Flash Developers Fear Spectre of Spyware

SomeGuyNamedMike writes "I realize the thought of using Flash and Actionscript is considered beneath many Slashdotters, but here's this piece, anyway: Macromedia is receiving (and answering) a a lot of flack from several blogs over its decision to package Yahoo! Toolbar with its Flash player. Will your company develop Flash content knowing Macromedia is using its runtime as its own marketing piece?"

Comments

Mirrors

[Broke Mirror]

In case it's needed.

http://www.turdhead.com.nyud.net:8090/index.php?p= 53
http://www.hyperology.com.nyud.net:8090/?p=90

Re:Mirrors

[Anonymous Coward]

I agree with his comments. I think you have really hit the nail on the head here. The packaging of the Yahoo toolbar cheapens the software, makes them appear that they have "caved" to the whims of SpyWare and AdWare that breaks so many computers today.

I can't agree with you more, it should be an installer for a player, nothing more. Since Yahoo was packaged with the recent Adobe Suite and especially these flash players -- I find it appalling that something I DON'T WANT is forced on me (shovelware mentioned later on Slashdot in a few /. posts) -- and my trust for Yahoo has fallen significantly.

If Yahoo is persuing ideas like those of all the ad-bots , spyware demons -- is there nothing left sacred ?

With every application I install will I need to fevrently check all consistencies and read every last word of the EULA to check and make SURE that I'm not being raped? It certainly leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.

I've been really pissed that software I BOUGHT installed the F#$@#$ toolbar too (notice it's in the Adobe Acrobat Professional 7 as a "helper" toolbar -- jump in the f*cking creek !!!!!)

Yahoo is getting slimy and bringing down once more respectable companies IMHO.

EarthLink will be doing Flash webmail...

[antdude]

See here.

Re:Open Source Flash Player?

[lasindi]

It is more than time for an open source Flash player...

Anyone know of any?

GPLFlash is a project to develop just such a player.

lasindi

As a pro Flash developer...

[MAdMaxOr]

It seems Flash is going in three directions:

- Flex -- Enterprise Flash based on XML
- Central -- A way for them to use Flash to develop consumer apps
- Classic Flash

Classic Flash is completely hamstrung to prevent it from doing things like writing to your HD, communicating outside the basic arena of your own web site, etc. They are really paranoid about it becoming used for *other people's* spyware/malware.

Now, as far as Flash being spyware itself, they will go as far as the market lets them. If they, like any company, can make money through software add-ons like Yahoo!! toolbar, they will. But it seems unlikely that they will damage their reputation by overstepping, especially when the big money is potentially in Flex, etc.

How do I know?

[codepunk]

So how do I know that they are not going to install
anything else on the system. It does not matter much we banned macromedia's web site at the company as soon as we noticed it started installing yahoo toolbar. 100% loss of all trust, they just got placed in the same ranks as Real and Kazzaa

It's OPTIONAL

[venomkid]

I just installed it. It asked me if I wanted the toolbar. I said no. End of story.

Paranoia.

Re:It's OPTIONAL

[venomkid]

It comes up as a separate install. It asks you if you want to install it. It's not a hidden checkbox or a "custom install" option. It's as obvious as it could possibly be.

Re:Google

[Hatta]

There is an alternative. It's called Scalable Vector Graphics(SVG). It's a W3C recommendation, and adobe already has a free viewer on every important platform.

Re:Open Source Flash Player?

[mad.frog]

If Macromedia provided up to date, accurate specs of the file format, that would help.

http://download.macromedia.com/pub/flash/flash_fil e_format_specification.pdf

Re:Java vs. Flash

[bryanrieger]

Check out Processing http://processing.org and Laszlo http://openlaszlo.org for some 'early' options. Processing is still scripting/programming based and outputs Java applets but is a decent start to a Flash alternative using Java. Laszlo is an XML + Javascript language for creating web applications that currently outputs to swf. There has been talk about publishing to Java and DotNet. Laszlo also has an IDE plug-in for Eclipse. While neither Processing or Laszlo are nowhere near as easy to use for designers as Flash is - they are a start. Problem is programmers are required to make the ide tools for non-programmers to use.

Re:Flash not ADA compliant

[mad.frog]

Actually, Flash content can be made *more* accessible than HTML content when authored properly.

No, really.

http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibili ty /features/flash/faq.html
http://www.macromedia.co m/macromedia/accessibility /

Re:Flash not ADA compliant

[anopres]

Flash apps can be made section 508 compliant. You just need good developers and a bigger pot-o-gold.

Re:Open Source Flash Player?

[mjbkinx]

well, this isn't full blown yet, but it's a good start.

Re:Five shortcomings in the first Flash link:

[Technician]

Fourth, the site uses blind links. I don't know what will happen until I click.

Sixth, some advertisers abuse flash. I removed flash when mousing over a flash banner ad (to reach the URL bar) poped up a new window. No click needed. The same advertiser did the same thing on the right side of the page so I would get new windows if I tried to use the scroll bar. Flash completely lacks end user controls. It has no stop button unless the content provider is nice enough to include one. There is enough abuse of this to keep flash off my machine entirely.