1. kcmo's Avatar
    Guys/Girls,

    OK, I feel like an ***** for asking, but can someone explain the big deal with 'flash'?

    I browse the internet about 3-4 hours daily and will be getting either the Playbook or iPad2. I know that the downfall of the iPad is no flash, but I'm trying to figure out what this would mean for me.

    How do I know which sites I visit use flash and how I'd be affected? Does Crackberry.com? Is flash video content?

    I've been leaning towards the PB but the size has me concerned for hours of browsing....but at the same time, the iPad would be useless if I can't see a lot of site content because of no flash.

    Can anyone explain this to me?
    04-14-11 12:09 PM
  2. kritikal's Avatar
    All of the videos posted in crackberry.com use flash (youtube) Actually most embedded videos on all websites are flash (including Facebook)
    04-14-11 12:23 PM
  3. Foreverup's Avatar
    easy way to tell is use your desktop and any object on the site right-click if the menu says about flash it obviously running flash.

    I actually go to a lot flash sites so if playbook is rendering them quick enough i will be happy
    04-14-11 12:28 PM
  4. kcmo's Avatar
    Thanks! I do watch youtube videos often for reviews, etc....but I access them by signing in to youtube. So is this the same thing since these aren't embedded? Do all youtube videos use flash? I'd imagine not because then folks using iPads wouldn't be able to watch any videos, correct?
    04-14-11 12:31 PM
  5. ssbtech's Avatar
    I think also for business users it is important because many corporate intranets use flash based reporting for example. Also, Adobe Air I believe is flash based.

    It may not be a huge deal for consumers where sites like Youtube have other ways of being viewed on iThings, but it would be silly to omit it from a business device.
    kcmo likes this.
    04-14-11 12:33 PM
  6. kcmo's Avatar
    I think also for business users it is important because many corporate intranets use flash based reporting for example. Also, Adobe Air I believe is flash based.

    It may not be a huge deal for consumers where sites like Youtube have other ways of being viewed on iThings, but it would be silly to omit it from a business device.
    So can I assume that videos accessed via youtube on an iPad are fine to watch? No issues dealing with flash?
    04-14-11 12:35 PM
  7. Chronos88's Avatar
    Even easier way is to uninstall Flash from your computer and don't use Google Chrome since that browser has Flash built into it. Once that's done, start browsing and see how you feel about it.

    Personally, when I did a clean install of Windows 7, since I was upgrading from XP, I didn't have Flash when I first booted the computer up and as soon as I opened IE9 to download Chrome, the missing Flash plugin thing showed up. It's in almost every website and HTML5 is pretty bad, especially on YouTube since, for one, videos that have ads won't play in HTML5 so that means any video that comes from a partner channel won't play not to mention that it's really slow and the quality is pretty subpar. Flash is going to be here for a very long time but like I said, try browsing without Flash on your computer and see if you don't mind it.
    04-14-11 12:36 PM
  8. dutchtender's Avatar
    Thanks! I do watch youtube videos often for reviews, etc....but I access them by signing in to youtube. So is this the same thing since these aren't embedded? Do all youtube videos use flash? I'd imagine not because then folks using iPads wouldn't be able to watch any videos, correct?
    there is an "app" for that. seriously you think ipad would have 90% share if it didn't give a Fantastic internet experience? It does. There is a youtube app on ipad. PB has flash but the browsing experience is inferior to ipad. don't fall for the hype.
    04-14-11 12:37 PM
  9. AJerman's Avatar
    Even easier way is to uninstall Flash from your computer and don't use Google Chrome since that browser has Flash built into it. Once that's done, start browsing and see how you feel about it.

    Personally, when I did a clean install of Windows 7, since I was upgrading from XP, I didn't have Flash when I first booted the computer up and as soon as I opened IE9 to download Chrome, the missing Flash plugin thing showed up. It's in almost every website and HTML5 is pretty bad, especially on YouTube since, for one, videos that have ads won't play in HTML5 so that means any video that comes from a partner channel won't play not to mention that it's really slow and the quality is pretty subpar. Flash is going to be here for a very long time but like I said, try browsing without Flash on your computer and see if you don't mind it.
    And an even easier way than that is to use Chrome and disable add ons by going to the options page, then Under the Hood, then click the Content Settings button and scroll to Plugins and choose Click to Play. This way you have to click on flash content to make it show. I use this at work, but I like it like that.

