Re: [gentoo-user] Re: No more FLASH on Linux ?

[Mick]

On Friday 24 Feb 2012 07:30:01 Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> On 24/02/12 07:02, pk wrote:
> > On 2012-02-24 05:15, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> >> user can watch. Flash on the other hand guarantees web designers that a
> >> PC user can watch their videos. Having a guarantee that something works
> >> is a very powerful incentive; you do not abandon something that works.
> >
> > It's only guaranteed if flash is installed. HTML5 is pretty much
> > "guaranteed" with current browsers.
>
> Flash has about 95% coverage.  That means virtually everyone has it
> installed.  HTML5 on the other hand does not guarantee video playback.
> If you're on Firefox for example, it won't play MPEG video, but will
> play Theora.  If you're on IE or Safari, it won't play Theora but will
> play MPEG.
>
> With Flash, you *know* that it will play your video.  You don't have to
> like it, but it's a fact; an important one.  Yeah, I know, sucks for
> Linux which has poor Flash support, but what can you do?  This is a
> reality and you can't blame people for choosing the safe bet.

The thing is that apple smartphones and tablets do not offer flash.  Desktop 
volumes are in decline, while smartphones and tablets sales are increasing.  
This could be seasonal of course, but if the future moves away from the flash 
capable desktop, then flash will become increasingly obsolete.
-- 
Regards,
Mick