The epitaph of Flash is soon going to be written. It was something which was long predicted, and the final dates were being awaited. Once the backbone of internet entertainment, Flash had outlived its utility and will completely disappear in the next two years. Google will start blocking Flash contents from September, and this will be the proverbial last nail in the coffin. Initially, Google will block ‘behind the scene’ contents which comprise almost 90% of the Flash contents on the web. In December, Google Chrome will set HTML5 to the default mode for games and videos. However, sites which exclusively support Flash will not be affected.
The Flash is an old platform and is characterized by resource cumbersome process and is notorious for security vulnerabilities. Of course, it will be sad, especially for people from the age when AlbinoBlackSheep and eBaum’s World were the foundation of the content section of the web.
It was a process which was started by Chrome since long by progressively chipping Flash support and last September it started to freeze non-essential or ad-related Flash content automatically. Updates became scarce, and support for the platform was steadily reduced. It would seem a bit high-handed, but Google wanted to push websites towards HTML5 which is considered many time more secure and an efficient medium.
Google Chrome will help in the process of making Flash defunct, and it will now emphasize more for HTML5. Most of Flash contents on the web comprise of huge loads of behind the scene stuff, things like page analytics. Such kind of things slows the internet and therefore from September Chrome 53 will start to block Flash bearing contents. HTML5 is much faster, sleeker, and publishers are switching over to speed page loading and thus save battery life of different devices used for surfing the web. One will be able to see the move in the form of better responsiveness and efficiency in many sites.
The process will be complete by December when Google plans to have HTML5 as the only option for Chrome users. If a user visits a Flash site, Google will ask you to turn it on. HTML5will always be by default.
Chrome has become one of the most popular web browsers and now it will let people access Flash enables website on a site-by-site basis and will put up a banner warning of the dangers of it instead of letting the software automatically load as it does currently. However, it will allow a few websites which rely heavily on Flash for some time till the end of 2017. It includes YouTube, Twitch, Yahoo, and Amazon. Most of these platforms will be shifting to HTML5 during the course of time.
