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}}</ref> Both include features for playing audio and [[video]] within [[web page]]s, and using integrated [[SVG]], [[vector graphics]] are possible with both.
}}</ref> Both include features for playing audio and [[video]] within [[web page]]s, and using integrated [[SVG]], [[vector graphics]] are possible with both.


HTML5 has been widely used as an umbrella term to refer to a combination of technologies, including, but not limited to, [[Javascript]], [[CSS3]] and [[SVG]]. <ref>http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/19/html5-logo-design-w3c_n_810426.html</ref> Often, the use of the term "HTML5" is marketing and advertising campaigns is referring to this collection of technologies.
A common mis-conception is that HTML5 can provide animation and interactivity within web pages, which is untrue.<ref name="williamson">{{cite video
|people=James Williamson
|title=What HTML5 is (and what it isn't)
|work=HTML5 First Look
|publisher=Lynda.com
|date=August 23, 2010
|medium=Online video
|url=http://www.lynda.com/home/DisplayCourse.aspx?lpk2=67161
|accessdate=
|quote=
}}</ref> Either [[JavaScript]] or [[CSS 3]] is necessary for animating HTML elements. Animation using JavaScript is also possible with HTML 4. Some organizations like Apple are contributing to these incorrect beliefs by claiming old technologies, or technologies that in fact rely on future versions of CSS, are "HTML5." For example, Apple's website contains several demonstrations of technologies<ref>{{cite web
|title=HTML5 Showcase
|work=HTML5 and web standards
|publisher=[[Apple Inc.|Apple]]
|url=http://www.apple.com/html5/
|accessdate=January 6, 2011
}}</ref> that Apple claims are examples of HTML5. However, of the six demos, only two rely on technologies that are unique to the HTML5 standard.<ref name="williamson"/>{{request quotation|date=January 2011}}


== Comparison ==
== Comparison ==
=== Current availability ===
=== Current availability ===
==== Adobe Flash ====
==== Adobe Flash ====
Flash has been in existence since 1996 and, because of this, has a strong base of developers and consumers. According to [[Adobe Systems|Adobe]] statistics, Flash had reached 98% penetration in March 2010.<ref name="turfwar">{{cite journal
Flash was originally introduced by Macromedia in 1996 as a way for developers to serve content to several platforms without having to worry about bugs and inconsistencies. Thus, Flash achieved widespread distribution and has, according to [[Adobe Systems|Adobe]] statistics, reached 98% penetration as of March 2010.<ref name="turfwar">{{cite journal
|last=Shankland
|last=Shankland
|first=Stephen
|first=Stephen
Line 43: Line 27:
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


The latest version of the Adobe Flash Player currently runs on [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Apple OSX]], [[Desktop Linux]], [[Android OS]] 2.2+, [[Blackberry Tablet OS]] and [[Google TV]], while various forms like Flash Lite or older versions run on [[Symbian]] (Flash Lite 1.1-4.0), [[Maemo]] Linux, [[Windows Mobile]], [[Chumby]] (Flash Lite), [[Sony Playstation 3]] (Flash 9), [[Sony PSP]] (Flash 6), and the [[Nintendo Wii]] (Flash 7 via Opera Browser).
The latest version of the Adobe Flash Player currently runs on [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Apple Mac OS X]], [[Linux]], [[Android OS]] 2.2+, [[RIM QNX]] and [[Google TV]]. Flash Lite, a version of the Flash Player that provides a limited subset of features from the desktop Flash Player, runs on [[Symbian]] (Flash Lite 1.1-4.0), [[Maemo]] Linux, [[Windows Mobile]], [[Chumby]] (Flash Lite), [[Sony Playstation 3]] (Flash 9), [[Sony PSP]] (Flash 6), and the [[Nintendo Wii]] (Flash 7 via Opera Browser).


