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Bruce · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 6:45 am Post subject: The Demise of Flash Video

I am far from an expert on Flash and the modest hulabaloo over Steve Jobs refusing to provide for it in his mobile products, but I found this article about the rapid decline of Flash for websites helpful. It appears the platform of choice is rapidly becoming H.264:

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/05/02/apple-vs-adobe-is-flash-dying/

I found the kicker statement to be interesting:

"Once again, Apple may be skating not to where the puck is, but where it's going to be."

B
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I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 8:01 am Post subject:

Thanks Bruce - I guess because Flash plays H.264 is why I have never even heard of it!

Hmmm - so how does this affect the flash audio I have on my site? Will iPad and iPhone users not be able to listen?
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Bish · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 9:02 am Post subject:

Connie, I've just looked at your site with my iPad... The good news: The nice people at YouTube supply H.264 (native, without the Flash wrapper) and the Ring Tales videos work just fine. The bad news: Audio links for the other demos are not there (even the little player is not shown).

I think a lot of us will be looking for plan B for site audio players... but I think many attractive alternatives (not just the clunky quicktime player) will be with us soon.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 9:05 am Post subject:

Hey, thanks for the look/listen - I'll need to keep my eyes and ears open for the fix!
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asnively · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 9:13 am Post subject:

Oh no. My demos use a Flash player, too. At least my site isn't all Flash, like I know a lot of people's are. I think it's a good idea for all of us to figure out where the puck's going and try to skate a little in that direction!
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Pam · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 9:16 am Post subject:

I use that javascript player for my demos that Kafer provided a while back. Is that flash?
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asnively · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 9:34 am Post subject:

Yep.
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Frank F · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 12:54 pm Post subject:

Java was created by Sun Microsystems, Adobe developed Flash (Actually Macromedia). Flash files can be played inside of a Java wrapper with an applet, but is not native to Java.

H.264 is MPEG 4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding) which was created to compress high quality video for streaming. Apple uses the H.264 codec in Quicktime as a native codec which is why the Apple is reluctant to include the Flash Streaming Codec within their product(s). Adobe although a developer for Apple; is still a competitor.

Frank F
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imaginator · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 1:18 pm Post subject:

please pardon the non-tech-savvy questioner:

so, since i'm still in the process of adding video to my website and blog, but don't want to use youtube, what should i be looking at as a playing device as i build these new pages? what's the easiest to incorporate into the page design.

and since my home-page audio demos use a form of flash, i guess i should be asking about a fast-playing replacement for those as well.

(i am not an engineer, so please keep your answers as simple as accuracy will allow.)

thank you any and all.
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ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject:

I know things are going more to the mobile iWhaterver platforms, but how soon do you think we really need to be concerned about people not being able to hear and see our demos on their phone? When will that become the preferred platform do you think?

Couldn't we just have an MP3 download link next to the Flash player?
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Frank F · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject:

Encoding to H.264 is available now, and is, in many cases FREE (as a software download).

The encoded file can be embedded on your website and (similar to YouTube) played/streamed in any browser.

Please note: although H.264 handles audio in the AAC-HE format (MPEG 4) it is substantially a VIDEO codec. So unless your demos are video oriented, then the usual MP3 or even MP4 codec is a better choice for embedding your files/demos.

How long will it take for the change to a more Mobile streaming environment? Good question. It will happen, but it will take some time as more people today are still hooked to their PC's for a more robust (can you say: faster?), higher quality, streaming/download environment. In my personal opinion, at present the Mobile internet is still in it's infancy and is still a novelty. This concept is rapidly changing with the advent of the iPad and other mobile solutions however it will not be a major part of the IP environment until prices for WiFi connections are lowered substantially, and larger download/upload limits (many WiFi devices are limited to 4 GB per month) are increased. When will this happen? When the public no longer tolerates the price point or download/upload limits, not until then.

Hope the information alleviates some of the fears which Apple is propagating, if not do some research and find out for yourself.

Frank F
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: The Demise of Flash Video

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 10:51 pm Post subject:

I looked at my site today on an iPad and am very glad I have the little "download" links directly to the MP3s under the flash players. Since Flash isn't (and won't be) supported, y'all might consider doing something similar.
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anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC

Quicktime is only clunky when people have inconsistent encoding of their files or poor coding on their site. Invest $30 in your career and get Quicktime Pro. It's what I use to encode all of my video on my site - which, by the way, works on an iPhone.

Like Frank said, there are "free" encoding software out there, but unless someone recommends one from experience (I've used SUPER with success) then looking for one that works for you and works *right* is a waste of time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - go with what the majority of producers are using, are familiar with, and - chances are - already have installed: Quicktime. Whether or not your friends, family, and fellow VO talent can play your audio/video on your site is irrelevant (as is your personal opinion about Apple and Quicktime.) Focus on the buyers.

-Anthony

todd ellis · Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:28 am Post subject:

i've been preaching the virtues of h.264 for almost two years now. better quality with a higher compression/smaller file size.

Handbrake is super, easy, and free. convert & compress to ... whatever, including h.264. FFMpeg is good too, but slightly less user-friendly (in my experience).

the longtail JWplayer is also free and easy for audio & video. plays well with joomla too.

this will all become obsolete once html5 becomes standard anyway ... right?
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