互联网告别Flash时代:Adobe宣布2020年停止支持Flash
Adobe Systems公司近日表示,计划在2020年底淘汰Flash播放器插件。2020年过后,Adobe将停止为Flash发布更新,网络浏览器将不再支持该技术。Flash曾经是人们观看视频片段和玩在线游戏时最常用的播放技术之一,但也因为存在安全性而饱受质疑。近年来,Flash的许多功能都已经被竞争对手HTML5技术所取代。而HTML5的好处之一是,它可以在网页上提供多媒体内容,而不需要用户安装和更新专用插件。 Adobe Systems has said that it plans to phase out its Flash Player plug-in by the end of 2020. The technology was once one of the most widely used ways for people to watch video clips and play games online. But it also attracted much criticism, particularly as flaws in its code meant it became a popular way for hackers to infect computers. In recent years, much of its functionality has been offered by the rival HTML5 technology. One of HTML5's benefits is that it can be used to make multimedia content available within webpages without requiring users to install and update a dedicated plug-in. 衰落与消亡 Apple was one of Flash's most vocal critics. The late Steve Jobs once wrote a public letter about its shortcomings, highlighting concerns about its reliability, security and performance. The plug-in was never supported by Apple's iOS mobile devices. Adobe's vice president of product development, Govind Balakrishnan, said the firm had chosen to end Flash because other technologies, such as HTML5, had "matured enough and are capable enough to provide viable alternatives to the Flash player." He added: "Few technologies have had such a profound and positive impact in the internet era." Apps developer Malcolm Barclay, who had worked on Flash in its early days, told the BBC: "It fulfilled its promise for a while but it never saw the mobile device revolution coming and ultimately that's what killed it." When Adobe acquired Flash in its 2005 purchase of Macromedia, the technology was on more than 98% of personal computers. But on Chrome, now the most popular web browser, Flash's usage has fallen off dramatically. In 2014 it was used each day by 80% of desktop users, according to Google. The current figure is just 17%. "This trend reveals that sites are migrating to open-web technologies, which are faster and more power-efficient than Flash," Google added. "They're also more secure." Google phased out full support for Flash software at the end of last year. Mr Balakrishnan said it did not expect the demise of Flash to affect profits at Adobe. "We think the opportunity for Adobe is greater in a post-Flash world," he said. But the firm added that it remained committed to support Flash up until the end of 2020 "as customers and partners put their migration plans into place". |