Google is finally ditching Adobe Flash, and switching to HTML5 by default. This move has been a long time coming, but it's now finally being rolled out to Chrome users. If everything goes according to plan, Adobe Flash will be virtually dead by October 2017.
In May 2016, Google proposed its plan to rid itself of Adobe Flash once and for all. Adobe Flash would be disabled, with HTML5 becoming the new default for Chrome. Given that Google Chrome is now the most popular web browser in the world, this was, and still is, an important decision.
Fast-forward seven months and Google is putting the proposal into effect.
HTML5 By Default has already been enabled for 50 percent of Chrome 56 users in the Beta channel. And it is now being enabled for 1 percent of Chrome 55 users in the Stable channel. In February, when Chrome 56 is released to the Stable channel, Google will enable the feature for all users.
In January 2017, users that have been switched to HTML5 By Default will be prompted to run Flash on a site-by-site basis the first time they visit them. But by October, users will have to give permission for Flash to run on any site they visit, regardless of how often they visit it.
Why Is Google Switching From Flash to HTML5?
Google is switching from Flash to HTML5 for a number of reasons. Firstly, Adobe Flash has a long and checkered history of posing serious security risks to anyone using it. Secondly, it can put a serious strain on resources and battery life. And thirdly, well, it's seriously annoying. Which is why so many tech companies have teamed up to kill Flash in recent years.
The advantages to users are immediately obvious, as switching from Flash to HTML5 means they'll enjoy a safer, more stable browsing experience. However, Google's decision puts the onus on web developers to switch from using Flash to HTML5 sooner rather than later or risk being left behind.
Do you use Google Chrome? Are you pleased to see Google switching to HTML5? Should Google have killed Flash earlier? Will you be holding a virtual funeral for Flash? Will the average web user even notice the change? Please let us know in the comments below!
Image Credit: Yuko Honda via Flickr