Browser Dark Ages

[TheOriginalFlashDavo]

Ahh, so not open source, and everyone relies on one plugin from one corporation. So, does that mean you're also an advocate that there should only be one browser, Internet Explorer? I mean, it would solve multiple browser versions, no? And we all know how good a corporation is at making sure it's a level and fair playing field for all other corporations, right?

Please don't paint counter arguments given here as "doomsday". I'm just observing what has happened in many, many cases when someone has been so dominant in a market. It ain't doomsday, it's happened.

Anyway, as you said, it ain't gonna happen. So rather than asking for an extreme solution that no one's going to buy, why not attempt to ensure that browsers more and more stick to standards. Nothing you can do about that? Well, the power is in the market, so actually there is. Use a browser that most closely meets standards. Advocate to those that don't that they should.

[Frets]

I love painting doomsday.

Not so open source,,, umm
clue time
We have a forum for open swf.
There are several software vendors that cater to the swf market. I work for one.
There are also server based technologies for developing swf ,,, Ever heard of Ming?

And don't cry it has to be free. You pay for internet access you pay for hardware and if your worth your salt you re invest in yourself and the products you use to provide your clients with the best you have to offer. 2a didn't get to where they are using gimp and notepad. and last time I checked nascar races weren't on tricycles.

[FlashLackey]

Ahh, so not open source, and everyone relies on one plugin from one corporation. So, does that mean you're also an advocate that there should only be one browser, Internet Explorer? I mean, it would solve multiple browser versions, no? And we all know how good a corporation is at making sure it's a level and fair playing field for all other corporations, right?

I'm not an advocate for one browser. Though I'm not an advocate for there having to be more than one and I believe we may be better if there were one.

I do not share your automatic disdain for all things corporate. We wouldn't have computers at all without corporations. Additionally, I believe the monopoly suits (that I read about) against Microsoft were a load of bs.

Please don't paint counter arguments given here as "doomsday". I'm just observing what has happened in many, many cases when someone has been so dominant in a market. It ain't doomsday, it's happened.

I wasn't describing any arguments that I've seen you make. The arguments I had in mind were made elsewhere by others. They basically believe that corporations are automatically bad, like in Spiderman, and that giving them too much control would all but insure that they would abuse their power and nobody would be able to ever do anything about it.

I would agree that monopoly CAN be bad and CAN negatively affect consumers. For instance, the monopoly on the NFL franchise by EA (greedy Canadians! ) has negatively affected the quality of football video games. The government monopoly on education has negatively affected the quality of education in the US. The monopoly on driving matters has created the worst customer service in the history of the world at the DMV.

That said, the technology community and the corporations that presumably would be involved in such a new model have routinely shown open-source efforts. There are many cases where open-source efforts are more beneficial to a company than proprietary ones. I've learned that first hand with my own business. As Frets pointed out, flash has learned that there are great incentives for them to attract to business and innovation with open-source efforts.

So, I don't believe the "corporate worry" argument is really founded on anything but paranoia. If a company were to abuse their position, the market would still be free and it would simply open the door for another company to replace their plug-in. The over-head for such a plug-in is not too prohibitive and the incentive would be too ginormous for a company to swoop in if given the opportunity due to unpopular abuse.

Anyway, as you said, it ain't gonna happen. So rather than asking for an extreme solution that no one's going to buy, why not attempt to ensure that browsers more and more stick to standards. Nothing you can do about that? Well, the power is in the market, so actually there is. Use a browser that most closely meets standards. Advocate to those that don't that they should.

When it comes to technology, I'm an idealist. I don't believe in following trends based on the lowest common denominator. As a business, I must conform to what clients ask for. But, I never like it when I have to down-grade the product due to people being exceptionally behind the learning curve. If the decision is mine, I always choose the best solution available. So, I couldn't bring myself to be another browser basher. It's like attacking tanks with sticks. Rather, I'll stick to what I believe would work and hold out a glimmer of hope.

and last time I checked nascar races weren't on tricycles.

bwahaha

[TheOriginalFlashDavo]

Ahh, so there's open source Flash plugins Frets?

I actually don't have an "automatic disdain" for all things corporate, I can just recognise that a monopoly is never the most ideal option, hence will advocate for other solutions.

And mine is, "just follow standards". I believe it would have FAR less possible risks than a monopoly plugin based platform.

[jAQUAN]

wierdly enough I just come across this little OS project:
http://www.asual.com/swfaddress/

meant to support:
* Mozilla Firefox 1+
* Internet Explorer 6+
* Mozilla 1.8+
* Safari 1.3+
* Camino 1+
* Opera 9.02+
* Netscape 8+

and allows search engine indexing for deeo flash links apparently...

Hahaha I just happened across that too and came here to post it. Does anyone else hear singing?

[jAQUAN]

Ahh, so there's open source Flash plugins Frets?

I actually don't have an "automatic disdain" for all things corporate, I can just recognise that a monopoly is never the most ideal option, hence will advocate for other solutions.

And mine is, "just follow standards". I believe it would have FAR less possible risks than a monopoly plugin based platform.

Except in the case of the web imo. The open source that is <insert mark up language here> will be a messy annoyance as long as there is any difference among browsers. Flash, as a monopoly, just works and it's everywhere.
I think that when you view source you should only see a flash embed tag and that's it.

[admedia]

Does anyone else hear singing?

That's awesome! Thanks for the link 1stbyte.