Will it hurt my uncle business if he uses flash for the site?

F

Frxstrem

New member
1) Flash is a very good idea if you're planning to make a website for normal computers, but not for mobile devices - with a few exceptions (like PSP and PlayStation 3, which I believe have some Flash support)
2) Almost no mobile phones (or other mobile devices) have full Flash. Many phones have Flash Lite, though, but normal Flash files (for desktop computers) are incompatible with these devices, and also vice versa. The closest thing is Flash 10 for Android, which is - as you said - coming soon.

I believe Flash is a very good thing to use for sites aimed at desktop computers (with about 95% of personal computers having it installed, and soon also Android devices), while something like HTML5 would be generally better for mobile devices. But keep in mind that HTML5 is not fully developed, and none of the major browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari - for Mac/PC and iPhone OS - and Chrome) has full support for it, while I believe that all except IE has extensive support, and most mobile devices too. But the downside to HTML5 is of course that it is not nearly as function as Flash is (because it is still under development).

But in the end, you would have to decide for yourself; I believe both options are good choices, depending on what you would want it to do.

Just a little side note: even if the iPhone does not have Flash support, Android has a bigger (U.S.) market share (they passed iPhone's market share a few weeks ago) and more customers who will soon support Flash.
 
1) Flash is a very good idea if you're planning to make a website for normal computers, but not for mobile devices - with a few exceptions (like PSP and PlayStation 3, which I believe have some Flash support)
2) Almost no mobile phones (or other mobile devices) have full Flash. Many phones have Flash Lite, though, but normal Flash files (for desktop computers) are incompatible with these devices, and also vice versa. The closest thing is Flash 10 for Android, which is - as you said - coming soon.

I believe Flash is a very good thing to use for sites aimed at desktop computers (with about 95% of personal computers having it installed, and soon also Android devices), while something like HTML5 would be generally better for mobile devices. But keep in mind that HTML5 is not fully developed, and none of the major browsers (IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari - for Mac/PC and iPhone OS - and Chrome) has full support for it, while I believe that all except IE has extensive support, and most mobile devices too. But the downside to HTML5 is of course that it is not nearly as function as Flash is (because it is still under development).

But in the end, you would have to decide for yourself; I believe both options are good choices, depending on what you would want it to do.

Just a little side note: even if the iPhone does not have Flash support, Android has a bigger (U.S.) market share (they passed iPhone's market share a few weeks ago) and more customers who will soon support Flash.
 
Hello

Using some flash on your site can add some great effects for the user, however keep in mind that a full flash site can hurt your business. Google can not properly search the content of Flash for SEO purposes. Yes, Google can read some tags and content within flash documents now, but not much. Creating a flash site will not give you a good opportunity to be listed properly on google searches. You are much better off creating a site in html, php, or .aspx with lots of content and proper Search Engine Optimization

And yes, you are correct. Many mobile devices currently can not read flash. They only show an empty area where flash content exists. I too, have tried to read menu's on my iphone many times and when the site was in flash, I had no choice but to move on to another restaurant. If the site is full flash, I can not even read their phone number to call them for take out.

And, after all, the iPhone is STILL the most popular mobile phone in the world.


I am a website developer and we always try to push our clients away from full flash sites and if they do still desire a full flash site, that they create a second .mob site for mobile devices.

As a professional, I think you are making a wise choice by trying to convince your uncle to move away from flash. Flash sites can look really cool . . .but most viewers get annoyed once the "cool newness" wears off. In the end, they want a site that is easy on the eyes, and easy to navigate and find what they want. complicated sites hurt business and frustrate users.

That's my two cents
 
If you're unsure, go with the option that all phones can view. When someones hungry, they don't give a damn about the flash animations you have on your site. :p
 
Its a restaurant. I'm trying to convince him its a bad idea. I told him i was looking for a chinese restaurant with Google local search and found one but it was using flash so i went back and picked the one i could view to read the menu. So the one with flash lost my business. He said most phones have Flash, just not iPhone. I don't think he right, is he? I don't even think Android has it buts it coming i heard. Is there any data i could show him to convince him Flash is bad for his site? Do you have any input on this?
 
Hello

Using some flash on your site can add some great effects for the user, however keep in mind that a full flash site can hurt your business. Google can not properly search the content of Flash for SEO purposes. Yes, Google can read some tags and content within flash documents now, but not much. Creating a flash site will not give you a good opportunity to be listed properly on google searches. You are much better off creating a site in html, php, or .aspx with lots of content and proper Search Engine Optimization

And yes, you are correct. Many mobile devices currently can not read flash. They only show an empty area where flash content exists. I too, have tried to read menu's on my iphone many times and when the site was in flash, I had no choice but to move on to another restaurant. If the site is full flash, I can not even read their phone number to call them for take out.

And, after all, the iPhone is STILL the most popular mobile phone in the world.


I am a website developer and we always try to push our clients away from full flash sites and if they do still desire a full flash site, that they create a second .mob site for mobile devices.

As a professional, I think you are making a wise choice by trying to convince your uncle to move away from flash. Flash sites can look really cool . . .but most viewers get annoyed once the "cool newness" wears off. In the end, they want a site that is easy on the eyes, and easy to navigate and find what they want. complicated sites hurt business and frustrate users.

That's my two cents
 
Hello

Using some flash on your site can add some great effects for the user, however keep in mind that a full flash site can hurt your business. Google can not properly search the content of Flash for SEO purposes. Yes, Google can read some tags and content within flash documents now, but not much. Creating a flash site will not give you a good opportunity to be listed properly on google searches. You are much better off creating a site in html, php, or .aspx with lots of content and proper Search Engine Optimization

And yes, you are correct. Many mobile devices currently can not read flash. They only show an empty area where flash content exists. I too, have tried to read menu's on my iphone many times and when the site was in flash, I had no choice but to move on to another restaurant. If the site is full flash, I can not even read their phone number to call them for take out.

And, after all, the iPhone is STILL the most popular mobile phone in the world.


I am a website developer and we always try to push our clients away from full flash sites and if they do still desire a full flash site, that they create a second .mob site for mobile devices.

As a professional, I think you are making a wise choice by trying to convince your uncle to move away from flash. Flash sites can look really cool . . .but most viewers get annoyed once the "cool newness" wears off. In the end, they want a site that is easy on the eyes, and easy to navigate and find what they want. complicated sites hurt business and frustrate users.

That's my two cents
 
Back
Top