Big news in the web development world today. Adobe released a statement saying that it has been working with Search Engine engineers and they started to release algorithms that are searching for and indexing content in Flash based web content. Here is a blog post from Google on the matter.
What does this mean?
It means that you are going to start seeing more Flash content features and full-blown websites. Up until now, developers have had to use frames, alternate content and other forms of trickery to get their flash based content indexed in search engines, not anymore.
The iPhone and Mobile dilema
Unfortunately, with the current world-wide push to mobile devices such as the iPhone, which does not currently support Flash, Flash based web content will still need to be used with a caveat that a customer will be segregating their website from mobile users. Developers can still use sniffers and alternate content but, why? The ability to auto-scale Flash on a development level has been out for years. I really hope Apple opens its eyes on this and the issue of mobile TV. Time will tell. Do I even need to mention the issue of forcing customers to use AT&T?
The 3 Year Rule
Typically, engineers and developers are ~3 years ahead of consumers so, my hope is that in the next 3 years, the mobile players realize that we all like really cool websites with VIDEO and FLASH. Plain text might be cool to the WC3 but, consumers want eye candy. Visit the new Diablo 3 website for a recent example of some nicely done flash and video work. That is what I want my internet to be. What do you think?
