Is Flash dead?

Since Apple refused to allow the Flash plug-in on their Safari browser for the iPhone and now iPad, suddenly everyone is questioning what Flash is good for. For the most part, these people are programmers who don't currently use Flash anyway. Their message is that Flash will die soon and everyone will be using HTML5 cause it is the new standard and it can do everything Flash can do.

At Milk Digital we have already been replacing Flash with jQuery for some elements that two years ago we would have built in Flash. However, these are simple things like an image carousel or a navigation device. (Example: Sydney Town Hall)

That said, whatever the future may bring when these HTML5 standards finally get sorted out (video in particular), it's irrelevant really for user in the here and now. Right now there are stacks of cool websites still using Flash video, tools and animation... and they are not just ad agencies or Nike websites. So thank goodness for all the tablets coming out that are sensibly using an Android OS. These products allow the use of Flash and other 3rd party plugins. Most have great hardware features as well, that are not restrictive and limiting.

Flash still has a place on the web today and it's future may well be more inclined toward offline applications - but in my humble opinion, as long as Adobe keep developing it, nothing beats the 'immersive' qualities for promotional or product driven websites of Flash, or the highly interactive games, applications and tools that have fast, cost effective development time.

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For the skeptics, why not just checkout the Webby Award Winners. If you look at the list, over 70% of the award winning websites use Flash. The rest are essentially blogs! Or for some of the more arty farty amazing Flash websites, check out The FWA.

Here is my top 10 list of cool sites for Australian users (Not suitable for iPad's or iPhone's)

1. iView *
http://www.abc.net.au/iview/

2. Foxtel Programming Guide
http://www.foxtel.com.au/whats-on/tv-guide

3. Channel 10
http://ten.com.au/watch-tv-episodes-online.htm

 4. Sony Pictures
http://www.sonypictures.com/

5. Yahoo TV
http://au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7

6. Evony
http://www.evony.com

7. Wallace & Grommit
http://www.wallaceandgromit.com/

8. TED
http://www.ted.com/

9. SMH - Video Stories
http://www.smh.com.au

10. Rolex Sydney - Hobart Yacht Tracker
http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yacht_tracker.asp


> What are your top Flash websites?


* I believe ABC are launching or have launched a non Flash version of streaming content.

UPDATE: Apple caves in and allows Flash developed games to be ported as apps to be sold via iTunes App store.