When Steve Jobs refused to allow Flash on iOS devices, he argued that HTML5 could do everything Flash did.
He wasn't being entirely honest - the reality distortion field was strong that day - but ultimately Apple won and Adobe didn't; HTML5, not Flash, is the technology that's transforming the web. So what exactly is it, and what does it want from us?
What is HTML5?
HTML5 is the latest version of Hypertext Markup Language, the code that describes web pages. It's actually three kinds of code: HTML, which provides the structure; Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which take care of presentation; and JavaScript, which makes things happen.
What's so great about HTML5?
HTML5 has been designed to deliver almost everything you'd want to do online without requiring additional software such as browser plugins. It does everything from animation to apps, music to movies, and can also be used to build incredibly complicated applications that run in your browser.
There's more. HTML5 isn't proprietary, so you don't need to pay royalties to use it. It's also cross-platform, which means it doesn't care whether you're using a tablet or a smartphone, a netbook, notebook or ultrabook or a Smart TV: if your browser supports HTML5, it should work flawlessly. Inevitably, it's a bit more complicated than that. More about that in a moment.
What does HTML5 do?
We've come a long way since HTML could barely handle a simple page layout. HTML5 can be used to write web applications that still work when you're not connected to the net; to tell websites where you are physically located; to handle high definition video; and to deliver extraordinary graphics.
When will HTML5 be finished?
HTML5 is an evolving standard, so it's a bit misleading to talk about when it'll be finished. What's important is that HTML's features - such as the aforementioned geolocation, web apps, video and graphics can be used now, provided your browser supports them.
Do I need an HTML5 browser?
You've probably got one already. All of the big name browsers - Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera, Mobile Safari and Android's browser - support HTML5, but they don't all support the same things.
Firefox generally supports the widest selection of HTML5 features, with Chrome and Safari following shortly afterwards, but as we said HTML5 is an evolving standard and the latest versions of each browser more than cover the basics. If you'd like more detailed information on browser support, the excellent Caniuse.com provides a detailed breakdown of what supports what.
SKYDRIVE: Microsoft has rolled out support for HTML 5 in Windows Live
What's the problem with HTML5 video?
The HTML5 standard supports video, but unfortunately nobody could agree on which format(s) to support - and that means that different browsers support different HTML5 video formats. There are three main ones: Ogg Theora, which is supported by every browser bar Internet Explorer (Safari support requires a manual installation); H.264, which is supported by everyone but Firefox; and VP8/WebM, which is supported by everything (although Safari and IE require manual installations). In January, Google announced that it would eventually remove H.264 support from Chrome. If you're thinking "blimey, that sounds like a right mess," we'd agree with you.
Will HTML5 replace Flash and Silverlight?
In some ways it already has: iOS devices don't run Flash, and many video websites have either moved from Flash to HTML5 video or at least offered HTML5 as an option. However, as HTML5 doesn't include digital rights management (DRM) technology to prevent copying, many content owners prefer proprietary, DRM-friendly formats such as Flash or Silverlight. For example, UK video site LoveFilm is dropping Flash - but instead of HTML5, it's moving to Silverlight.
Although Adobe has announced that it will stop developing the Flash Player for mobile devices Flash is also used for considerably more than just showing video, so it's not going anywhere in a hurry.
What tools do I need to create HTML5 websites?
Purists would say that you don't need any tools - you can write HTML5 code with a biro and a bit of paper if you wish - but others prefer tools such as Adobe's Dreamweaver, which gained an HTML5 pack in 2010. Adobe is also readying Edge, a dedicated HTML5 animation tool that promises to make it easy to create Flash-style animation.
Where can I see some HTML5 demos?
The cunningly named HTML5demos.com has some good demonstrations, along with a key showing which ones work in which browsers, while the excellent HTML5rocks.com has both demos and code samples for designers and developers. Google has put together an HTML5 video player for YouTube , and Apple has put together an HTML5 showcase on Apple.com. Our favourite, though, is the interactive film Chris Milk made for Arcade Fire's We Used To Wait.
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Your comments (5) Click to add a new comment
glenns
December 14th 2011
5. Hello Gary , Thanks for the response , nice to hear back from the author ;) and I agree HTML5 is the future as the mobile sector grows it becomes ever more important but it is still in the future.
In the current and whilst transitioning flash will remain essential and possible for a long time in the future as many site owners will not re-design their sites to HTML5 for years.
Maybe they should be encouraged to do so but Apple's / Jobs decision to block flash from iOS has really just restricted its users, nothing new from Apple but something I personally will not stand for.
The point I wanted to make in my original post was flash has been great , will continue to have a place for some time. It's demise is merely due to evolution of technology not Apple's exclusion or Job's opinion that it was "buggy" if that were the case it would have died long ago.
thanks again , good article on the whole ;)
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danvickers
December 14th 2011
4. The reality is that 'HTML5' is simply not capable yet of delivering truly rich, cross platform/browser applications.
Developers are still forced into making the same old hacks and compromises. To produce anything resembling a traditional desktop application is prohibitively expensive for that reason.
Flex/Air apps on the other hand can be deployed cross platform with very little or no issues. They can deliver advance features such as drawing, image manipulation and visual effects that are far beyond anything that could be realistically achieved at the moment with HTML5.
To top that off, the development environment is one that a HTML developer could only dream of. A true strongly typed OO language, a powerful skinning framework (no css hacks here) and simply coding once... if it works, it works.
'HTML5' is being banded around alot, possibly by marketing departments eager impress their clients, and managers keen to jump on the iPad bandwagon. It's no different to the promotion of AJAX and Web2.0 a few years ago, except for that this time flash has become the casualty.
I've no doubt that the move to tablets will kill Flash. It will be resigned to delivering desktop Air apps and ironically mobile apps, targeted at various platforms, including iOS.
It just seems such a waste.
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mrbastounis
December 14th 2011
3. To me, it's all about cutting out the middle man. Apple (or anyone) makes the browser, the site delivers the video.
Flash just gets in the way. Browser plugins means another company's code, which means an entirely separate programming team and inevitably a greater chance of bugs.
Jobs was definitely right on this. iOS would be a lot less stable if Flash was on there and the result would be a worse user experience.
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garymarshall
December 13th 2011
2. Hi Glenns.
> Flash has been around for a long time (1996 ?) and has done a fantastic job
I wouldn't argue with either point. However, the growth area in tech is mobile and Flash isn't there. iOS doesn't support it, Windows 8 won't either (on tablets anyway) and Adobe's stopped development of Flash player for mobile devices. That means for most of the web's users, Flash won't be there.
> it will be better for all of us but as a developer having to encode video in 3 different formats to ensure compatablity with all browsers
Absolutely, that's a mess.
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glenns
December 13th 2011
1. "but ultimately Apple won and Adobe didn't; HTML5, not Flash, is the technology that's transforming the web."
Utter rubbish , Flash has been around for a long time (1996 ?) and has done a fantastic job as we can see from the numerious sites using it, techradar being one of them. HTML 5 is barely ready to take over from flash, it certinally wasn't ready in 97 so Job's was talking rubbish. iOS users have been starved of flash for no good reason and it has not hasened the development of HTML5.
I'm all for HTML5 to take over , it will be better for all of us but as a developer having to encode video in 3 different formats to ensure compatablity with all browsers i know how far from a "Standard" we are.
Flash fills in the gaps , adobe and macromedia have done a good job and to say the "Lost" is wrong and unfair and as usual give far too much credit to Apple
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