==== HTML5 ====
==== HTML5 ====
Line 50: Line 34:
|publisher=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]
|publisher=[[World Wide Web Consortium]]
|url=http://www.w3.org/standards/techs/html#w3c_all
|url=http://www.w3.org/standards/techs/html#w3c_all
}}</ref> The standard currently contains bugs.<ref>"Bug/Issue Tracking Service." W3C. 11 Dec 2010. Web. 10 Dec 2010. http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/buglist.cgi?query_format=advanced&short_desc_type=allwordssubstr&short_desc=&product=HTML+WG&long_desc_type=allwordssubstr&long_desc=&bug_file_loc_type=allwordssubstr&bug_file_loc=&status_whiteboard_type=allwordssubstr&status_whiteboard=&keywords_type=allwords&keywords=&bug_status=UNCONFIRMED&bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_status=REOPENED&emailassigned_to1=1&emailtype1=exact&email1=ian%40hixie.ch&emailtype2=substring&email2=&bugidtype=include&bug_id=&votes=&chfieldfrom=&chfieldto=Now&chfieldvalue=&cmdtype=doit&order=Reuse+same+sort+as+last+time&field0-0-0=noop&type0-0-0=noop&value0-0-0=</ref>{{primary source claim|date=January 2011}}
In 2006 editor [[Ian Hickson]] had suggested the standard wouldn't be published until 2022.<ref>{{cite news
|last=James
|first=Justin
|title=HTML 5 Editor Ian Hickson discusses features, pain points, adoption rate, and more
|publisher=[[TechRepublic]]
|date=August 27, 2008
|url=http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/programming-and-development/?p=718
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<!-- need to replace this with a browser listing HTML5 compatibility -->
<!-- need to replace this with a browser listing HTML5 compatibility -->
Current versions of browsers such as [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[Opera Browser|Opera]], [[Google Chrome]], and [[Apple Safari]] implement HTML5 to a large degree. However, as many users on the internet still use older browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 and 8, HTML5 still does not work with a significant portion of browsers still in use. Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser, which had a 57% market share as of December, 2010,<ref>{{cite web
Current versions of browsers such as [[Mozilla Firefox]], [[Opera Browser|Opera]], [[Google Chrome]], and [[Apple Safari]] implement HTML5 to a large degree. However, as many users on the internet still use older browsers such as Internet Explorer 6, HTML5 still does not work with a significant portion of browsers still in use. Google has made attempts to solve this lack of support for HTML5 features in Internet Explorer 6 by suggesting the installation of [[Google Chrome Frame]] to users of the browser.
|title=Top Browser Share Trend
|work=NetMarketShare
|publisher=[[Net Applications]]
|url=http://www.netmarketshare.com/browser-market-share.aspx?qprid=1
|accessdate=January 5, 2011
}}</ref> does not support "HTML5" outside of version 9 (which is still unreleased as of January, 2011, and doesn't run inside Windows XP).


=== Website adoption ===
=== Website adoption ===


Adobe claims that 85% of the most-visited web sites use Flash, 75% of web video is viewed using the Flash Player, 98% of enterprises rely on the Flash Player, and 70% of web games are made in Flash.<ref>{{cite web
According to Adobe,

*85% of the most-visited web sites use Flash,
*75% of web video is viewed using the Flash Player,
*98% of enterprises rely on the Flash Player, and
*70% of web games are made in Flash.<ref>{{cite web
|title=The Truth About Flash
|title=The Truth About Flash
|publisher=[[Adobe Systems]]
|publisher=[[Adobe Systems]]
|url=http://www.adobe.com/choice/flash.html
|url=http://www.adobe.com/choice/flash.html
|accessdate=January 6, 2010
|accessdate=January 6, 2010
}}</ref> However, Adobe has not described what implementation these web sites and enterprises use of Flash technology and the degree of dependence of the web sites and enterprises on Flash technology.
}}</ref>


