Battleground Rich Media: the Conflict Between HTML 5 and Flash

4/25/2013

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Drawing a comparison between HTML5 and Flash is like comparing two dissimilar objects, the former being a specification while the latter a software. However, a comparison between these two is not out of place if we take into consideration the ripples that these two technologies have created in the Information Technology sector. HTML5 is the new version of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) which incorporates native support for video and audio, a feature that has threatened the existence of Flash. Adobe Flash, ruling rich media for more than 10 years, has become almost omnipresent in the virtual world. Now, the conflict between HTML5 and Flash revolves around rich media, or even more particularly, streaming video. Let’s introduce these two technologies briefly and then compare them to see how each scores against various parameters.


HTML5 and Flash: a brief introduction
HTML5 is the latest version of HTML, The new HTML5 development platform which comes with a range of new mark-up features. The striking feature of HTML5 is that it is compatible with everything that operated in HTML4, thus ensuring seamless upgrading. The most striking feature of HTML5 is the newly developed media elements, the major cause of worry for Flash. These media elements enable video and audio support without the help of add-ons like the Flash Player.

Adobe Flash is a technology that operates on several platforms like web browsers, electronic gadgets and mobile devices. The technology is rampant over the web and is offered through the Adobe Flash Player. It is specifically used for interactivity, video and animation. All the major browsers have the requisite add-ons to support Flash, making this technology a standard option for producing rich video-based web content.


Comparison between HTML5 and Flash
Embedding Video: HTML 5 ensures sufficient flexibility with its <video> tag. Due to the availability of numerous options in native HTML code, embedding a video on a web page through HTML 5 is quite simple and convenient. Talking about Flash, it is indeed difficult to add a Flash video within a web page using hand coding. Hence, it is clear that the coding process of HTML5 is much simpler. Apart from a complex coding scenario, Flash involves a lot of moving components like the HTML page, the video, the Flash Player, Flash installation files, SWF files and JavaScript file.

Game Development: Performance is a crucial factor to be considered during game development because enthusiastic gamers will simply not tolerate any kinds of lags. When it comes to the gaming market, Flash has 70% of the share, so it’s obvious that HTML5 is yet to catch up. Interestingly, HTML5 was pinpointed by Steve Jobs as the choicest technology for iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone Browsers. So, the tremendous growth in the mobile market indeed implies a positive thrust for HTML5. Although Flash still has considerable monopoly in mobile gaming, it is expected that the game will turn towards HTML5 within half a decade, a phenomenon all the more evident with mobile game manufacturers already using html5 in game creation.


CPU Utilization: Although CPU utilization by Flash is more than that of HTML5 in some operating systems, it has been found that with access to components for hardware acceleration, Flash and HTML5 are on even grounds so far as performance is concerned.


As we compared Flash and HTML5 on parameters like video embedding, game development and CPU utilization, it seems that the outcome of the battle is still to come. It should also be that Flash, developed in 1996, scores higher than HTML5 on grounds of platform maturity. It is true that presently HTML5 is still in its developmental stage, but it can be a serious threat to Flash in the long term. Whatever happens, it is certain that this grueling completion will help the end-users.

We provide HTML5 development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our Expert HTML5 Developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

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Why Selenium Can Be The Testing Tool of Your Choice?

4/24/2013

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The choice of web browser varies from one user to another. But each user loves a quick and flawless user experience. As a user has options to choose from a wide variety of web browsers, the developers often find it a daunting challenge to deliver the best user experience. Also, the constant websites and web applications updates have made it essential for the developers to choose the right web application testing tools.

In comparison to traditional software testing tools, selenium automated testing is much more efficient and effective in identifying and fixing the bugs immediately. Along with the open source toolsets, Selenium offers a set of advanced and robust tools to support rapid GUI test automation development of web-based apps. As the technology is designed using Java Script, it can support most of the popular web browsers and platforms.

Further, a developer can easily avoid changing and testing scripts to ensure that these are working seamlessly on multiple platforms. A professional not familiar with a test scripting language can still use the record or playback tool provided by Selenium to author and execute web application tests. Further, you can deploy the Selenium JavaScript code at a time while running the web application. The code will allows you to interact with it just like normal users.

Based on the nature and type of your web application, you can choose from three distinct variants of the technology like Selenium IDE, Selenium Core and Selenium RC. The variants can also be used individually or in combination to create customized and complete automation suite for your web application. There are also a number of reasons that makes Selenium one of the most powerful open source automation tools.


5 Key Advantages of Using selenium automation tool.

1. Option to Choose from Several Languages: As the automation tool is compatible with several languages, you are not required to change your existing engineering architecture. So you can easily plug Selenium into the existing architecture and avails its benefits. As your organization is developing web apps using a specific language, your team will possess adequate knowledge and technical expertise on a set of tools. You can use your existing IDE and reporting tools, and make it easier for the QA team to test the web application.


2. Run the Same Script on Several Web Browsers: While testing their web applications, developers often have to modify their scripts for individual browser. As Selenium is designed using Java Script, the technology is supported by major web browsers. So you can easily run the tests on different web browsers without putting any extra time and efforts. In addition to saving your time, the technology will further help you in providing improved user experience.


3. Support of Multiple Variants of Selenium: As mentioned earlier, you can use three variants of Selenium in isolation or in combination. Each variant will offer you specific benefits. For example, you can use the Selenium IDE as a Firefox plugin to record and run your test. Similarly, Selenium Grid will help you in optimizing your resources by running and deploying the tests in a clustered environment. So you can easily choose the variant of the technology to reduce the web app testing time.


4. Integration with Other Suites: Sometimes you have to deploy multiple tools of suites to like QMet and Hudson to enhance the user experience. Certain solutions make it easier for developers to sync Selenium with other solutions. You can also create a state of the art test automation infrastructure without investing in the expensive commercial tools available in the market. Further, you can exercise a huge amount of control over testing AJAX web applications, as the suite works alongside with your web application.


5. Avail the Reporting Features of Your Existing Framework: Similar to the languages, Selenium automation tool also works seamlessly in different frameworks. So you can complete the script testing within a reduced period of time by choosing the framework of your choice. At the same time, you can also avail the reporting tools used by the framework to make it easier for your QA team to identify the bugs.


In additions to the above mentioned advantages, Selenium automation tool costs lesser than other commercial tools. So the automation tool can be used by a developer regardless of the design, size and budget of the web application development project.

We provide selenium testing services. If you would like to know about our automated web application testing expertise, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

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