So today we saw some tests that suggest that having Flash running on your smartphone will almost definitely hurt performance. But hey, it’s up to you whether or not it’s worth it. So… is it?
I’ve had Flash on my Nexus One 2.2 for a day now – it’s a cool little feature, but I think needs better implementation. For starters, Flash adverts are one thing I actually forgot about without having Flash on my mobile browser (and liked), but now they are back and I really don’t like them. Perhaps, only an image were to display of the flash swf that could be enabled on click, for example. Due to flash being a process-hogg, it would be nice to only enable it when i need it. It also causes some slight rendering issues when scrolling around, as compared to other standard elements on a web-page.
Being able to switch Flash on and off on a per Flash object basis would be ideal. I don’t know if Froyo allows this or not.
I know on my HTC Desire that in the options you can turn Flash on or off. However, that’s for the whole browsing experience and not per Flash object. Still it’s great that the option is even there!
I think since the browser is just an app and easily replaceable on Android that one of the third-party browser app developers will implement a per object switch for Flash. I mean, so many people have mentioned the idea, why wouldn’t they do it?
I think the main issues facing mobile flash revolve around the fact that flash simply wasn’t designed to run a mobile platform (I’m sure the engine is fully capable, but the content does not scale well)
Many of the reasons for using flash were to get over the limitations of static html, the inconceivable difference between broswers and the complexity involved in using java script and other DHTML approaches.
Flash simply worked across the browser boundaries and provided a means to produce “eye-candy”.
I have no doubt that flash can exist on the mobile space, but the content itself needs to change and become “mobile friendly” before it will have any major success.
People will go “oh look my phone does flash!”, while the rest of us will have gotten the info we need and have moved on while there still playing catch up.
What’s the hit to battery life??
It’s a nice stick to Apple but unless the experience improves, I can’t see it been a major win. (personally, I’d uninstall flash from my PC, except a couple of sites I frequent absolutely need it – count 8 Firefox crashes Saturday – cause of flash side ads :P)
Some will enjoy it, others will crave it, the rest of us will get on with doing what we’ve always done without it.
i would like to have the option to turn it on and off when ever i really need it. if there is a site i really need to get to and cant wait till im on my pc i wanna have some way to view it
It doesn’t make sense… I can play games and thrash my iphone battery in no time, but browse the net and try and watch flash is not allowed. Get a grip, I think it has more to do with apple software then they let on. It’s my phone, and I want to watch flash and do things how I want, if some apple morons dont want to watch or use flash stuff… then dont, but thats your choice and I shoudl get the same.
I’ve never been bothered by the lack of Flash. Being able to selectively switch it on would be the best but then the stance apple and microsoft are taking will help kill it off. Like a 45 year old stripper, you have to know when it’s time to hang up your pole.
I thought someone once said anyone who made a website in flash has already failed. Its a terrible format really, I can’t remember the last time I wanted anything in flash, except maybe LOOK AT MY HORSE and I think I can do without that for a fast & clean browsing experience.
It’s worth it to me purely for the feeling that I’m not ‘missing out’ on a large chunk of the web. I’m a photographer and love looking at other Photographer’s websites and we all use Flash.
Honestly, Flash on a smartphone should NOT be such a big deal. It should just be another app that we can choose to install. The only reason it’s a big deal is because Steve Jobs is against choice and likes to be in control of what his users can and can not do so this is now part of some sort of rebellion.
This whole question is stupid – just set add ons to load on-demand from inside the browser settings and you wont notice the difference until you actually want the Flash element to load.
As most people are saying this is really about choice. I also want the choice to either have it on or off depending on my circumstances. I don’t want to be dictated too on what I can watch on the internet. Whether it is by Steve Jobs or Senator Conroy.
I love my iPhone, and generally hate flash. But there are times when I just need it to be able to use a certain site, So I wouldn’t mind flash being on the iPhone if it was implemented with something like ClickToFlash. That is, have it always off, but allowing me to turn a specific flash item on when I need it.
As for Jamie Carl, above, I disagree about all photographers using flash, quite a lot are using java and css alternatives instead as they don’t want people skipping their site before the user allows flash to turn on. It’s very important to capture the users interest the moment they enter the home page. This is the reason I changed my home page to no longer use a flash banner.
Sometimes it’s just necessary since Flash is embedded in a lot of websites out there. So if there is a function where you can switch it on and off then it might be great.
Shouldn’t be the choice of the creator of the product. The product should either not include flash it is to be considered low-end, or include flash WITH the ability to turn it on and off whenever the user sees fit. That would be the high-end device.
Steven Wright
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 9:13 AMI’ve had Flash on my Nexus One 2.2 for a day now – it’s a cool little feature, but I think needs better implementation. For starters, Flash adverts are one thing I actually forgot about without having Flash on my mobile browser (and liked), but now they are back and I really don’t like them. Perhaps, only an image were to display of the flash swf that could be enabled on click, for example. Due to flash being a process-hogg, it would be nice to only enable it when i need it. It also causes some slight rendering issues when scrolling around, as compared to other standard elements on a web-page.
boc
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 11:06 PMBeing able to switch Flash on and off on a per Flash object basis would be ideal. I don’t know if Froyo allows this or not.
