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Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

venturebeat.com

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Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#11

Post by username223 »

akersten wrote: post #4

Shame that I automatically convert all ads to nonexistance. It's too little, too late for rich media/content-heavy ads. Especially in the mobile sector: * Ads are a performance burden on low-power devices * They consume extra battery; power is wasted on superfluous cruft * Bandwidth wasted; especially a concern given draconian data caps * Tracking and privacy concerns Not to mention the fact that ads are a primary at…

Ugh. Blocking or not installing Flash used to be an easy way to avoid the most annoying ads. Now I need to figure out some mixture of request-blocking and CSS element-hiding to make them go away. And CSS hiding doesn't address the fact that most of the bandwidth I buy on a cell carries content I don't want: a 1000-word article is maybe 5k of text, but how many megabytes of ads and Javascript garbage? Nor does it prevent the tracking.

Simple, tasteful, first-party ads would make the world a much better place, but sadly, I don't think that's the direction we're heading.

Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#13

Post by jevinskie »

akersten wrote: post #4

Shame that I automatically convert all ads to nonexistance. It's too little, too late for rich media/content-heavy ads. Especially in the mobile sector: * Ads are a performance burden on low-power devices * They consume extra battery; power is wasted on superfluous cruft * Bandwidth wasted; especially a concern given draconian data caps * Tracking and privacy concerns Not to mention the fact that ads are a primary at…

Also, on my iPad, I find that many websites (news sites are the worst offenders) keep messing with my "tap to zoom on the main column of text" action. That is, my zoom setting is reset several seconds after the main content is displayed. I have a hunch that it is, in a large part, due to ad networks loading long after the main content has loaded and forcing a reflow of the page.

Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#15

Post by marquis »

Igglyboo wrote: post #10
marquis wrote: post #7

I run the flash blocker extension in Chrome. So I expect, the next extension I'll be running is a tag blocker with an option to enable on demand. (edit: known as "click to play" mode)

Or just use an adblocker and you don't have to worry what format the ads are in.

Adblockers don't catch everything, and also on some sites I am happy to support via Ads but I cannot stand being interrupted with auto-play video. I've really enjoyed the complete silence from ads in Flash format and am not looking forward to a repeat of the early 2000s.

Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#16

Post by evincarofautumn »

melling wrote: post #5
vitno wrote: post #3

why swiffy? Why not use Shumway? Is this just a case of "Not invented here" syndrome?

Looks like Swiffy was started first. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Swiffy http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shumway_(software)

And I think Spaceport (now defunct) was started even earlier than that. Shame Google didn’t acquire it.

Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#17

Post by itsjareds »

vitno wrote: post #3

why swiffy? Why not use Shumway? Is this just a case of "Not invented here" syndrome?

On a related note: can someone explain the advantages of Swiffy over Shumway? Upon first glance, it looks like Shumway has the ability to translate Actionscript to Javascript and the Flash visual elements to HTML5 elements. Whereas with Swiffy, the SWF is just converted to what's basically an animated SVG. What would make Swiffy more attractive for Google to use over Shumway if Shumway seems to be a more complete solution?

Re: Google now automatically converts Flash ads to HTML5

#19

Post by Zirro »

higherpurpose wrote: post #9
drzaiusapelord wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>They consume extra battery; I find it fascinating that Google is always hurting their own mobile experience. Between all the issues android has with wake locks and memory leaks and the massive infrastructure of location and 'lifestyle' tracking for ad delivery, its a miracle Android devices get any battery life at all. Even without this html5 conversion, Android battery life often pales compared to iOS or Windows Ph…

Aren't most iOS apps ad-based, too?

Not most of them, in my experience. Most seem to rely on the initial purchase price only, and many of those that used to have ads have switched to in-app purchases.

While I could not tell you for sure why this is, several statistics indicate that iOS users have more money to spend and piracy is much less frequent. Ads also have a tendency to disrupt the "experience" of using an app which may be more discouraged on Apple platforms.

With that said, there are also many apps which make no attempts at monetization at all.

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