Google Kills Off Flash for Chrome Desktop
- Wednesday, August 10th, 2016
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From next month, Google will start blocking Adobe Flash by default in Chrome.
The change will come into effect with the upcoming version 53 of Chromes desktop web browser, due to launch in September.
This will be followed by an update in version 55 that will make HTML5 the default experience, except for Flash-only sites, which will enable users to manually enable Flash on a case-by-case basis. Anthony LaForge, Chromes own curator of Flash describes HTML5 as “much lighter and faster” and making it possible to “speed up page loading and save you more battery life” compared Flash.
Its pretty much the final nail in Flashs coffin, a process that started back in 2007 with the first iPhone. Explaining the companys decision not to support Flash in 2010, CEO Steve Jobs wrote: “Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.”
Google followed suit in 2012 for Android and, with this move, is taking the same approach on desktop – which, as Jobs pointed out, is the home of Flash and its final bastion of support.
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