology giants “is not helpful for developers. The conversation has not progressed beyond ‘Apple sucks’ or ‘Adobe sucks.’ From the user experience, it’s annoying that I can’t see all content on the Internet on my iPad. That makes it a poorer user experience.”

Because of the rift, Franco said, developers have two choices: “They can either build [the application] twice, or build it less”—meaning the desktop- or browser-based application might lose functionality if it uses HTML5, which lacks the richness of Flash.

Most large enterprises are making the decision to build the application twice, said Franco. “It’s a philosophical question. The Holy Grail has been to write once and deploy anywhere. But that doesn’t address user adoption. The experience has to be built for the device people most want to use.”

 Related Search Term(s): Flash, HTML, mobile development

Pages 1 2 


Share this link: http://www.sdtimes.com/link/34436
 

Comments

06/29/2010 01:32:32 PM EST

When it comes to video html5 or flash there is some javascript out there that means you dont have to write twice... see http://diveintohtml5.org/video.html

United Statesrichie_bee


07/05/2010 03:15:37 PM EST

I don’t like flash at all. To me it seems like a gimmick. Seeing a progress bar for a page to load is really disappointing. I like using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript when I’m working on a project. Flash to me, seems to be all about the outer beauty of a site or a intranet network. Actual coding makes a higher functioning site.

United StatesRacer-x9


07/07/2010 12:02:13 PM EST

I used to be a flash/Macromedia director programmer way way back in a former life. The amount of time and money that we spent on flash and other non-standard technologies is mind-blowing. It would be far cheaper for both businesses and users to adopt a common standard that does not require third party plugins. Flash had its day, get on with it and use HTML5 and the new video codecs. The more standardization we have on the web, the cheaper and easier it is for users and companies alike to share information.

United StatesBrian


Add comment


Name*
Email*  
Country     


  • Comment
  • Preview
Loading



 
 
 
 
News on Monday
more>>
SharePoint Tech Report
more>>


   

 
 
Download Current Issue
ISSUE 9/1/2010 PDF

Need Back Issues?
DOWNLOAD HERE

Receive the print Edition?


 
blogs tab
VMworld hops to it
Data center operating systems play a big part at VMworld, but it's still too soon.
09/02/2010 01:42 PM EST

Certificate program for secure cloud computing
The Cloud Security Alliance introduces user certification.
09/01/2010 04:20 PM EST

What does the Army's Crusher tank and RIM's tablet computer have in common?
RIM plans to use Crusher tank technology on its yet-to-be-announced tablet.
08/25/2010 04:16 PM EST

 

Events calendar tab
Intel Developer Forum
9/13/2010 to 9/15/2010
San Francisco
Intel

JavaOne & Oracle Develop
9/19/2010 to 9/23/2010
San Francisco
Oracle

Oracle OpenWorld
9/19/2010 to 9/23/2010
San Francisco
Oracle

ESC Boston
9/20/2010 to 9/23/2010
Boston
TechInsights

High Performance Computing Financial Markets
9/20/2010
New York City
Flagg Management