Why is Adobe Flash Shutting Down?
As you might have heard, Adobe Flash has shut down its operations. This didn’t take many users by surprise as the plugin was struggling for years.
If you would like a detailed look at why it shut down, and more, read ahead.
Why Did Adobe Flash Shut Down?
Security problems were a major reason. For some context, back in 2010, Flash’s security flaws were so serious that Apple stopped iPhones supporting it. Up until 2017, Adobe tried its best to fix these security issues. Unfortunately, they never did a good job.
The plugin ended up by being lumped in the “insecure” pile, along with Java and ActiveX which sealed its fate.
Better Open-Standards, like HTML5, quickly became popular. They were easier to use and more compatible with newer devices. This rendered Flash obsolete.
Many users think the plugin stopped being supported because of a lack of funds. Although this wasn’t true at the beginning, the number of websites switching from Flash to HTML5 cost Adobe a lot of money.
Can You Still Use Adobe Flash?
You won’t be able to access Flash content anymore. Most websites that ran Adobe Flash have switched to using open-standard counterparts.
Adobe advises users to uninstall their plugin. Having it on your computer would make you vulnerable.
What Should Flash Users Do?
Users are advised to uninstall the software. Still, this would be a security risk as it hasn’t been updated in a while.
Uninstalling it can differ depending on whether you use a Mac or Windows computer.
Let’s talk about this:
1. Windows Computer
All you need to do is:
- Download the official Flash uninstaller
- Make sure you have no programs running. Go to the System Tray and then close all the files that end with .swf
- Run the uninstaller afterwards
- Tap the confirmation box that will appear
- Wait for it work its magic
- Go to the following pathway and then delete any remaining cache C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash
- C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash
- %appdata%\Adobe\Flash Player
- %appdata%\Macromedia\Flash Player
2. Mac Computers
The process you need to follow on Mac computers is not too different. Just remember that there are three different Mac Flash uninstallers on the market. Choose the right one according to your OS version.
Here’s what you do:
- Find and download the appropriate uninstaller
- Close all the windows that are running
- Wait for the uninstaller to start working
- Tap the Done Button
- Clear any remaining cache by going to the following pathways and deleting any remaining files – /Library/Preferences/Macromedia/Flash\ Player and /Library/Caches/Adobe/Flash\ Player
How Is Html5 Better Than Adobe Flash?
The popularity of HTML5 contributed to Adobe Flash’s downfall. Considering how superior it was in comparison, its success wasn’t a surprise.
We’ve discussed its advantages below:
1. More Mobile Friendly
Most people spend hours on their phone. Google ultimately favors mobile-friendly websites because of this. Developing mobile-friendly websites is easy with HTML5, and this is the main reason why it became so successful.
2. Easily Formatted to Videos
Flash isn’t the best format for video content. It was necessary to keep updating it if you wanted to access sites like YouTube, which you never have to do with its counterpart.
3. Security and Stability
Google Chrome and Apple both stopped supporting Adobe Flash before it was discontinued. As mentioned, Apple did so back in 2010, and Google Chrome in 2016. This was due to security concerns.
On the other hand, HTML5 is secure, and is known for its stable loading times.
4. Great Cross Browser Support
You can play HTML5 games across all browsers and platforms because the coding language is easy to interpret.
5. Superior Data Storage
HTML5 enables you to store content on multiple windows at the same time. Also, if you accidentally close your browser, you won’t have to worry about losing data as it is cached.
Are There Any Adobe Flash Alternatives?
If you miss the plugin, there are some alternatives around.
We’ve looked at three of the best below.
1. Ruffle
Ruffle is one of the best replacements you can find. You can use it on Windows, Mac and Linux computers. Using it on all major web browsers would also be possible.
Although it’s not a flash player per-se, it is a flash emulator. It does an excellent job at emulating, and many users have it as their primary Adobe alternative.
Ruffle was developed using the Rust coding language. So, it is easy to use and compatible with many browsers and games.
Downloading the software will be free.
2. Gnash
Gnash, or the GNU Flash Movie Player, is not as popular as the option above. However, it is still an excellent choice. You can access flash multimedia files with ease, as well as audio and video content.
You can use Gnash on all major operating systems and it’s also possible to open it on major web browsers.
Once again, you’re looking at a free software.
3. Quick Flash Player
Although Quick Flash Player is not as popular as the above choices, it will still get the job done. You can download it for free as well. What’s more, you can use it on all major operating systems.
The Player can be used to run a variety of flash content. The software is easy to use too.
Adobe Flash Shutting Down
As mentioned, there were many reasons why the plugin was discontinued. To anyone who was paying attention, the news that Adobe was shutting down did not come as a surprise. The plugin had been struggling for years, especially with the security side of things. The fact that it was shut down was a good thing, as it required constant updates and many users found this frustrating.
As discussed, HTML5, and other Open-Sourced counterparts took over from Adobe. HTML5 became popular due to how easy it was to write mobile-friendly websites with. Google, at the end of the day, favors websites that are mobile-friendly.
If you miss Flash, there are a couple of emulators, like Ruffle to consider.
