16-March-2010

Flash websites are a pain

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Adobe Flash websites, assuming you actually are lucky enough to stumble on them via Google in the first place have got to be the most annoying websites ever because they often take a while to load. Back in the bad old days we were forced to wait patiently to enjoy a website in its full glory because we were all on dial-up and it just took ages to load the most efficient HTML page. Yeah, really... it was very, very slow. I expect all you younger ones who have grown up with broadband all your life can't even imagine what I'm talking about.

Anyway, now we're all souped up and have wizzy fast connection (TalkTalk customers need not apply) and yet we're still forced to sit and wait patiently (or not in my case!) whilst a progress bar slowly creeps across the screen albeit in a slightly different position to where we used to see it. You'll then be amazed and blown off your chair by the technicolour wonders and delights the likes of which you have never seen. Errr.. maybe, if I can be bothered to hang around that long that is!

Actually, many of websites built with Adobe Flash are a bit tiresome and basically do no more than can be achieved with a little bit of CSS and Javascript or that stuff they used to call DHTML (dynamic HTML). Fancy names for making use of something that's already built into your browser. Okay, not everything can be achieved in this manner and some of the flash sites out there really are clever and in my opinion worthwhile. But at the same time, the majority of them are NOT worthwhile; they're just overloaded and slow for the sake of using Flash. Some designer out there has it in is (or her) head that this is the only way to do things and what they don't realise, is that it really screws with the end user experience.

Anyone remember the two second rule? Basically, you have two seconds to present your page or your finished. Let me explain. If you've ever watched a first time Internet user as they go to click on a link to a website they actually suck in a breath and hold it as they click with the mouse. So if your page takes too long to do something useful you're gonna be responsible for someone passing out through lack of Oxygen. Think about it!

Okay, it's not all bad though because some flash websites give you the option of viewing a plain HTML version or skipping the fancy intro. This goes some way to pacifying me I guess. Many of them do not however and you're forced to either wait... wait... and then wait some more for the final anticlimax, or you do as I do and hit the "back" button as soon as I get a sniff of a "loading..." message.

I really can't be bothered waiting. I'm a little bit impatient I suppose. But I want information, I want services, and I bleeding well want them NOW so cut the crap and give it to me!

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Flash web sites that load slow and run sluggish are, in the majority of cases, not due to the limitations of Flash itself, but to poor design and sloppy "Flash designers" that do not take the time to optimize their Flash files before finishing the work.

As far as SEO is concerned, an experienced designer will place text "underneath" the Flash file and use non-vector fonts and sIFR (Scalable Inman Flash Replacement) to optimize Flash sites. The trick is to make sure that all text reflects what is written in the main Flash file itself (as is true of traditional HTML SEO).

Utilizing state-of-the-art Flash design tools such as XML and Flash CMS an experienced Flash designer can create a Flash site that loads lightning fast, is SEO-friendly and allows deep linking. Flash sites built in this way also give the end user the ability to quickly and easily modify the content of their web site without ANY knowledge of Flash.

In the hands of an experienced professional, Flash can not only go toe to toe with HTML, it can blow it clean out of the water.

Real2Reel Multimedia 31-Jan-2010 14:55

"Oh and I don't use Firefox either, I use Mozilla SeaMonkey which is the original browser application from which Firefox is derived. I prefer SeaMonkey because it is more controllable and it doesn't have the annoying compiled-in Google default home page."
(Phil 11-Oct-2008 05:41)

FireFox is completely controllable and you can change your home page in the "Tools > Options > Main. You can also have FireFox display your pages from last time too

dannydee 27-Jan-2010 13:28

Use FireFox and the Adblock extension and simply block the images that cause the problems. Failing that there are plenty of other FireFox extensions that will give the desired results ie NoScript

dannydee 27-Jan-2010 13:24

The Condor Cycles website isn't bad because it's Flash - it's bad because it's been designed by a numpty who shouldn't be designing websites! Some of the best websites are made entirely in Flash - check out this site by inspirational flash designer Andy Foulds: http://www.andyfoulds.co.uk/flash_design.html

billgates 15-Oct-2008 09:59

True, they are often used by pub and restaurant sites and there is nothing finer than a totally pointless Flash animation to provide you with a picture of the restaurant, a map to it, and a menu and wine/beer list, all of which could have been done in straightforward HTML and would be easier to keep updated if it were, to say nothing of being able to bookmark specific pages and use the back browser button properly.

Chris 13-Oct-2008 22:20

Yes, I dislike websites where a flash intro has no skip so you have to sit through the lame animation rubbish. Even more so a website that is entirely in Flash, here is a good example: http://www.condorcycles.com/. Enough to put you off buying a Condor cycle.

Northernlad and Demi, Flashblock is not a plug-in. A plug-in is a third-party program with an arms-length relationship with the browser application. Plug-ins are listed by typing about:plugins in the Location bar. You will not find Flashblock anywhere in about:plugins.

Flashblock is an extension, which means it changes the behaviour of the browser itself. Extensions are integrated into the browser application in a way that plug-ins are not; for example, by adding options to the Edit -> Preferences or Tools menus of the browser.

Phil 11-Oct-2008 05:55

Oops, forgot the URL:

http://www.seamonkey-project.org/

Did I mention I agree with your gripe? :-)

Phil 11-Oct-2008 05:43

Oh and I don't use Firefox either, I use Mozilla SeaMonkey which is the original browser application from which Firefox is derived. I prefer SeaMonkey because it is more controllable and it doesn't have the annoying compiled-in Google default home page.

Phil 11-Oct-2008 05:41

Yep, totally agree, that's why I:

http://flashblock.mozdev.org/

Phil 11-Oct-2008 05:38

Demi, this place is for whining and I don't want to use Firefox thanks. By the way, why do you have to wish for some plugin with Firefox, can't you just install it like you would with any other browser?

Northern Lad 09-Oct-2008 16:30

Use firefox wish the flashblock plugin and quit whining :)

Demi 09-Oct-2008 13:37

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who's fed up with the signal to noise ratio with these Flash Websites. I thought that was the whole reason behind the Internet, to make information available to everyone who needs it, quickly and without hindrance. Some flash sites are unobtrusive but the majority of them are just gimmicky.

Northern Lad 08-Oct-2008 01:16

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