Websites with Flash content will not load directly on Google Chrome by late 2016. Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has published a plan called HTML5 by Default. Even Adobe is asking developers to adopt this new internet language released in 2014. Popular sites in a whitelist won’t be affected by the new strategy.
Currently, Flash Player comes bundled with Google Chrome. The tech giant will stop advertising its presence by default. Users who open a site that needs the Adobe-created software will be given the option to load the content. Nonetheless, it will not automatically charge until established.
“When a user encounters a site that needs Flash Player, a prompt will appear at the top of the page, giving the user the option of allowing it for a site. If the user accepts, Chrome will advertise the presence of Flash Player, and refresh the page,” said Google in a document filtered on Sunday.
After users decide they want to keep opening a website with Flash content, the browser will remember the configuration on subsequent visits. The company said it plans to create a whitelist of the top 10 sites used worldwide. However, that list will expire after one year.
Almost everyone is decided to adopt HTML5, even Adobe
If the new measure is applied now, the list of exempted sites would be composed by Youtube.com, Facebook.com, Yahoo.com, VK.com, Live.com, Yandex.ru, OK.ru, Twitch.tv, Amazon.com, and Mail.ru. Google said the list will be continuously updated.
Some sites like Pandora.com invite users to download Flash Player when they don’t detect it in the browser. If a user touches the download link “get.adobe.com/flashplayer” Chrome will intercept the operation and show the “Allow Flash Player” bar.
Chrome users will be able to select the option “Always run Flash content” and manage sites, according to their individual preferences. New changes are expected to take place by the fourth quarter of the year, said the company led by CEO Sundar Pichai, in a Google Group.
Developers at Google said Flash has been “critical for rich media on the web.” However, HTML5 offers a greater and more integrated experience. It is widely used for live streaming in game consoles like Xbox and PS4, and devices such as the Chromecast, since it reduces buffering by more than 50 percent globally.
Adobe said last year it will release an HTML5 video player for desktop browsers and a new platform for creating animation, called Adobe Animate CC. The software company also announced alliances with Google, Microsoft and Facebook to “ensure the ongoing compatibility and security of Flash content” and gaming content.
“Looking ahead, we encourage content creators to build with new web standards and will continue to focus on providing the best tools and services for designers and developers to create amazing content for the web,” said Adobe in a press release.
From May 18 to 22, Google will hold the Annual Developers conference, in Mountain View, California. Analysts said the company would provide information about the new Android N, Android Virtual Reality, Youtube Live TV and several other software projects.
Source: Chromium-dev