Jan 9, 2013

NO FLASH on my iPad! Not a problem - there is a simple solution:

Although "Apple Portables" (iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.) are losing market share by the millions to Droid and other "open source" products (example - tablets: Apple had 84% in 2010, 63% in 2012 and projected to be less than 50% in two more years), Cole WebMarketing is often asked: how do I play Flash files, which are used on millions of websites?   There is a simple solution - perhaps the most common is to use a different browser, rather than the default Safari browser that comes with all Apple Portables.


ANSWER: the fact is Flash animations are very widely used, and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future and many Apple users are justifiably irritated by its absence. Fortunately there are workarounds and one of the simplest is to use a browser called Puffin, free from the App Store.

source: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-get-flash-on-your-ipad-2012-10#ixzz2HVyEbKPr

ALTERNATIVES - PART 1 of 2: The iPad Flash battle has intensified due to the fact that Google's Chrome Browser will integrate Adobe Flash Player.

In what could be seen as a dig at Steve Jobs and the iPad, Google made a point of noting that Adobe Flash Player is “the most widely used web browser plug-in”, in its blog post announcing that Google Chrome will come with Flash built in. The first version of the Google Chrome browser with Flash Player is a developer build which is available now.

Google says the Chrome OS will feature Flash Player integration which means Google Chrome OS tablet devices will have one up on the iPad.

Google Chrome and Google Chrome OS will automatically receive the latest version of Flash Player meaning users will not have to remember to install plug-in updates themselves. Google Chrome will also extend the “sandbox” feature which separates individual processes to Flash content to strengthen security.

The reign of Flash as the dominant web video standard could be prolonged if Google Chrome OS tablets like the Asus tablets we heard about this morning take off.
source:  http://www.electricpig.co.uk/2010/03/31/ipad-flash-battle-continues-google-chrome-os-will-have-flash-built-in/index.html

ALTERNATIVES - PART 2 of 2:
Did you know that your iPad can actually play back Flash-based eLearning courses and presentations? Even though the native support of Flash is not provided on iPads and iPhones, there is more than one way to use either of the devices to share your Flash projects. Check out the workarounds below.

Flash Web Browser for iPad

The "Flash Friendly" browsers below are ranked according to their overall usability and functionality:

Puffin
Puffin browser stands at the top of this group in terms of both usability and affordability. Available free of charge at AppStore, Puffin promptly handles Flash projects including audio, video, interactivity, and quizzes. All QuizMaker question categories are supported, including type-in and drag-and-drop questions. Drag-and-drop is performed with a two-finger tap on a touchpad emulator. The playback of large video and audio files can be rather slow. English is the only supported language for type-in questions.


Appsverse Photon
The Photon browser allows switching between Flash browsing mode and a faster non-Flash mode. This browser provides the smoothest video playback in the group. It also supports interactivity, and fairly supports quizzes and iSpring Kinetics interactions. Drag-and-drop is performed with a finger tap.

Despite smooth video playback, all interactions are performed quite slowly in the browser. Unless you are viewing a large Flash project, switching between two modes can be inconvenient. English is the only supported language for type-in questions as well.

iSwifter
This Flash web browser handles audio and video narrations and project's interactive items as well. It also has the drag-and-drop feature, performed with a finger tap. iSwifter offers a 10-minute free trial session for 7 days and then has to be purchased at AppStore for $4.99.

iSwifter's reaction to your actions is performed with lags. The browser often has issues and errors while displaying the web page. It also doesn't support non-English languages. The browser can only be used on iPads.

Cloud Browse
CloudBrowse has the familiar interface of a desktop browser. Browser's reaction to clicks is quite smooth. It also supports video, audio, interactivity and drag-and-drop. If you purchase the basic CloudBrowse app for $2.99, they provide a free 24-hour trial of their unlimited subscription.

CloudBrowse doesn't adapt a web page to fit the screen of your device. If the web page is too wide to fit the screen, you will have to move it to view the contents. Presentations are played with a low frame rate, which results in slower animations and video playback. Drag-and-drop is performed with a two-finger tap, which may be inconvenient for dragging small items. Small objects can be magnified, but is becomes impossible to drop them beyond the magnified area.

Remote Desktop
The remote desktop applications provide alternative approach to playing Flash on iPads. In this case, the support of Flash is ensured by your computer, which you remotely access from your iPad. This method is especially effective if you are making a live presentation using iPad, as it gives you the full control over your Flash project.


TeamViewer
To access your computer's desktop from your iPad, you need to install TeamViewer on both devices. You can establish the connection between the devices and enjoy presenting with your iPad. Since your Flash project is played by the computer and not your iPad, all effects and functions of the Flash format are perfectly supported. As another advantage, TeamViewer software is available free of charge for non-commercial purposes.

The Remote Desktop presenting method involves access to your personal computer from an iPad. That's why it can only be used if you are presenting in person or share your project with someone you trust. It is neither convenient, nor safe to use TeamViewer for public delivery.

Summary
While none of these approaches provides the perfect support of Flash on iPad, getting your Flash presentation or course work on your iPad or iPhone is really possible. Which way of playing Flash on iPad is better - depends fully on your requirements. If you are giving a live presentation or showing your Flash project to a small number of people, you should probably go for the remote desktop delivery. In the case of making your content available publicly including viewing via iPad, you'd better choose one of the web-browsers. You can use this review to choose the most suitable Flash web browser for iPad, depending on the content you have.

source:
http://www.ispringsolutions.com/articles/can-i-play-flash-on-ipad-yes.html

Cole WebMarketing is a Charlotte, NC based corporation, has been helping small-medium sized businesses manage their web presence since 1999.  Primary services include: website design, website developement, website maintenance, social media marketing consulting, website photography, website video shoot & production, and other internet marketing related services. 
To learn more, visit www.ColeWebMarketing.com and then call 704-456-WEB1 (9321).