Yet another nail in Flash's coffin. Amazon-owned live video streaming platform Twitch.TV is dropping Flash in favor of JavaScript and HTML 5.
On Wednesday, July 22, Twitch revealed that it would be transitioning from Flash to HTML 5 and JavaScript. Why? Because the other two are better standards when compared with Flash, which used to rule the roost once upon a time.
Currently, Twitch has only changed the controls to HTML 5, but the video is still in Flash - albeit temporarily.
"Today's redesign moves half of the video player - specifically the controls - from Flash to HTML5 and JavaScript. The video itself is still in Flash underneath the controls. However, this is an important step to releasing the much-anticipated full HTML5 player," wrote the company in a blog post.
Flash has been inundated with problems and vulnerabilities, which make companies question its security (remember the recent zero-day vulnerability). Mozilla, as we reported, recently took the step to block Flash from its Firefox browser by default due to the escalating security concerns.
Twitch's move follows the footsteps of YouTube that also switched the default player from Flash to HTML in January 2015. YouTube, however, cited the adoption of Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) and opted for a flash-less experience where there would be no more annoying plug-ins.
Twitch reveals that one will be able to spot the new player on its channel pages first. The roll out will be a gradual one and those who are not a part of its initial user base need to be patient. Twitch is steadily working on the revamped player, which means no more buggy Flash in the near term.
Twitch will keep users posted on HTML5 updates and asks users to be on the lookout for the new player controls.
