“Flash is dead.” This has been one of the most familiar phrases used in web tech discussions for some time and for good reason. Back in November of last year, Adobe confirmed that it would cease development of Flash on mobile devices, saying that it would instead focus on HTML5 and apps for mobile platforms. The announcement came years after Apple chose not to support Flash on the iPhone, citing concerns about performance issues. Here are a few cons that have Flash on the outs:
- Flash sites take longer to load
Internet users aren’t the most patient bunch these days. Many will move on if a site takes too long to load.
- Flash is not SEO friendly
Search engines do not index flash, and if they can’t see your site, they can’t refer it to anyone. Thus, no one searching for your brand will find your site.
- Can’t track analytics
Your site’s analytics are vital in understanding what is working and what needs improvement. Most Flash sites only load one URL, so none of this data is traceable.
- Making changes with Flash is costly
Sites built in Flash are difficult to update. This means paying your developer lots of money to change your site regularly.
- Poor user experience
Users cannot bookmark your URL and they are unable to use a back button.
Perhaps what’s even more important is that sites created in Flash cannot be viewed on mobile devices or iPads, both of which are flying off the shelves. In fact, the number of mobile-connected devices is expected to exceed the world’s population this year. Pretty crazy, huh? People who use your site on a mobile device are most likely looking for on the spot information. If it cannot be displayed on their device, they’ll most likely move on to a competitor who can display it.
So what does this mean for your business? As you look to upgrade your website, it is important to consider the advantages of using HTML5. These include:
- Deployment across multiple platforms
Web developers can develop once and use the same code in many different markets.
- Getting on the bandwagon
HTML5 is the future and will continue to improve down the road.
- Development of apps
All devices with an HTML5 browser will have the same ability to collect and use data.
- More reliable storage options
Allows storage for client-side data temporarily. Internal and external customers using a business website will have access to a working offline application cache.
- Widespread familiarity with HTML
Most developers and web designers understand the language, which makes for easy project management.
Being in the design biz, we understand how important it is to keep up with the ever-expanding technology that encompasses what we do. 2012 looks to be a big year for the nascent HTML5. Take a look at the top 10 best HTML5 websites so far this year according to eBizMBA. Very cool stuff.