Flash and Linux

[Terrell Prude' Jr.]

Nigel Ridley wrote:
>
> Thanks to everyone that replied. There were various suggestions and I 
> eventually disabled the Flash content using Adblock-Plus. I can now 
> browse said website (http://www.lakerda.co.il/) and open multiple tabs 
> without my laptop overheating.
>
> Just to remind folks that the main problem is that Linux and Flash 
> cannot deal with websites that have tons of Flash content. One webpage 
> maybe, but open several tabs in whatever browser and very quickly 
> thing start to get very hot and the processor[s] are maxed out.
> This *does not* happen with WinXP and IE7. I tried the same website at 
> my wifes office and opened multiple tabs from 
> http://www.lakerda.co.il/ and XP didn't even break a sweat. So why 
> can't Linux handle Flash content in the same manner? Is it Linux or 
> the Linux version of Flash? Either way it's not very acceptable to 
> have to install an add-on just so that we Linux users can browse 
> certain websites and have multiple tabs open.

I agree that there's a problem, but this is emphatically not "Linux's" 
fault.  The problem is that Flash is a proprietary format and Adobe 
keeps the wraps on said format.  Adobe's Flash plug-in for Linux has 
always been buggy and problematic.  The K12LTSP/K12Linux mailing list 
has had more than one thread regarding this exact issue.

The Gnash folks are working hard to try to reverse-engineer the 
Flash/Shockwave formats, but reverse-engineering proprietary formats 
takes a Herculean effort, as both the OpenOffice.org and Samba teams 
will tell you.

>
> The problem is *not* the webmasters of these sites - why shouldn't 
> they try to earn more income from [annoying pesky] Flash adverts? If 
> it works flawlessly on Windows then it proves that it does work and 
> they can keep earning their 'click-throughs'.

Yes, it *is*, at least partly, the Webmasters of these sites.  They are 
using a proprietary format.  It's like when they were using .GIF's when 
Unisys was threatening patent lawsuits; some moved over to .PNG, others 
chose to be lazy and pay Unisys's extortion fees.

>
> I also want to be able to browse websites without *having to* use 
> blocking software. I actually want to see relative adverts - it helps 
> me to be better informed about other products that might be better 
> suited to my needs. As a point in case I have been searching for 'the 
> ultimate fishing lure'. I don't have money to waste and these thing 
> don't come cheap, so what's wrong with being able to see, and click 
> on, ads that will help me with my choosing a suitable product?
> If it works flawlessly on that other OS, then I don't see why it can't 
> work flawlessly on Linux!

I understand your frustration.  As I see it, you have a few choices.

1.)  Talk to Adobe.  They're the ones who make the Flash plug-in that 
you're using.  Maybe they'll choose to help you.
2.)  Uninstall the damned buggy Adobe Flash plug-in and keep steppin'.  
I don't use Flash at all, and the Web works great for me.  Yes, on 
Linux.  :)
3.)  Choose another operating system.  You keep mentioning, "it works 
with Windows and IE," so maybe that's what you really want (good luck w/ 
viruses and worms, though!).
4.)  Join in the reverse-engineering effort for these proprietary 
formats.  They can use all the help they can get.  Just Google for 
"gnash", and that should get you there.

>
> Give me some contact links/addresses for the Linux Flash devs (I did 
> Google but came up empty) and I will write and try to do my community 
> bit....


That would be Adobe, Inc.  Their phone number (from their Web site) is 
800-833-6687.

--TP