Options: Install flash pro and con's on new MBA

[kapalua12]

Sorry for the newbie question again.

Just bought a 13", 4 GB, 2.13, 256 MBA. I notice no flash comes with the new MBA's for You Tube and other applications. I did install flash and it works fine.

What are my other options to be able to view video that is dependent on flash or some other add on program that might be better than flash?

Did I do the right thing? WHy or why not? I know....Steve hates flash..

 

[Pressure]

It should be fine.

Flash is not bundled because it is a security risk and Apple wants you to actively download the newest version directly from Adobe.

I would suggest surfing the web with a flash blocker, like ClickToFlash, so you can decide what flash elements you want to see, while still preserving battery life for ordinary browsing without the need for flash.

 

[Hankster]

There is nothing "better" than Flash, it's a feature/function developers use to create content, sites, etc. It's also used to stream video. There are no issues with Flash, been programing and using it since 2001 and never had an issue.

 

[emotion]

There is nothing "better" than Flash, it's a feature/function developers use to create content, sites, etc. It's also used to stream video. There are no issues with Flash, been programing and using it since 2001 and never had an issue.

The only issue is battery life.

When my MBA arrives I'll be installing flash - it's difficult to avoid on the web.

Next year there will be much more HTML5 alternative content and flash will be easier to cope without.

 

[bcaslis]

If you have flash installed, I'd recommend installing ClicktoFlash. It's a web browser plugin that prevents flash from loading unless you click on it or you can select certain websites to automatically load. This allows you to see the flash content you want but to prevent ones you don't want (like ads).

 

[Hankster]

The only issue is battery life.

When my MBA arrives I'll be installing flash - it's difficult to avoid on the web.

Next year there will be much more HTML5 alternative content and flash will be easier to cope without.

I look at the "battery life" argument this way:

Using Flash is the same as using PhotoShop, iMovie, or any other high intensive CPU program. The user chooses to do so. If I'm streaming Hulu or any video via Flash I know I'm doing it, I'm expecting less battery life. But, it should be my option.

I have Flash on my 11" MBA, I still get 5 hours of browsing at almost max brightness.

Most people who only use Flash during web browsing will not see an impact on battery life.

 

[HardLuckStories]

absolutely love clicktoflash, note if using gmail and chat don't forget to add google.com to whitelist otherwise it won't work, took me some head scratching

 

[emotion]

=If I'm streaming Hulu or any video via Flash I know I'm doing it, I'm expecting less battery life.

The point is, Jobs doesn't agree.

Flash visibly reduces battery life for me on my old MBP so I think I agree, this time, with him.

The quicker it gets replaced by HTML5 the better.

 

[The Phazer]

The point is, Jobs doesn't agree.

Flash visibly reduces battery life for me on my old MBP so I think I agree, this time, with him.

The quicker it gets replaced by HTML5 the better.

Broadly HTML5 will use up battery life just as much as Flash will. You might save a little with hardware accelerated H.264 video, but any other video format (such as WebM) will end up hitting pretty much as much as Flash will. And any video that's encrypted for security will... well, actually it'll still just be delivered in Flash (or Silverlight. Same diff).

In terms of animations etc, most HTML5 code isn't as efficient as Flash 10.1 and will likely use more battery life, not less.

HTML5 (which doesn't really exist other than as a collection of various web technologies) isn't a mature platform. People getting to grips with it will inevitably produce horrible code with their first efforts, and the quality of code makes much more difference to how something runs than Flash/HTML.

Phazer

 

[emotion]

HTML5 (which doesn't really exist other than as a collection of various web technologies) isn't a mature platform.

Agreed.

However, as the pool of content consumers using iOS exponentially expands Flash will die.

 

[The Phazer]

Agreed.

However, as the pool of content consumers using iOS exponentially expands Flash will die.

Not terribly convinced. I think we will see many content providers use HTML5 for iOS devices using SSL to prove it's an iOS device - on the basis that iOS devices won't run unsigned code that can capture the video.

But they'll stick with Flash for general purpose computing platforms.

Phazer

 

[emotion]

But they'll stick with Flash for general purpose computing platforms.

We will see. The DRM in the standards based approach needs work. Unless it's pulled even further into Apple's increasingly fortified and isolated walled garden, of course.

As an aside, I think Apple might buy Adobe (for the CS stuff - see eMagic for precedent) when Flash up-take is much lower and Adobe's value is dented further.

 

[ender21]

If you have flash installed, I'd recommend installing ClicktoFlash. It's a web browser plugin that prevents flash from loading unless you click on it or you can select certain websites to automatically load. This allows you to see the flash content you want but to prevent ones you don't want (like ads).

I use Chrome, which of course comes with Flash built-in to the browser. Since I use very few sites that depend on Flash (not including ads), I have disabled it and only turn it on when I need to.

Is ClicktoFlash really a simpler method of doing this? And will it work in Chrome? I would like to avoid installing tons of apps on the new machine when possible.

 

[jumpmanjay23]

Flash is good on the MBA. I just installed ClicktoFlash a couple days ago and I think it helps a little bit, for those who are more battery conscious.

 

[kas23]

I went to the Apple Store this weekend and noticed that Flash was not installed on any of the MBAs. I wanted to see how they would perform with Flash. I think this is a horrible mistake considering Apple Stores are usually filled to the gills with teenagers. I don't think they're gonna be that impressed with the machine when they try to go onto Youtube or whatever and can't watch their favorite video.

 

[bcaslis]

I agree that Apple store is normally packed with teenagers. I wonder if any of them ever buy anything anyways.

 

[emotion]

Youtube is mostly HTML5 these days.

Also these teenagers are a large proportion of the iPhone buyers (it's a gateway to Apple's other products in that regard), they're used to no flash support as it will never be in iOS.

Try this link for some insight into HTML5 uptake http://newteevee.com/2010/10/27/apple-has-already-won-the-flash-html5-war

 

[plinden]

I've been experimenting for the past week with being Flash-free on my MBP. I removed the Flash plugins from /Library/Internet Plugins and removed ClickToFlash. I removed ClickToFlash since it sill reports the browser as having Flash installed, so websites don't actually know that you don't want Flash.

I also installed the Safari plugin YouTube5, which rewrites YouTube pages to use HTML5 tags. This has better performance than either the YouTube HTML5 beta or Flash itself.

Do I miss Flash? ... sometimes. There are some videos, eg on Engadget, that need it. I don't miss Flash ads of course - some sites will deliver static images instead if your browser reports itself as not having Flash. I can't run Hulu.

The big loss would be my kids' online Flash games (not that they play them much - an hour or two a week), but they do that on the home computer, not my own one.

 

[gwsat]

I run Chrome and decided to simply go ahead and leave Flash installed because by default it is installed with the Chrome browser. I haven't had to place any serious strains on my 13 inch MBA's battery yet but it appears that I am going to be able to get about 5 hours, plus or minus a few minutes, out of a charge, which suits me fine. Unless and until I end up being seriously inconvenienced by too short battery life I plan to let Flash keep on truckin'.