Flash was Macromedia but it is Adobe now. Brief history:
Flash originated with the application SmartSketch, developed by Jonathan Gay. After developing other graphics software for Silicon Beach Software, Gay created his own company, FutureWave, in 1993. SmartSketch was a drawing application for pen computers running the PenPoint OS, created by Silicon Beach Software.[2][3] When PenPoint failed in the marketplace, SmartSketch was ported to Microsoft Windows and Mac OS. Once the Internet became more popular, SmartSketch was re-named first as CelAnimator, and then as FutureSplash, a vector-based web animation application competing with Macromedia Shockwave. In 1995, SmartSketch was further modified with frame-by-frame animation features and released as FutureSplash Animator on multiple platforms.[4] FutureWave approached Adobe Systems with an offer to sell them FutureSplash in 1995, but Adobe turned them down at that time. FutureSplash was used by Microsoft in its early work with the Internet (MSN), and also by Disney Online for their subscription-based service, Disney's Daily Blast. In 1996, FutureSplash was acquired by Macromedia and released as Flash, contracting "Future" and "Splash". Flash is currently developed and distributed by Adobe Systems, as the result of their 2005 purchase of Macromedia.
My rant about Flash...
Flash is a
wonderful tool on the web and in entertainment when used correctly. It creates unique user-controlled experiences that are
unparalleled by any other creative software.
Smaller minds have demonized Flash as a nuisance that causes unwanted pop-ups, slows down computer speed and runs down battery life.
Those items are true in part, but most of that is propaganda created by Steve Jobs at Apple to inhibit users from downloading free content from the web rather than purchase it from his itunes shop. It's a very smart move on his part, but it's
intellectually dishonest. Many of Apple's Apps are created in Flash and use a different method of output. Flash is not just a plug-in or a video player. Flash is a tool and it's a poor workman who would blame a hammer on a faulty house. Some Flash loads quick, other drains the battery. Muppet Central has had the same Flash scripting for nearly 10 years and it still works well even though many developers predicted its doom at the time I designed it.
Why would any electronics developer or consumer want to exclude the Flash
option in any device? It's easy to install a couple lines of code to
allow the user to toggle it on or off and to warn them before any Flash (or other such element) loads on a page. I don't support Apple or PC. I support the user. Let them decide. One day another plug-in or a future version of HTML will replace the Flash plug-in or even replace its creative software, but there's no need to have users Flintstoning their way through the web for another several years before that happens.
It's the same way with entertainment. Computer animation, Flash and other tools have been used both for better and for worse.
It all depends on the creator and the audience.
My favorite use of Flash creativity is with
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. My least favorite use of Flash has been largely with the Muppets website in how clumsily they embed the streaming video that causes severe stuttering while it loads on at least 1/3 of all Internet connections. It's an easy fix, but not everyone is a good architect. I have hope that their relaunch for the movie will improve things over there.