FlashCasinoThe Flash vs. HTML5 debate has been raging for the past several years. While Flash has retained its share of fans who say that it cannot just be replaced by HTML5, nobody can deny that HTML5 is definitely superior to the Flash software. The influence of HTML5 on Internet and video technologies is quite impressive and one can no longer dismiss Steve Jobs letter of 2010, in which he clearly stated that Flash is “no longer necessary.”
Disadvantages of Flash
While it cannot be denied that Adobe’s Flash has been very useful, it also cannot be denied that Flash has outlived its uses. The earliest online casinos heavily used Flash to enable their customers to play online casino games directly from the browser. Everybody loved Flash technology as it saved them the tedious and sometimes impossible task of downloading the casino gaming software and installing it on their computers. Flash, to put it simply, was Adobes solution to combine music and animation and deliver a smooth and trustworthy gaming experience of millions of online gamblers.
But Flash has its own disadvantages. It is simply not compatible with some Android devices, Windows Phone, and iOS devices. Currently, Microsoft is weighing the pros and cons of abandoning Flash altogether. The focus now is on HTML5, the new baby in the world of gaming technology. The casino gaming industry is especially interested in HTML5 because it works well with everything that Flash does not.
Why the Industry Needs HTML5
The industry is rather tired of producing and distributing native gambling applications for a variety of smartphones and tablets. There are simply too many devices out there, and players would like to use them all to satisfy their gambling requirements. They would like to play on their desktops, laptops, and notebooks just as much as they would like to play on their smartphones, tablets, and phablets. Generating native apps for so many devices, especially when these apps needed to be updated every now and then to keep with technological developments, is something that is not really practical.
At the same time, the industry is aware that Flash is too unreliable as a gaming solution. Even Adobe is aware of the limitations of its product, which is why they withdrew Android support in 2012. Adobe, however, has not chucked Flash altogether, but is working on fixing bugs and releasing updates to improve the product. But developers of gaming content are just not interested in Flash any longer especially as they have got something better in their hands—HTML5.
Why is HTML5 Superior?
HTML5 is clearly superior because it can do several things that Flash cannot. HTML5 works very well with all those devices and operating systems that Flash cannot support. To put it simply, HTML5 supports iOS, Windows Phone, and the latest Android devices. While Flash can be used only on desktops and laptops, it simply cannot be used on mobile devices. Since mobile gambling is become more and more popular, the online gambling industry just cannot hang onto Flash anymore. It has to chuck Flash in favor of HTML5.
HTML5 is not only compatible with a variety of screen, browsers, and devices, including Windows Phone, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Blackberry, and others, but also has other advantages. It does not consume as much space as Flash does, which makes it ideal for smaller mobile devices. It also does not consume as much power as Flash does. Owing to this, it does not heat mobile devices as much as Flash does.
What is Killing Flash?
A number of factors are leading to the slow, but sure death of Flash. Some of them have already been discussed above, but a few more are listed below.
- Videos that run on Flash are losing their audience because they can no longer be played on mobile devices without Flash support.
- The Interactive Advertising Bureau has written an open letter demanding that marketers should implement HTML5 standards for their mobile ads so that they can be run just as effectively on all platforms.
- According to a Sencha report, over 60% of developers of business applications have completely shifted to HTML5 and over 70% of developers of HTML5/hybrid applications have begun using HTML5 more recently. Sencha is a company that provides open source web app frameworks.
- The number of companies rolling out HTML5 games is rising. In fact, developers are releasing thousands of new HTML5 games every year. Digital Buzz Blog says that users of Android and iOS devices use 30% of the time they spend on their mobile devices in playing games of chance. For the gambling industry, it is absolutely essential that they develop HTML5 games as fast as they can.
But Flash is Not Dead Yet
In spite of the superiority of HTML5, the world hasn’t seen the end of Flash. This is simply because HTML5 technology is too young. According to a Forrester report titled “Improving Enterprise Mobility: Meeting Next Generation Demands of Development, Delivery, and Engagement,” building HTML5 apps takes over 59% more time because of fixing and testing issue. HTML5 is still not the perfect solution and needs to go a long way before it can become that.
In the meanwhile, Flash has changed its name to Abode Animate CC. Adobe says that it reflects the company’s focus on evolving in support of multiple standards, especially HTML5. In spite of the change in name, Flash hasn’t changed much. The only good thing about the rebranding is that it shows that Adobe understands that HTML5 is not only essential, but also inevitable.
Adobe Animate CC will be launched next year with some brand new features. Jeffrey Hammonds, a principal analyst at Forrester Research, says that Adobe now understands the move to HTML5. He says and the re-positioning of Flash shows that understanding.
Flash would definitely like to continue living for a longer time, even if it means embracing HTML5.