Be Real.

By JD Hillen

There is a lot of hubbub about HTML5 taking over Flash as the “must use” technology for developing interactive web and mobile applications. And like any debate, there are just as many arguments that support the claim as there are to refute it. 

The term HTML5 has been turned into a media buzzword as the magic-bullet solution for cross platform development. Most of the controversy stems from statements made by Apple and more importantly Steve Jobs himself. But good ol’ Steve has hated the Flash platform for as long as it has been around. Why? Because Adobe and Apple are in direct competition with one another. It’s like McDonalds vs. Burger King... Coke vs. Pepsi... Adobe and Apple are no different.

While virtually being blocked from running on Apple’s mobile devices, Adobe has rolled with the punches. Where most companies would have rolled over, Adobe went ahead and created some amazing tools that make cross-browser and cross-mobile development extremely easy and cost effective, all through the Flash platform (Flash Builder 4.5 & Flash CS5.5 both allow you to develop on Flash / Flex / or AIR and then compile your project out for mobile, desktop, and web.) 

In addition to some smart dev tools, Adobe has partnered directly with Google as well as Facebook to bring the best Flash experience possible to the web and mobile devices.  Point is, I don’t think Flash is going away anytime soon.

HTML5 may be the “greatest” according to some, but in reality, it is just another technology like JavaScript, PHP or .NET that can be added to our development arsenal.

As creative technologists, our job is to recognize problems and use the best technology solutions available. HTML 5 might be new, but it doesn’t make Flash defunct or not a valid option for many, many of our projects.

Here are a few links that show HTML5 browser support, Browser usage stats, and Flash Player market penetration.

HTML5 & CSS3 Support - http://bit.ly/qx65NC
Browser Usage Statistics - http://bit.ly/rsq5Hi
Flash Player Market Penetration - http://adobe.ly/rsx1dm

JD Hillen
|Creative Technologist

 

We're constantly interested in how best to engage with customers. After all, it's the main business we're in here. What is advertising but delivering the right message to the right people at the right time? 

So it was with some interest that we recently came across this article by Brian Solis at the Harvard Business Review: "Social Media's Impending Flood of Customer Unlikes"

Brian's main point is that, while companies are attempting to build equity through social media, they are essentially delivering content that falls on deaf ears. Companies are still stuck in the broadcast model: throwing untargeted messages at consumers and expecting a lot of enagement in return. But because one of social media's abilities is to allow a customer to listen only to things that interest them, brands' are increasingly being tuned out and unfollowed.

So, it's up to brands to make sure that their messages are interesting, engaging and most importantly, useful. Research shows pretty consistently that consumers follow brands that give them valuable offers/discounts or in order to make purchases. 

Strategy is the key here. Finding out what a brands' customers want from their social media stream and giving more of it. This can create what social media is ultimately all about, a conversation, and that's the true meaning of engagement.

We hosted the first BR Open this summer. A great way to show off the little-known skills of our people. Sure, they're fantastic creatives, but they've also got some serious game!

We had our ladder tournament and finally we reached the championship match and we crowned our winners!

We love the work our people do and it's great stuff, but there's something about getting everyone together and blowing off some steam, pong-style.