I know on my HTC Desire that in the options you can turn Flash on or off. However, that’s for the whole browsing experience and not per Flash object. Still it’s great that the option is even there!
I think since the browser is just an app and easily replaceable on Android that one of the third-party browser app developers will implement a per object switch for Flash. I mean, so many people have mentioned the idea, why wouldn’t they do it?
Shane
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 9:28 AMI think the main issues facing mobile flash revolve around the fact that flash simply wasn’t designed to run a mobile platform (I’m sure the engine is fully capable, but the content does not scale well)
Many of the reasons for using flash were to get over the limitations of static html, the inconceivable difference between broswers and the complexity involved in using java script and other DHTML approaches.
Flash simply worked across the browser boundaries and provided a means to produce “eye-candy”.
I have no doubt that flash can exist on the mobile space, but the content itself needs to change and become “mobile friendly” before it will have any major success.
People will go “oh look my phone does flash!”, while the rest of us will have gotten the info we need and have moved on while there still playing
catch up.
What’s the hit to battery life??
It’s a nice stick to Apple but unless the experience improves, I can’t see it been a major win. (personally, I’d uninstall flash from my PC, except a couple of sites I frequent absolutely need it – count 8 Firefox crashes Saturday – cause of flash side ads :P)
Some will enjoy it, others will crave it, the rest of us will get on with doing what we’ve always done without it.
Justin
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 9:41 AMi would like to have the option to turn it on and off when ever i really need it. if there is a site i really need to get to and cant wait till im on my pc i wanna have some way to view it
The dog
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 9:53 AMIt doesn’t make sense… I can play games and thrash my iphone battery in no time, but browse the net and try and watch flash is not allowed. Get a grip, I think it has more to do with apple software then they let on. It’s my phone, and I want to watch flash and do things how I want, if some apple morons dont want to watch or use flash stuff… then dont, but thats your choice and I shoudl get the same.
Your Mate Alex
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:00 AMI’ve never been bothered by the lack of Flash. Being able to selectively switch it on would be the best but then the stance apple and microsoft are taking will help kill it off. Like a 45 year old stripper, you have to know when it’s time to hang up your pole.
oodLes
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:09 AMI thought someone once said anyone who made a website in flash has already failed. Its a terrible format really, I can’t remember the last time I wanted anything in flash, except maybe LOOK AT MY HORSE and I think I can do without that for a fast & clean browsing experience.
Jamie Carl
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:11 AMIt’s worth it to me purely for the feeling that I’m not ‘missing out’ on a large chunk of the web. I’m a photographer and love looking at other Photographer’s websites and we all use Flash.
Honestly, Flash on a smartphone should NOT be such a big deal. It should just be another app that we can choose to install. The only reason it’s a big deal is because Steve Jobs is against choice and likes to be in control of what his users can and can not do so this is now part of some sort of rebellion.
Paul McManus
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:45 AMThis whole question is stupid – just set add ons to load on-demand from inside the browser settings and you wont notice the difference until you actually want the Flash element to load.
klaw
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:53 AMThis is not about whether Flash is good on phones or not – it’s about having the freedom of choice.
If I don’t want Flash, or if it under-performs, I’ll switch it off. At least I have the option.
Des
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:25 AMIt’s “couldn’t care less” ffs.
Nick Broughall
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:37 AMActually, in the U.S. they say “could care less”. Bugs the hell out of me, but seeing as how they wrote the poll, there’s not a lot I can do about it.
Peter Zaharis
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 11:33 AMAs most people are saying this is really about choice.
I also want the choice to either have it on or off depending on my circumstances.
I don’t want to be dictated too on what I can watch on the internet. Whether it is by Steve Jobs or Senator Conroy.
Bernhard de Kok
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12:04 PMI love my iPhone, and generally hate flash. But there are times when I just need it to be able to use a certain site, So I wouldn’t mind flash being on the iPhone if it was implemented with something like ClickToFlash. That is, have it always off, but allowing me to turn a specific flash item on when I need it.
As for Jamie Carl, above, I disagree about all photographers using flash, quite a lot are using java and css alternatives instead as they don’t want people skipping their site before the user allows flash to turn on. It’s very important to capture the users interest the moment they enter the home page. This is the reason I changed my home page to no longer use a flash banner.
den
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 10:12 PMSometimes it’s just necessary since Flash is embedded in a lot of websites out there. So if there is a function where you can switch it on and off then it might be great.
Anon
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12:00 AMShouldn’t be the choice of the creator of the product. The product should either not include flash it is to be considered low-end, or include flash WITH the ability to turn it on and off whenever the user sees fit. That would be the high-end device.