    But... that may need a certain newer version of Chrome. I'm not sure because I'm running dev channel (12.x)
    04-14-11 12:43 PM
  10. dutcthender's Avatar
    Ooops!

    What I meant to say was....If you want to browse the web the way it was meant to be, don't bother with anything Apple, get yourself a PlayBook instead!
    04-14-11 12:57 PM
  11. narci's Avatar
    You don't need Flash according Steve Jobs.
    04-14-11 01:03 PM
  12. AJerman's Avatar
    You don't need Flash according Steve Jobs.
    I wish that was right. I avoid it as much as possible, but too many video sites use it still. Flash is awful.
    04-14-11 01:52 PM
  13. Chronos88's Avatar
    Ooops!

    What I meant to say was....If you want to browse the web the way it was meant to be, don't bother with anything Apple, get yourself a PlayBook instead!
    Amazing. So you've realized that half the people on the site have put you on their ignore list so you make another account. I have to say, you really have a lot of spare time on your hands, don't you? I can't imagine that you're a very productive member or society...
    04-14-11 01:59 PM
  14. Najo's Avatar
    Ooops!

    What I meant to say was....If you want to browse the web the way it was meant to be, don't bother with anything Apple, get yourself a PlayBook instead!
    Amazing. So you've realized that half the people on the site have put you on their ignore list so you make another account. I have to say, you really have a lot of spare time on your hands, don't you? I can't imagine that you're a very productive member or society...
    Agree, you are an annoyance, and members have the right to ignore folks in your category, slipping around the "ignore" feature is cheap and in my opinion should be dealt with by the Mods.
    04-14-11 02:03 PM
  15. galuple's Avatar
    You don't need Flash according Steve Jobs.
    Especially when it means that you automatically have access to thousands of apps which Apple can't control or profit off of.
    04-14-11 02:09 PM
  16. JRSCCivic98's Avatar
    All of the videos posted in crackberry.com use flash (youtube) Actually most embedded videos on all websites are flash (including Facebook)
    This isn't always true however. CB has recently started embedding he Blogs videos in such a way that a browser without flash can play them inside the browser without issues. The thing is, how many sites will actually do this to satisfy the mobile market users. Right now, Android (on a limited basis) and PB are the only smartphone/tablet platforms to do Flash. Will this be enough to keep places from changing? No one knows.

    One thing is certain, with Flash onboard, you do have a little bit more freedom of doing some things that you cannot on a platform without Flash. ESPN360 is a good example of that. Right now, they've released an app for iOS that can show all the same content, but because of BS licensing schemes they're trying to do, even providers that currently give their subscribers access to ESPN360 aren't supported by the new WatchESPN app. Why? Because ESPN is all about charging money multiple times for the same content. They're asses for doing it and it hurts the general consumer public inturn. However, people that have Flash on their mobile platform, can bypass such "app" limitations because they can hit the Flash enabled website like they could from laptop and watch all the ESPN360 they wanted. Of course, if ESPN (and maybe even Hulu) get super picky and update their client id detection to lock out the PB from even the regular Flash power site, well... then we're all hosed on the benefits of Flash on mobile, no matter what. Unfortunately, it does boil down to the money factor for these corporations.... and some are charging twice or more for the same content they're dishing out.

    Think of it like buying gas in a container to take home to put in your lawnmower. Should you pay once at the pump and then again when you pour it into your lawnmower?
    04-14-11 02:15 PM
  17. kcmo's Avatar
    OK, guess I'm the only one who finds this confusing. I don't exactly have an iPad I can borrow to 'test'.
    04-14-11 02:45 PM
  18. JRSCCivic98's Avatar
    OK, guess I'm the only one who finds this confusing. I don't exactly have an iPad I can borrow to 'test'.
    In that case, your only chance to get an idea of what Webkit browser without Flash capabilities would look like to you, get OS6 update from T-Mobile for your 9700 and load that up. Then make sure you're not hitting mobile sites when you browse and that browser experience will be somewhat close to what an iOS Webkit browser will give you. I say somewhat because it won't be exactly the same in terms of speed or even some rendering, but at least you'll have something to get you maybe 85-90% there in visual testing without having to go out and buy anything or borrow someone's iOS device. Good luck...

