I was going to write and tell you about some new and amazing tool I just discovered. However, right now I can't remember what it was. I've actually found, learned about or started using so many fabulous new tools that I can't keep track of what came when or from where. The changes in technology are coming at us faster than ever. Some good. Some not so good. But mostly good. And sometimes even a little controversial. So I thought I'd toss in my own comments, for what they are worth.
Apple, Adobe, Flash and the Dreaded Changes
I don't mean to give Apple credit for every meaningful advance mankind has made. I'm a devotee, but even I know that would be, well, silly. But I do think Apple has pushed some changes that make others start thinking, and all kinds of new stuff comes out of it.
I think Apple was the first computer maker to say "3.5 inch floppy drives are a ridiculous waste of space and we're not going to put them in our computers anymore." At the time, a few whiners said that was the end of Apple and who would buy such a useless machine?" But within a year no one was putting 3.5 inch floppies in standard configurations, and today I don't know if you can even get an internal 3.5 inch floppy drive.
And there's no question that Apple rethought the portable music device and mobile phone. They started a change that is now being embraced by every MP3 player and cell phone maker, along with a bunch of new entries in the field.
So now Apple is the first to say that Flash has served it's purpose and should be retired in favor or newer, faster, better technology. And a lot of people think Apple is crazy. That it will ruin Apple and make them a laughing stock. Well, a lot of people and a lot of computer and software companies wouldn't recognize newer, better technology if it was wrapped around their legs preventing them from walking.
In fact, a lot of computer and software makers aren't ever in a hurry to adopt new technologies. It means a lot of reworking of parts and standards. It can be hard. It can be painful.
Ooh, the Pain
Certainly, moving away from Flash will be painful. Very painful. It's been the go-to solution for designers who moved from print to online design and are reluctant to give up the look of print. For many, it was just too much of a compromise to embrace the way websites work best. Flash solved a lot of that for them. When Macromedia introduced designers and developers to Flash, they brought beauty and advanced interactivity to websites -- websites that before Flash had been static and uninspiring.
And learning Flash is a heavy investment. There is also an entire industry built up around creating and supplying Flash-related training, add-ons, pre-built solutions, and on and on. That's a lot of people who have to be urged to change.
Yes, change is almost always painful. But without change, where are we? In the first place, there wouldn't be computers. We'd still be counting on our fingers and toes and drawing on the walls. But change brings us amazing new tools and when people embrace change, we get competition. And competition is great for us, the consumer, and only works to foster even better advancements.
Adobe and Flash, Designers and Developers
Adobe has made some improvements to Flash since they bought Macromedia. But I worry that they may have been complacent and reluctant to take on the pain of change. I hope Adobe puts up a fight and Flash doesn't just go the way of the 3.5 inch floppy drive. But I hope that fight consists in improving Flash, modernizing it, embracing newer needs and newer technologies. Flash has been a great tool, but it can be better.
Designers and developers need to embrace change too. I never recommend building websites using Flash and that recommendation just gets stronger all the time as our need for faster, more efficient ways of delivering content becomes more and more demanding. Additionally, I find developers are too tempted to overdo sites when they use Flash. Perhaps it's that heavy investment that they can't bear to see wasted. But some of both the ugliest and most beautiful Flash websites are nearly useless in terms of their effectiveness and value to the site visitor. Of course, Flash can't be blamed for that alone. I've seen plenty of static sites that are ugly or beautiful and completely useless.
Summary
I guess after wandering around in several topics I should wrap up with the point I was trying to make. And that point is, that I think Apple is right to push us, to push the developers and computer makers and to push competition. In fact, the only place where I occasionally get miffed at Apple is when I see actions that might restrict competition.
So Apple says they won't support Flash on their portable devices. A lot of people will whine and complain and predict, once again, the demise of Apple.
And some people will embrace the opportunities. Some people will jump into the space Apple left to offer alternatives. And maybe some people will look at ways to improve Flash. Or maybe a light turns on over someone's head and they develop a completely new way to think about and address these needs.
Whatever happens, it's sure to be very interesting and to bring about more changes … and with it, a little pain.
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