Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) Seriously Needs To Develop A Flash Free Version

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By Thomas Copeland on November 10, 2014 Social Media

It is quite disturbing when you receive a video from a friend on Facebook- or even see a recording shared by a friend on your newsfeed- but it asks for the up-gradation of your flash player when your try to click on the ‘play’ button in order to watch it.

However, if by chance, you open up the very same post through your cell phone’s browser, it does not ask for Adobe Flash Player software. The same is true with every other social website’s mobile app.

What is even more astonishing is the fact that you can visit the phone site of Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) through your desktop, and it will play the video. The resolution will be a little low though- one that could only fit a mobile’s screen. However, you can watch the very same video at a normal resolution by impersonating a tablet browser.

Where Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) does in a way provide for the solution of Flash Player problem, it nonetheless discriminates between the mobile and desktop versions.

Most of the sites, these days, provide for an alternative solution to the requirement of Adobe Flash Player, but none of them has as split a personality as Facebook

Jessie Baker, the spokesperson, commented that the mobile and web versions of Facebook are quite different. He further mentioned that both the versions were made using different end codes.

However, the tactic of two-fer is not a condition; like USA Today wrote that the design of each website and version was made to suit the needs of varying screen sizes. However, the flash free video can now be seen on the desktop as well by accessing the mobile site or running it on tablets, as the browsers of tablets are often identified as desktop’s ones. A site can choose like that, for the browsers usually get automatic identifications through user agent string. The identification includes version number, name and the system on which the browser operates.

The public is enthusiastically waiting for Facebook to offer a flash free desktop version. Market researchers are of the opinion that the company should quit other projects and start working on this one, for Flash has become outdated. It was 4 years ago when Apple quit bundling its Macs with the Flash. It is important to note here that the Mac users can install Flash for Safari, if they later on want the software.

Currently, Facebook is lagging behind; it does not only ask its desktop users to install the Flash but it also requires its mobile users to get the messenger app.

Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ:FB) needs to do something about this Flash requirement if it wants to stay the best social networking site, for the users would not want to change their gadgets or switch sites just so they could watch a friend’s video. The site should also try to solve the problem of messenger. Mobile users cannot access their messaging options unless they have the blue flash messenger installed in their phones.