In contrast, some video sites — including [[YouTube]], [[Vimeo]] and [[blip.tv]] — have implemented a degree of experimental support for [[HTML5 video]].<ref name="nyt_video">{{cite news + |title=Why there's no Flash on the iPhone/iPad (and why there shouldn't be Flash on Android)
In contrast, some video sites — including [[YouTube]], [[Vimeo]] and [[blip.tv]] — have implemented a degree of experimental support for [[HTML5 video]].<ref name="nyt_video">{{cite news + |title=Why there's no Flash on the iPhone/iPad (and why there shouldn't be Flash on Android)
Line 94: Line 59:
|date = January 31, 2010|publisher=[[ZDNet]]
|date = January 31, 2010|publisher=[[ZDNet]]
|accessdate=December 26, 2010|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/why-theres-no-flash-on-the-iphoneipad-and-why-there-shouldnt-be-flash-on-android/8455
|accessdate=December 26, 2010|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/why-theres-no-flash-on-the-iphoneipad-and-why-there-shouldnt-be-flash-on-android/8455
}}</ref> Steve Jobs noted that Flash is not an [[open standard]] – it is controlled by [[Adobe Systems]] – whereas HTML5 is controlled by a [[standards organization|committee]] made up of three companies, one of them being Apple.<ref name="jobs_thoughts_on_flash">{{cite web + |accessdate=December 27, 2010
}}</ref> In an open letter to the public titled "Thoughts on Flash," Steve Jobs noted that Flash is not an [[open standard]] — it is controlled by [[Adobe Systems]] and only Adobe can make decisions about its development — whereas HTML5 is controlled by a variety of [[standards organization|committee]] made up of several companies, some of which Apple is a member of.<ref name="jobs_thoughts_on_flash">{{cite web + |accessdate=December 27, 2010
- |url=http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/ + }}</ref>
- |url=http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/ + }}</ref>


=== Performance ===
=== Performance ===
{{pov-section|date=December 2010}}
{{See also2|[[Adobe_Flash#Performance|Performance of Adobe Flash]]}}
{{See also2|[[Adobe_Flash#Performance|Performance of Adobe Flash]]}}


Some users—especially those on [[Mac OS X]] and [[Linux]]—have complained about the relatively high [[CPU time|CPU usage]] of Flash for video playback.<ref>"Flash - CPU Usage - FPS - Frame Rate." Online posting. 10 Dec 2008. Reader discussions, Adobe Support Forums. 10 Dec 2010. http://forums.adobe.com/thread/230334</ref>{{verify credibility|date=December 2010}} This was partially due to the fact that the Flash plugin did not use the GPU to render video. Adobe has respond to some of those criticisms in the 10.1 and 10.2 releases of the Flash plugin by offloading H.264 video decoding to dedicated hardware and by introducing a new video API called Stage Video.<ref>{{cite web
Some users — especially those on [[Mac OS X]] and [[Linux]] — have complained about the relatively high [[CPU time|CPU usage]] of Flash for video playback. In addition, Apple has noted that the primary reason for crashes on the Mac is the Flash Player, and that while Adobe has worked with Apple to try to resolve some of these issues, they have yet to deliver a high performance, low power consuming and stable version of the Flash Player for Mac OS X.

|last=Dachis
On mobile devices, Flash must be rendered in software rather than hardware because no hardware has native support for rendering of Flash content, thereby causing extra usage of processors, contributing to a faster consumption of battery power and a greater consumption of memory.<ref>http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/</ref>
|first=Adam
|title=Adobe Releases Flash 10.2 Beta, Reduces CPU Usage During Video Playback
|date=December 1, 2010
|publisher=[[Lifehacker]]
|url=http://lifehacker.com/5702983/adobe-releases-flash-102-beta-reduces-cpu-usage-during-video-playback |accessdate=December 27, 2010
}}</ref>{{verify credibility|date=January 2011}} In addition, the use of the newer [[ActionScript]] 3.0 inside Flash movies, instead of the older ActionScript 2.0 improves code execution speed by a factor of around 10. But, older websites that use ActionScript 2.0 will not benefit from this.<ref>{{cite web
|title=ActionScript 3.0 overview
|publisher=[[Adobe Systems]]
|year=2006
|url=http://www.adobe.com/devnet/actionscript/articles/actionscript3_overview.html
}}</ref> Another reason for poor Flash performance is that some Flash developers incorrectly code their Flash files, which can be a problem with "HTML5" animations, as well.<ref>{{cite conference
|last=Skinner
|first=Grant
|title=Quick as a Flash
|conference=Adobe MAX 2010
|conferenceurl=http://2010.max.adobe.com/
|year=2010
|month=October |url=http://2010.max.adobe.com/schedule/by-session/quick-as-a-flash/471c495b-7ddf-4c0c-936b-609916f11e85
|accessdate=
|quote=
}}</ref>


