When Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple announced the removal of Flash products on any future apple devises it fired up the Flash and HTML5 controversy in full force. Jobs letter outlining Apple’s views on Flash says the companies have “grown apart” and the decision was based on “technology issues”. Flash, an Adobe product that serves as a plug-in for web browsers, allows web users to display video and interactive graphics and animations. Jobs believes the use of Flash will no longer be needed with the introduction of HTML5. HTML is a text-based code that the browser uses to create text base content. HTML5, which is on the verge of being released, will be the new standard that will allow the browser to run code within the HTML page without the use of a plug-in. This new standard will give web designers more flexibility when designing a web page.
HTML5 is the new wave of web design and Steve Jobs has thrown the web world into a spin. Judging from the articles I’ve read each have concrete reasons for and against Job’s decision. While Flash relies on plug-ins that work on top of the browser, HTML5 is operated using code. As a result, HTML5 can be accessed through a text editor making it accessible to everyone. It’s time for the web community to follow Job’s example and start moving forward to HTML5. Flash is an antiquated piece of technology that needs to be updated in order to keep up with the ever changing web technology. The next step is to embrace HTML5 and let Flash catch up to the new web standards.
