A few days ago Adobe launched a new beta version of its Flash Player 10.1. Including several important improvements and bug fixes, Flash Player 10.1 Beta 3 is definitely a pleasant release both for flash devs and users.
Beta 3 release probably brought the biggest piece of cake to owners of netbooks (at least to those with the Intel GMA 500 and Broadcom Crystal HD Accelerator graphics chipsets). As you might already know, the third beta provides better HD Web video streaming performance.
Early Web video tests conducted by numerous techi observers and enthusiasts, (Cnet test, Engadget test) show great results: both 720p and 1080p streaming videos play back quite smoothly. Of course, experts don’t hurry to call this an outright performance, but the progress is obvious and more is expected to come with the final release of Flash Player 10.1 later this year. If you still haven’t tried Beta 3 on your netbook, catch up and share your impressions in comments! One thing we’d like to caution you about is that you need to install updated drivers for the aforesaid chipsets before attempting playback after the player update.
HTML5 vs. Flash has lately become the hottest topic within the global web dev community. Recently released Apple iPad which comes without Flash support adds the fuel to the discussion fire. And while the Open Standards evangelists are walking around the walls of Adobe headquarters wearing signs “The end of Flash is near!”, Adobe Flash fans are desperately defending their platform.
Let’s try to stay away from panic and have an unbiased look at what is going on.
What should happen to make HTML 5 the winner over Flash:
HTML5 includes a comprehensive, sophisticated audio, video and animation tool set. Flash is much more than just web apps and video, that’s why HTML5 has to evolve considerable to be a decent competitor to Flash.
HTML5 includes a universally-implementable default codec for the video tag. This could allow developers and customers to save money and efforts they have to put into supporting different players now.
Canvas runtime is as easy in handling as Flash development interface. When Canvas is easier for non-programmers, it will be able to approximate to Flash’s widespread developer support.
A wide variety of developer tools for working with the HTML 5 powered animation frameworks appears. Until that HTML5 only looks promising de facto having rather limited capability.
Internet Explorer 8 supports HTML 5 completely OR Internet Explorer 8 unconditionally surrenders. When HTML 5 beats a Microsoft factor the benefits are obvious.
HTML5 can be installed into older browsers. That will help new standards beat Flash Player which now has better backward compatibility, hence 98% users choose it for their browsers.