    BTW, if you didn't know, go to Link to get the OS update for your 9700.
    04-14-11 02:58 PM
  19. kcmo's Avatar
    In that case, your only chance to get an idea of what Webkit browser without Flash capabilities would look like to you, get OS6 update from T-Mobile for your 9700 and load that up. Then make sure you're not hitting mobile sites when you browse and that browser experience will be somewhat close to what an iOS Webkit browser will give you. I say somewhat because it won't be exactly the same in terms of speed or even some rendering, but at least you'll have something to get you maybe 85-90% there in visual testing without having to go out and buy anything or borrow someone's iOS device. Good luck...

    BTW, if you didn't know, go to Link to get the OS update for your 9700.
    Thanks, interesting strategy. I knew that OS6 was released for the 9700 on T-Mobile but I've never upgraded an OS before and have heard about lots of folks having issues after doing it (and wanting to go back to OS5) so I haven't done anything. Definitely eager to experience it on the new devices coming out though.

    My sister has a Torch so I could try her browser I suppose.
    04-14-11 03:01 PM
  20. Erandhawa's Avatar
    So can I assume that videos accessed via youtube on an iPad are fine to watch? No issues dealing with flash?
    you will probably get hit with a lot of rim fanboys and apple fan boys. Basically if you want an honest opinion i would say go demo each browse the web see how the pages you visit the most appear on each and pick which works for you best. As others stated Apple could careless about flash but its still out there and a lot of webpages use it, though a lot of pages are also going to html5 but not everyone can afford to revamp their webpages just to make apple happy, smaller companies haven't made that change and a lot of embedded content, as others stated, is flash.

    Simply put test each unit see how you like it and go from there.

    To each their own gluck with finding the one that suites you best (I'll be jumping on the playbook bandwagon but my wifes on the Apple wagon).
    04-14-11 03:13 PM
  21. crazy canuck's Avatar
    one word why flash it still around.... porn
    04-14-11 03:13 PM
  22. kcmo's Avatar
    you will probably get hit with a lot of rim fanboys and apple fan boys. Basically if you want an honest opinion i would say go demo each browse the web see how the pages you visit the most appear on each and pick which works for you best. As others stated Apple could careless about flash but its still out there and a lot of webpages use it, though a lot of pages are also going to html5 but not everyone can afford to revamp their webpages just to make apple happy, smaller companies haven't made that change and a lot of embedded content, as others stated, is flash.

    Simply put test each unit see how you like it and go from there.

    To each their own gluck with finding the one that suites you best (I'll be jumping on the playbook bandwagon but my wifes on the Apple wagon).
    Yup, good advice, thanks. I'll be spending a lot of time at Best Buy!
    04-14-11 03:43 PM
  23. osubass1's Avatar
    one word why flash it still around.... porn
    that's not really true.

    the biggest reason Apple doesn't want to support Flash is because, if they did, you wouldn't spend any money on the 300,000 worthless apps in their stupid app store. you could play all the Facebook game and never really have to buy much of anything and Jobs wouldn't have a job.

    so, they'll push HTML5, and continue convincing the sheep they don't need Flash. meanwhile, Adobe isn't going anywhere.
    04-14-11 04:19 PM
  24. Altarocks's Avatar
    I admittedly don't pay much attention to what content requires flash. I only realize it when I can't play it.

    I occasionally have to spend time on webinars (it's like watching paint dry ). I've noticed that most of them seem to utilize flash. I recently spent a couple months preparing for a professional exam and needed to get out of the house to do so. Having to lug around a laptop sucked. That alone was enough to push my PB decision.

    I'll let others with more knowledge correct me, but isn't a lot of interactive content flash-based?
    04-14-11 04:46 PM
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