From: Rich <rich@...>
Date: 2003-02-07T06:35:41+09:00
Subject: Re: locana, SVG, cross-platform GUI meanderings...

> > >
> > >http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG12/#xml-integration
> > >suggests that forms and widgets are on the agenda for SVG, as are
> > >events.  Is Flash an open standard?
> >
> > No.  And I know that folks on the Linux side of things tend to hate
Flash
> > and therefore avoid it.
>
> <sigh> I have mixed feelings. It may not be an open
> standard, but it's widespread and so on. It's in the
> same league IMO with PDF and Postscript and (to a
> lesser extent) RTF.
>
> Besides the fact it's not open, is there any other
> reason Linux people hate Flash? My friend hates it,
> but he hates *LOTS* of things. :)
>
> Hal

I wonder sometimes if 'linux' users 'hate' anything that comes from a
company. Oh well... to each his own.

I'd be interested in a list of what's wrong with Flash... most of the lists
people have were erased with Flash MX.

I might be wrong... I'm not sure what you mean when you say - open...

Since it's clearly available...
http://openswf.org/
http://openswf.org/about.html
http://openswf.org/spec.html
http://www.flashkit.com/board/forumdisplay.php?forumid=23

... and there are no fees...
Is a licensing fee required for access to the Macromedia Flash file format
(SWF)?

  No fees are required for access to the Macromedia Flash file format (SWF)
or for the creation of products based on the SWF format. SWF files can be
created with many leading software packages, including Macromedia's Flash,
FreeHand, Fireworks, and Generator, as well as third-party tools.
(from:
http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/open/licensing/fileformat/faq.html 
)

Maybe you mean that you'd have to pay to make money off of MM's product...
I'd agree with you there. They do have comercial licenses that cost money.

-Rich