RE: FLASH: Mac Flash detection: restart required?

[Mats Persson]

Hi, Gregg,


I've used the self-detecting version before to great success

(www.networkphotographers.com) because I was forced to provide IE 4.5

support. I've also tried the MM detection script kit as well.

(www.nancyhoney.com) Both seems to work fine.


I'm also trying out the MM UltraDev 4 and the scripts included in its

behaviours palette. The Flash Plug-in detection script there seem to work

OK, at least at this point of time in my current project development work.

(Try UD 4, it's almost as good as F5, it only lacks PHP support :(:(:(   )



Yes, there is something that's superior about the JavaScript detection

scheme.  I can include a tiny script in the actual page with Flash content

that checks if the plug-in is available and if it is loads the page, else it

loads the 'error' page. Now, that still has problems with Mac IE 4 & 4.5

(and Non JavaScript enabled browsers), but to be brutally honest, I don't

want to cater for those anyway because that limits the design of the sites.


Yes, IE 5.0 for the Mac is a 5+ Mb download, BUT it is an improvement to the

web world as a whole, so I would kindly request that anyone with IE 4 or 4.5

upgrade to 5.0 for a better web experience.

(NO ! I'm not paid by M$ or delusional, just much more happy with a

relatively well functioning browser than with a NON-functioning browser like

4.5)



I hope that clarified my point of view without 'ranting' on too much.


Regards,


Mats

matsimediatec [dot] co [dot] uk

-----Original Message-----

From:

ownerchinwag [dot] com

 [

ownerchinwag [dot] com]On">mailto:ownerchinwag [dot] com]On

 Behalf Of Gregg

Caines

Sent: 06 January 2001 17:13

To:

flasherchinwag [dot] com

Subject: Re: FLASH: Mac Flash detection: restart required?



I've been suggesting the self-detecting method for months, but I never hear

other people suggesting it, or using it.  Is there something about the

JavaScript method that makes it superior?


Moock's JavaScript-based  detection doesn't work on IE 4.5 and lower on a

Mac.  In fact, any JavaScript-based detection is impossible in those

browsers.

The only advantage to JavaScript detection that I've seen is that it doesn't

require another page load, but the disadvantages are numerous.  You've got

users that have the plug-in and a browser that can view the site...but your

detection scheme doesn't know it.  You can either force all those users to

upgrade their browser (thereby requiring a 5+MB plug-in called IE5) or you

can change your detection method.  If you're interested, e-mail me off-list,

and I can send you all the info you'd need to make the switch to the

dark-side.

I think I've bored enough people with my rant already.  >:)


(Also: if anyone has a good reason to use JavaScript, I'd be interested in

hearing it. )


---------------------------------------------------

Gregg Caines

n e o m e t r i x  systems inc.

http://www.neometrixsystems.com

gcainesneometrixsystems [dot] com

> They arrived without the Flash plug-in and were sent to a page telling

them

> so, with a link to the Flash plug-in download page. (I'm using Colin

Moock's

> Flash detection script).

>

> Both users clicked the link, downloaded Flash, then returned to my site,

> only to be redirected again again and again to the page telling them they

> didn't have Flash.







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