Google chrome set to phase out flash

In a bid to get more developers to adopt HTML5, Google has announced plans to slowly phase out support for Adobe Flash Player in Chrome. The company looks to implement this change by the fourth quarter, after which Flash will come bundled with Chrome but its presence will not be advertised by default.

It will instead promote HTML5 which provides faster load times and consumes less power. So if any website offers an HTML5 experience, it will be made as the default experience. As many sites still use Flash, Google is not completely blocking it, but is nonetheless discouraging it. If a site absolutely cannot work without Flash Player, then Google will prompt its users to run the plug-in for that domain only.

Facebook, Amazon among 10 sites to have flash enabled

Only 10 sites would have Flash enabled by default. These include YouTube, Facebook, Yahoo, VK, Live, Yandex.ru, OK.ru, Twitch.tv, Amazon and Mail.ru. However, exemptions for these websites too is only for a year.

Google further adds, “Chrome will also be adding policy controls so that enterprises will be able to select the appropriate experience for their users, which will include the ability to completely disable the feature.”

Google is also discouraging the download of Flash Player, by trapping links that redirect to the download page. Some sites like Pandora ask the user to download Flash Player by redirecting them to Adobe’s installation page. Once the user clicks on the download link, Chrome will intercept the request, cancel the navigation, and instead present an ‘Allow Flash Player’ yellow infobar on top. This is merely done in an attempt to get the user to rethink before using Flash.