=== Authoring ===
=== Authoring ===
Constructing Flash websites using Adobe tools is relatively easier than with integrated development environments for CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.<ref name="the_case_for_flash"/> However, many of Adobe's tools are expensive.<ref name="the_case_for_flash"/>


In addition to the first-party tools provided by Adobe, developers have access to third party tools to develop Flash content.
=== Features ===
Flash has the ability to specify measurements in sub-pixel increments. This can result in a crisper and generally more pleasant appearance of Flash web sites. When confronted with CSS and HTML measurements on a sub-pixel scale, web browsers will round either up or down, depending on the browser, which leads to inconsistency and unreliability in the display of those pages.<ref name="the_case_for_flash">{{cite news
|last=Wayner
|first=Peter
|title=HTML5 vs. Flash: The case for Flash
|publisher=[[InfoWorld]]
|date=June 2, 2010
|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/developer-world/html5-vs-flash-the-case-flash-721?page=0,1
|accessdate=January 5, 2011
}}</ref>


Development of HTML5 can be done through the use of tools provided by several organizations and developers, including Adobe ([[Dreamweaver]]), Apple ([[Dashcode]], [[iAd Producer]], [[Sproutcore Greenhouse]]) and Microsoft ([[Expression Web]]).
Flash offers webcam and [[Digital Rights Management|DRM]] support, while HTML and related technologies do not.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}


== Apple and Flash ==
== Apple and Flash ==
Line 152: Line 86:
|accessdate=December 27, 2010
|accessdate=December 27, 2010
}}</ref> but can be compiled as a native iOS application through the Adobe iOS packager in Flash CS5 Professional.
}}</ref> but can be compiled as a native iOS application through the Adobe iOS packager in Flash CS5 Professional.

In September 2010, Apple eased its restrictions by allowing deployment of Flash applications on [[iOS (Apple)|iOS]] using [[Adobe Packager]].<ref>{{cite news
|last=Sorrel
|first=Charlie
|title=Apple Eases App Development Rules, Adobe Surges
|work=Gadget Lab
|publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]
|date=September 9, 2010
|url=http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/09/apple-lifts-app-store-flash-ban-publishes-app-review-rules/
|accessdate=January 6, 2011
}}</ref> According to Adobe Labs, Adobe Packager “offers Flash developers a fast and efficient method to reuse existing code from ActionScript 3 projects to deliver native applications on iOS devices”.{{citequote|date=December 2010}}

In November 2010, a ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' columnist said <blockquote>Allowing Flash — which is a development platform of its own — would just be too dangerous for Apple, a company that enjoys exerting total dominance over its hardware and the software that runs on it. Flash has evolved from being a mere animation player into a multimedia platform capable of running applications of its own. That means Flash would open a new door for application developers to get their software onto the iPhone: Just code them in Flash and put them on a web page. In so doing, Flash would divert business from the App Store, as well as enable publishers to distribute music, videos and movies that could compete with the iTunes Store.<ref>{{cite news
|last=Chen
|first=Brian X.
|title=Why Apple Won’t Allow Adobe Flash on iPhone
|work=Gadget Lab
|publisher=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]
|date=November 17, 2008
|url=http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/11/adobe-flash-on/
|accessdate=January 6, 2011
}}</ref></blockquote>


== See also ==
== See also ==

Revision as of 05:34, 29 January 2011

HTML5 can sometimes be used as an alternative to Adobe Flash.[1] Both include features for playing audio and video within web pages, and using integrated SVG, vector graphics are possible with both.

HTML5 has been widely used as an umbrella term to refer to a combination of technologies, including, but not limited to, Javascript, CSS3 and SVG. [2] Often, the use of the term "HTML5" is marketing and advertising campaigns is referring to this collection of technologies.

Comparison

Current availability

Adobe Flash

Flash was originally introduced by Macromedia in 1996 as a way for developers to serve content to several platforms without having to worry about bugs and inconsistencies. Thus, Flash achieved widespread distribution and has, according to Adobe statistics, reached 98% penetration as of March 2010.[3]

The latest version of the Adobe Flash Player currently runs on Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux, Android OS 2.2+, RIM QNX and Google TV. Flash Lite, a version of the Flash Player that provides a limited subset of features from the desktop Flash Player, runs on Symbian (Flash Lite 1.1-4.0), Maemo Linux, Windows Mobile, Chumby (Flash Lite), Sony Playstation 3 (Flash 9), Sony PSP (Flash 6), and the Nintendo Wii (Flash 7 via Opera Browser).

