An Epic Battle: Flash vs. HTML

If web designers had a crystal ball one thing they would surely look for is the future of HTML based websites. With Flash growing in popularity and the number of sites built completely in Flash, designers are asking themselves: What is the future of HTML? There are so many differences and similarities between HTML and Flash sites that it can be hard to predict which; if either, will come out on top. And that is what it all comes down to: what makes each way different? In Laymen’s terms: which one is ‘friggin’ easier?
In today’s design society there are two groups of web designers: the oldies who love the long lings of HTML code and then the new, younger crowd who see a future with Flash. Flash is able to do so many new things that HTML will just never be able to do some of the things Flash can. For example, Flash has much more freedom then HTML does and it is a lot easier to use. In Flash if you want to place a picture in a certain place, you just throw it on the canvas. With HTML you need to worry about absolute/relative placements, slicing graphics, screen resolutions, z-indexes and so much more. Designers are giving one of the main things they have wanted since the beginning of net: the ability to design with limited limitations such as different programming languages. And with Flash, a page will always and correctly render, no matter browser.
Flash also offers a lot more interactivity then HTML which is gong to keep the attention on users longer then a plain, scroll down HTML site. Importing sound and video is also easy not only for actual designers but for people just trying things out. It’s simple, but it is one thing HTML does not offer. And if you don’t want it, don’t add it. Flash gives you that simple option, as well as many more. Flash makes it easier for handling fonts and changing them easily. It also helps that with Flash sites, it does not matter whether or not the user has that font installed on their computer. It’s easier for everyone. Flash sites offer some of the same things as HTML sites do, such as replicating frames. In a Flash site, you can keep the navigation bar in one spot while everything else scrolls. But one thing Flash offers that HTML does not, is never having to reload. Browser buttons are a thing of the past in Flash and again: it’s so easy!
Of course there are those few cherished things that only HTML offer, the weaknesses of Flash. Without the Flash plug-in on your computer, every page you visit with Flash on it will pop up a little warning box informing you and telling you to go to this page to get the plug-in. Trust me: it’s annoying without that plug-in. HTML doesn’t need a plug in any way shape or form. Not to mention, video in Flash can be a problem with quality when you want to enlarge the viewing screen. In today’s world quality is important. Another downside is that 100% Flash sites do not show up on search engine sites. So if you make the best Flash site on Granny’s Chicken Soup, no one will ever find it when Goggle-ing yummy chicken soup. The world of web is streaming into so many different ways that many companies are coming up with ways for HTML and Flash to be compatible with search engines and text readers. CSS is a big example of this and people say that the day for equal harmony is coming sooner rather then later.
The world is growing and changing and I think that Flash and HTML both have a future and will one day work together in harmony. It’s like comparing it to the US and the UK. Hundreds of years ago were fighting each other, but now things have changed and we work together. I think this is how it will one day be on the internet, all we need is that one program that links it all together. Design, media and the WWW have already come so far so fast that it’s just a matter of time until it all works together. All we need is that one program that will revolutionize the world and bring sound, video, CSS, HTML and Flash altogether in one happy search-engine friendly little package. My thoughts? Adobe will be the ones to make this all possible.

http://www.sitepoint.com/article/csshtml-which-will-choose
Donna Shearer