Get the FLASH out! Move up to HTML5!
What’s the deal with Flash anyway?
When the Web was in its infancy, websites consisted of mostly text with the occasional image. That was the best that could be done in a time when most people used slow dial-up connections. The introduction of Flash in 1996 made boring websites a thing of the past, but poorly implemented Flash sites were often confusing and slow to load, even on faster connections. In spite of this, Flash was for years the best method to enhance websites with rich media and is still in wide use today.
The introduction of Apple’s iPhone in 2007 and the iPad in 2010 signaled that Flash’s days were numbered. Whether for technical or political reasons, Apple’s mobile devices do not support the use of Flash, and replace Flash elements with a blank space wherever they’re used. Suddenly, a great number of websites were inaccessible or incomplete on a great number of devices. In many cases, the user is unaware that a website is in Flash or contains Flash elements. All they see is a blank website or missing content, prompting them to leave and go elsewhere.
Oh, that’s not good. What can be done?
Luckily, we don’t have to revert back to the stone ages of the web with plain text and static images. Emerging standards such as HTML5 and CSS3 can achieve much of what was previously only possible with Flash. If you have an existing website with Flash components, they can be replaced with versions that function properly on mobile and tablet devices. For example, a website with Flash navigation will benefit immediately by having the main section links in a format that’s friendly to both mobile devices and search engines. A website with a Flash image gallery can be replaced with an HTML5 gallery that looks great on tablets and allows for swipe navigation.
That’s great! Where do I start?
Give us a call, send us an email, or fill out our contact request form. A Dorado representative will get back to you promptly to evaluate your requirements. From there, our talented team of designers and developers will begin the process of revamping the website into something that looks great and works smoothly, regardless of whether it’s being viewed on a mobile phone, tablet, desktop or 80” HDTV.