What is Flash?

What is Flash?

Flash is a multimedia platform used to create and add animation, video, and interactivity to websites.  Flash incorporates vector and raster graphics that allow the flash programer to create and manipulate text animation, drawings, still images, sound, and video.  Furthermore, Flash supports user interaction via the mouse, keyboard, microphone or camera. Flash contains an object-oriented language called Actionscript and also supports automation via the Javascript Flash Language.  While many users feel that Flash content enriches their web experience, others find that the extensive use of Flash animation, particularly in advertising, is intrusive and annoying. This sentiment has given rise to a cottage industry that specializes in producing software and plug-ins that block Flash content. 

Flash files that are used in websites and online media are usually saved in the SWF format, originally called "ShockWave Flash," and generally have a .swf file extension. The use of vector graphics combined with program code allows Flash files to be smaller and load / stream faster because of the limited use of bandwidth. In addition to a vector-rendering engine, the Flash Player includes a virtual machine called the Action Script Virtual Machine (AVM) for scripting interactivity at run-time, support for video, MP3-based audio, and bitmap graphics.

The video features of Flash allow for video playback if the user has downloaded and installed Adobe's free Flash Player. The Flash Player is a cross-platform video plug-in that has become ubiquitous due to the large installed user base and programmability of Flash. Furthermore, Flash also supports audio which is most often encoded in MP3 or AAC, as well as several other audio codecs. Flash allows sample rates of 11, 22, and 44.1 kHz. However, it does not support 48 kHz audio sample rate which is the standard audio rate for TV and DVDs. 

Recently, there has been an announcement by Adobe that the company is stopping development on their mobile flash player. Instead, the company will focus its efforts on HTML 5 and their proprietary AIR-based apps for smartphones. However, although the company is abandoning Flash for the mobile market, the company will continue to promote and enhance their Flash Player for PC's. 

Apple v. Adobe (The Flash Controversy)

In 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that Flash would not be made available for use with the companies iOS platforms (iPod, iPhone, iPad). Jobs posted a six point bulletin on the Apple website stating the reasons for Apples decision not to include Flash compatibility with iOS. Furthermore, there have been recent announcements by Adobe, that the company is not going to push its Flash software format for use in the browser programs that come with smartphones and tablet computers. Instead, Adobe will increase its support for HTML5.  For more information regarding Apple and their controversial decision that may have led to Adobe's decision to eventually exit the mobile Flash market, you can follow the link: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
The following list contains some of the reasons Apple cited when deciding to exclude Flash from Apple iOS:

• Open Standards
• The Full Web Experience
• Reliability and Security
• Battery Life
• Touch Interface
• Flash Apps

Shantanu

Posted in: Software