HTML5

Work on the HTML5 specification began in 2003, and as of January 2011, the standard was in working draft state.[4]

Current versions of browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, and Apple Safari implement HTML5 to a large degree. However, as many users on the internet still use older browsers such as Internet Explorer 6, HTML5 still does not work with a significant portion of browsers still in use. Google has made attempts to solve this lack of support for HTML5 features in Internet Explorer 6 by suggesting the installation of Google Chrome Frame to users of the browser.

Website adoption

Adobe claims that 85% of the most-visited web sites use Flash, 75% of web video is viewed using the Flash Player, 98% of enterprises rely on the Flash Player, and 70% of web games are made in Flash.[5] However, Adobe has not described what implementation these web sites and enterprises use of Flash technology and the degree of dependence of the web sites and enterprises on Flash technology.

In contrast, some video sites — including YouTube, Vimeo and blip.tv — have implemented a degree of experimental support for HTML5 video.[6] In an open letter to the public titled "Thoughts on Flash," Steve Jobs noted that Flash is not an open standard — it is controlled by Adobe Systems and only Adobe can make decisions about its development — whereas HTML5 is controlled by a variety of committee made up of several companies, some of which Apple is a member of.[7]

Performance

See also: Performance of Adobe Flash

Some users — especially those on Mac OS X and Linux — have complained about the relatively high CPU usage of Flash for video playback. In addition, Apple has noted that the primary reason for crashes on the Mac is the Flash Player, and that while Adobe has worked with Apple to try to resolve some of these issues, they have yet to deliver a high performance, low power consuming and stable version of the Flash Player for Mac OS X.

On mobile devices, Flash must be rendered in software rather than hardware because no hardware has native support for rendering of Flash content, thereby causing extra usage of processors, contributing to a faster consumption of battery power and a greater consumption of memory.[8]

Authoring

In addition to the first-party tools provided by Adobe, developers have access to third party tools to develop Flash content.

Development of HTML5 can be done through the use of tools provided by several organizations and developers, including Adobe (Dreamweaver), Apple (Dashcode, iAd Producer, Sproutcore Greenhouse) and Microsoft (Expression Web).

Apple and Flash

Apple has been promoting HTML5 as an alternative to Flash for video and other content on the iOS, citing performance reasons for not allowing the Flash runtime to be installed on iOS. Flash as a runtime is not available on the Apple's iOS devices—iPhone, iPod touch and iPad[9] but can be compiled as a native iOS application through the Adobe iOS packager in Flash CS5 Professional.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bilton, Nick (June 30, 2010). "Amazon to Introduce Web-Based Book Previews". Bits. The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  2. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/19/html5-logo-design-w3c_n_810426.html
  3. ^ Shankland, Stephen (February 3, 2010). "HTML vs. Flash: Can a turf war be avoided?". CNET News. Retrieved December 26, 2010. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ "HTML Current Status". World Wide Web Consortium.
  5. ^ "The Truth About Flash". Adobe Systems. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  6. ^ {{cite news + |title=Why there's no Flash on the iPhone/iPad (and why there shouldn't be Flash on Android) |last=Bilton |last=Kingsley-Hughes |first=Nick |first=Adrian |title=IPad Can’t Play Flash Video, but It May Not Matter |date=May 28, 2010 |newspaper = The New York Times |work=Hardware 2.0 blog |date = January 31, 2010|publisher=ZDNet |accessdate=December 26, 2010|url=http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/why-theres-no-flash-on-the-iphoneipad-and-why-there-shouldnt-be-flash-on-android/8455 }}
  7. ^ {{cite web + |accessdate=December 27, 2010 - |url=http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/ + }}
  8. ^ http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
  9. ^ Kingsley-Hughes, Adrian (May 28, 2010). "Why there's no Flash on the iPhone/iPad (and why there shouldn't be Flash on Android)". Hardware 2.0 blog. ZDNet. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
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