Web Design News - HTML5 Stomps Adobe Flash

Tuesday, 22 November 2011 19:57

HTML5 Stomps Adobe Flash

In February of 2010 there was a great deal of tension between Adobe and Apple (an all-time high of tension in fact) when Steve Jobs openly stated that Flash was buggy.  He called out Adobe for being lazy when explaining why flash was left off of the iPad.

The main issue then was that Apple believed Flash should have no place in the future of the web.  Instead, Jobs and other supporters of HTML5 believed the new markup language is what will define the way developers tackle site design.  Fast forward almost two years and we see how many sites are embracing HTML5.

Flash Vs HTML – Is There a Clear Winner?

If, Like Apple, you think we would all be better off with HTML5 as an instant replacement for Flash then you’re making a smart move for your business.  It’s not just a matter of preference.  It’s also a matter of performance.

Jan Ozer of Streaming Learning Center did some extensive tests comparing Flash to HTLM5 and found that while HTLM5 was not a winner free and clear, it did perform better in a lot of situations – particularly when performance was tested on a Mac.  Still, Flash more than held its own when Flash 10 and 10.1 were tested on Windows OS.  The browser had a lot to do with it, as Flash 10.1 was actually 58% more efficient than HTML5 in Google Chrome however the performance was far less in Safari (Mac) and Firefox.The primary benefit to Flash, and the reason for the discrepancy in test results, is that Flash makes use of the GPU hardware acceleration in Windows.  Unfortunately that means the MAC/Apple audience gets the short end of an ugly stick where Flash is concerned – something they’ve been complaining about for some time.

Why HTML5 is The Best Choice

If you put two vehicles up against one another, each will perform well in several areas, beating the other out.  There’s no clear winner as each has its own strengths and weaknesses.  The smart choice however is the model that is the most adaptable to everyday use and needs.  HTLM5 would be that model vehicle.  Without the need for re-engineering, HTLM5 is in a position to be compatible with all devices.  While the performance may not beat out Adobe Flash on a windows system, it doesn’t segregate users either.

If you’re designing a website for your business, the most important thing to consider is usability.  If a section of your audience operates on Apple products (and many do) then use forward thinking to incorporate technology that improves their user experience.  Flash hinders that engagement making for a clunky experience while HTML5 ensures that as technology advances and you alter your website, you won’t be shutting out some of your audience due to hang ups in compatibility.
Earlier this month Adobe finally agreed.  Adobe officially released that they will cease development of its Flash Player plug-in for mobile browsers.  They are abandoning flash development and nudging developers toward the Adobe Air platform and wholeheartedly backing HTLM5.

“HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively,” Adobe VP Danny Winokur said in a clear reference to Apple’s rejection of Flash support on its dominant iOS devices: the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. “This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms. We are excited about this, and will continue our work with key players in the HTML community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, to drive HTML5 innovation they can use to advance their mobile browsers.”

If it’s good for mobile browsing, it’s good for your business site – especially since your business site should have a mobile presence.  But that’s a whole different blog post and we will wait until this website is updated to get into that! Stay tuned..

Web design is not nough to succeed online

Sunday, 20 November 2011 21:24

Struggling with Online Sales? Web Design is not Enough

This is a concept we often have to sell clients on when they come to us for web design.  In many cases they’ve had a website for years and need a new design.  They expect this new design to take the web by storm and start bringing in thousands of customers because it’s a fresh new look.

Unfortunately web design can only do so much.  If your website got minimal traffic before the redesign, then after the web design is finished you’ll be sitting in the same boat.  It might be a prettier boat, with a sexy new set of sails, but it’s still the same boat.

Good Web Design Does Not Equal Visibility

Once you put your website online you have to take action.  Leaving it sit and marketing your business passively will only bring traffic in small trickles – more than likely from existing customers.  The key is to attract new customers.  In order to boost your visibility and make your website work for you you’ve got to do more.

How to Supplement a Good Web Design

Before you site even goes live you should have a marketing strategy in place to help spread the word about your new web presence.  Here are some great tips to bring eyes to your site and brand awareness overall.

Make the Search Engines Aware of Your Presence

If this is a new site launch then it’s important to clue the search engines in of your presence.  If it’s an existing site that’s been updated, make sure they know your content has been updated.  If you just leave them to their own devices they might get around to indexing your content again.  And they might not.  You can speed up the process by building a few links to your page on other authority sites.  As links pop up pointing to your site, the search engines are likely to find their way back to your site quickly.
Another option is to submit a sitemap to the search engines like Google.  This lets them know your content is updated and has a new site structure.  Some CMS like Word Press have plugins that send out pings every time you update content.
Should you submit your site to the search engines?  You can.  It’s not necessary.  Industry leaders will tell you that you don’t need to use directory and search engine submission tools.  You can submit your site to the primary search engines to get that extra attention but with all the other effort you’re doing this isn’t necessary

Establish Relevancy

Your web design is important but so is the content on your page.  Make sure you use the right keywords within your content to help establish your relevancy.  With the right optimization on page it will be that much easier for your customers to find your new site online when they use search engines to research your products or services.

Make your Site an Authority

Links have always been one of the strongest factors the search engines consider when establishing the relevancy and authority of a website around a particular category or keyword.  Natural or editorial links offer the most benefit.  You can begin building quality links through content marketing such as blogs, press releases, video and audio marketing and social media outreach.  Through high quality content you can get people linking back to your site.  The more links you have pointing to your optimized pages, the more visible your site becomes.

It’s important to remember that marketing is a never ending process.  The planning begins during the early phases of your new site design and continues on well after your web design is complete.  When you want to boost the profit potential of your site, keep these things in mind.  If you don’t have the time to tackle the marketing in addition to the web design then contact us.  We have access to all the resources our customers need to make their new site a success.