iPad and Flash Player/Silverlight

[flemishgael]

Hi all, I'm thinking of buying an iPad2 or 3 in July but my only concern is that it doesn't allow Flash Player or Silverlight content as a lot of websites I would use run either one of those. Is there any way of still being able to view those websites? If so, my preference is very much for the iPad instead of any other tablet.

 

[r.j.s]

Only if they have alternate ways of displaying content, i.e. HTML5.

 

[Eddy Munn]

Majority of websites with video have seamless HTML5 versions that run on the normal website.

 

[SteveAbootman]

Natively using mobile safari you're outta luck.

You could use an RDP app to connect back to your local PC and view the sites that way however. Splashtop Remote has worked okay for me in this regard. Lets me watch Hulu and is of acceptable quality.

 

[flemishgael]

Only if they have alternate ways of displaying content, i.e. HTML5.

Oooh, that's not good to be honest.
Not too many websites are using HTML5 yet.
Let's hope this will change or that we will see iPads being able to see Flash Player content though I doubt it as it doesn't fit into Apple's iPad vision.

 

[flemishgael]

I have an ipad for some years now. The fact that they do not support flash is a real shame. A lot of sites run flash.
It will not change with the ipad3.
greetz internetfavs.com

I know it won't change on iPad 3
It's against Apple's vision to support it I suppose.
I will still get me the iPad but it's something to think about though.
I was going to get my mum one so she won't have to drag the laptop downstairs. But she uses a lot of websites again that use flash and not uses the laptop for much else (hence I think an iPad would be better than a laptop) but it's a shame she won't be able to see quite a few websites anymore.
It's almost a reason for me to buy an iPad for me but another tablet for my mum.
Have to think about this.

 

[Eddy Munn]

Oooh, that's not good to be honest.
Not too many websites are using HTML5 yet.
Let's hope this will change or that we will see iPads being able to see Flash Player content though I doubt it as it doesn't fit into Apple's iPad vision.

Flash and Silverlight use is rather minimal now apart from video or audio, where an HTML5 version will probably be present, seamlessly when browsing on the iPad.
More complicated applications in Flash or Silverlight may have native apps that run on the iPad.

 

[porcupine8]

This is the most persistent myth about the iPad. There are several browsers now that support Flash.

http://heyheyipadblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/yes-virginia-there-is-flash-on-ipad.html

And honestly, a lot more use HTML5 than you might think.

 

[Peace]

Microsoft is doing away with Silverlight anyway.

And Flash is on it's last leg.

HTML5 is becoming the standard.

 

[flemishgael]

This is the most persistent myth about the iPad. There are several browsers now that support Flash.

http://heyheyipadblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/yes-virginia-there-is-flash-on-ipad.html

And honestly, a lot more use HTML5 than you might think.

Thanks that was very useful.

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Thanks guys! You're replies have certainly put my worries to rest.

 

[Lara F]

Thanks that was very useful.

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Thanks guys! You're replies have certainly put my worries to rest.

For Silverlight your only option is to connect to your computer via an app like Splashtop Remote. It's easy enough to set up and should work fine if your internet connection's good, but I've yet to use it remotely (only at home).

I wasn't satisfied with the quality of Flash videos using some of the alternate browsers, but I recently tried out the new OnLive subscription and it's the best I've found (again, caveat being I only tried it at home with a solid connection). If that's not an option, I'd probably recommend trying Photon first out of the available alt browsers.

I can update after I've gone someplace with wifi and compared remote connections.

 

[TriJetHero]

Puffin webbrowser support flash content

 

[keyboard guy]

slow last leg guys

Microsoft is doing away with Silverlight anyway.

And Flash is on it's last leg.

HTML5 is becoming the standard.

Yeah but 'is becoming the standard' is no help in the present. Now, Photon is great for watching flash on ipad etc. Remember we kept hearing flash was on the way out years ago, and yet somebody forgot to tell Hulu and the catch up TV channels I like to watch and all the other content that says 'you need flash to watch...' so thank god for Photon.
So until everone's on the same happy HTML5 page, let's not pretend all's well in our beloved Apple orchard [bmused grin] btw, what's the best option NOW for Silverlight on Mac?

 

[yashrg]

Try the iswifter browser.

 

[mattkilla420]

What websites do you normaly go to? I was worried but in the short time I've had my iPad 2 I haven't had a problem as in the websites that have video are converted to html5 99% of the time for me.

 

[FastEddiebags]

I tried Photon and it worked, but it takes so long to load the shows.