Out there in the WWW there are thousands sites using flash for their needs. But the majority sites are not in this list. Let's summaries some facts about flash using on YOUR web site and after that it's you who will have to decide: to use or not to use. There are some facts about Macromedia Flash Technology:
The First Fact:
Sites are look much prettier and professional with the flash animation on their pages. Users sometimes visit sites only to see flash intros if it's done in some original manner.
The Second Fact:
Flash Source Scripts cannot be stolen unlike Java Scripts or HTML code. Flash files come in "two" pieces: files with .fla extension are the actual source and .swf files are compiled version of these files. In browsers you can see only .swf files.
The Third Fact:
Flash animation files are slow to download and require flash player plug-in . Regular static graphic requires less time to download. In a couple of years when the problem of dial-up connection may be solved and fast DSL lines will be cheap and available for anyone this problem may seem not so serious, but so far we must consider this aspect, as not all users are eager to wait for a minute or two to see your flash intro. That's one of the main reason flash is not popular on the big corporate sites (but Yahoo for example displays flash advertisements on their pages)
The Fourth Fact:
Not all browser compatible with flash players. The old versions of MS Explorer and Netscape Navigator cannot display flash movies. There is a solution however: to use Java Script to check the compatibility of browser and display the static image if the player is not available for that browser. Well there is some issuer still left with browsers who cannot understand Java Scripts but there are few people who use those browsers today?but there are some?and you must keep that in mind.
The Fifth Fact:
As you may notice we used on our web page http://www.metamorphozis.com flash header. Why? The reason was simple and that is the fact number five: flash movies are cashed in special browser folder and second time you access it you don't need to wait. Flash movie will be displayed from the cache folder. Image files are also stored in browsercache and may be reused if you keep the file names and path to images the same. But we selected flash due to several technical reasons related to our needs. So we did it to reduce our page loading time. See how contradictorily it sounds with the third fact?:-) The problem is that it requires a lot of time to download but only for the first time! If you could make visitors wait that time then you will benefit from having flash header as it always there and does not need to be loaded each time you go to the other page.
The Sixth Fact:
Search engines do not like flash pages, as it makes almost impossible to crawl them. They can not crawl links on your web page and can not index your website content if it is in flash. In html you can insert flash only as object.
As you may see flash has number of advantages and disadvantages. No matter what you think about flash but it is the future of the Internet. If you cannot admit this and stay away tomorrow you will regret you did it. Just consider the flash usage on your web site. Remember! Be reasonable in design and flash usage and you'll be o.k.
About the Author:
Oleg Lazarenko
Production Manager of
Metamorphosis Web Design Studio ?
http://www.metamorphozis.com
http://www.metamorphozis.com
Everything you say and do says something about you. This... Read More
A question we frequently get asked is, "how do we... Read More
The first step to starting any Internet business is conducting... Read More
10 Ways Web Site Text Can Impact Your Reader's Buying... Read More
You just created a new web site but want to... Read More
Many Internet sites that try to sell you something have... Read More
Let's face it. Building a web site that browses consistently... Read More
ASP.NET is a new programming framework from Microsoft for developing... Read More
The most popular method to build webpages today is to... Read More
From my personal experience of around two year as home... Read More
7. Create high quality content - make clear points with... Read More
New Web sites are springing up online by the millions.... Read More
There's no doubt about it - the first page your... Read More
Have you heard of 'Babel Fish'?It's a service provided by... Read More
Reading on the web is different than reading in all... Read More
Last Thursday afternoon I was working on a garage door... Read More
Just about every list of the "Top 10 Web Design... Read More
If you are one of those who wonder how people... Read More
A search for "web design" on Google returns more than... Read More
Favorite icon appears to the left of your link in... Read More
A "template" is simply a design format which you can... Read More
Are you looking to create the perfect website? A complete... Read More
A successful website is something that everyone venturing into the... Read More
Web sites that feature products ? especially furniture or other... Read More
There are six important characteristics that can play a major... Read More
non-toxic cleaning company Arlington Heights ..This article may come as a surprise to you.Especially since... Read More
Content is king. Without content your website is an empty... Read More
Most web designers and web design companies will try to... Read More
10 Ways Web Site Text Can Impact Your Reader's Buying... Read More
As a graphic designer, you are sitting on a gold... Read More
Persons engaged in website design, here's a scoop for you!... Read More
Regardless whether you manage a small business, charitable organization, or... Read More
So your web site's online and you've got high rankings... Read More
You've thought about it and you're ready to go. You're... Read More
FACT: 30 to 60% of visitors tend to drop off... Read More
Imagine spinning someone around so profoundly and for so long... Read More
Once, I attempted to create a favicon (the little graphic... Read More
About two years ago, I had a go at commercial... Read More
Color is everywhere and conveys a message even if we... Read More
The most popular method to build webpages today is to... Read More
Read the title of this article over a couple of... Read More
Everyday we hear that another company goes out of business.When... Read More
One visit does not make a sale. Be sure to... Read More
As a webmaster you already know how important it is... Read More
Before you start worrying about marketing your website on the... Read More
We've all seen and read product testimonials. They're a very... Read More
Whether you're giving a critical sales presentation to a client,... Read More
CNN.com's designers have gone out of their way to make... Read More
If your are a new web designer, you may face... Read More
A picture is worth a thousand words.And it still is... Read More
Web Design |