If you have been following the popular press on Apple’s problems with Flash or if you own an iPhone, you know that Apple and Adobe have had long running arguments about Flash. Developers and tech geeks have been taking sides on this issues too. On the other hand, HTML5 technology that is supposed to replace Flash seems to be gaining acceptance. The question is, however, what difference will it make?
If you want to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon reading up on the politics of HTML5 vs Flash, you can start with this article on the Mac Observer, The Lowdown: Technology and Politics of HTML5 vs. Flash.
This is the article from Gizmodo that talks about Vimeo now supports HTML5 video. In fact, you can access YouTube content in HTML5 format as well (remember that YouTube was probably the catalyst that spread Flash to most end user desktops). If you listen to the people who care about such things, a Mashable poll with the title HTML5 Knocks Out Adobe Flash in Reader Vote indicates that they prefer HTML5 over Flash 2 to 1.
As an observer from the sideline of this battle, I am interested in the outcome and I certainly have heard HTML5 being mentioned more. What Apple might or might not have considered is that, by actively promoting HTML5 and preventing Flash from being deployed on iPhone and iPad, Apple may help establish HTML5 as the standard not just for video streaming but also for mobile software development in general.
Most application developers would love to build a single mobile application and deploy it to iPhone, Android and Blackberry (I ignore Windows Mobile because Microsoft does not even support HTML5 on desktop IE yet). HTML5 might succeed but Apple might lose its dominance over mobile applications if developers can build once and deploy everywhere.
Looks like I forgot about Microsoft and their Silverlight solution. Here is an article on InformationWeek which talks about how Adobe and Microsoft are fighting for dominance – Adobe, Microsoft Spar Over Flash, Silverlight, HTML5.
Very educational and entertaining at the same time, unless you are trying to build a product and have to place your bet with a technology platform that has longevity.