Adobe Flash played a leading role in the advancement of creative content, ranging from video to interactive games, on the web. But over time, as the web continued to evolve, the entrant of new formats formed the basis for open standards, which became an essential part of the web.
Open standards such as HTML5, WebGL and WebAssembly have come to maturity over the past several years, and can now provide many of the functionalities that plugins championed and even becoming a viable alternative for web content. Now, it is game over for the millions of flash games as Adobe has scheduled to end support and distribution for Flash on December 31, 2020.
Also, Microsoft, Google, Mozilla, and Apple have laid out plans for retiring Adobe flash from their respective web browsers.
End of support for Adobe Flash on Microsoft Edge, Chrome & Safari
Microsoft stated that in the next version of Microsoft Edge (built on Chromium), that Flash will be disabled by default. However, there is a provision for users to be able to re-enable it on site-by-site basis.
The timeline for Chromium-based Edge browser can be found here, albeit Flash won't be disabled by default for Microsoft Edge (built on EdgeHTML) or Internet Explorer 11 prior to its end of support by 2020.
But Flash will be removed completely from all Microsoft browsers via Windows Update, with Group policies for enterprise admins and IT pros to enable them to change Flash behavior prior to that date.
Google will continue the phasing out of Flash, first by asking Chrome users for permission to run Flash in most situations, and eventually disabling it by default. Google will eventually remove Flash completely towards the end of 2020.
Apple iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch have never supported Flash. For Mac users, the transition from Flash began far back in 2010 with Flash no longer pre-installed. If users choose to install Flash, it remains tuned off by default. Safari will require explicit approval on site-by-site basis for running the Flash plugin.
What Adobe has done for the Emerging Technologies?
Adobe started with a ton of HTML5 initiatives, including the defunct Wallaby, which was tended as a tool to help convert the rich animated graphical contents of Flash into a form that can be easily imported into web pages using web design tools like Dreamweaver.
Now, it is encouraging web developers to migrate their existing Flash content to open standards such as HTML Video and Media Source Extensions, HTML Canvas and WebGL, CSS Transitions and Animations or WebAssembly.
Adobe will also actively participate in the advancement of new web standards, including contribution to the HTML5 standard and participating in the WebAssembly Community Group. And continue to provide best in class animation and video tools such as the premier web animation tool for developing HTML5 content.
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