Adobe Systems公司近日表示，計劃在2020年底淘汰Flash播放器插件。2020年過后，Adobe將停止為Flash發(fā)布更新，網(wǎng)絡瀏覽器將不再支持該技術(shù)。Flash曾經(jīng)是人們觀看視頻片段和玩在線游戲時最常用的播放技術(shù)之一，但也因為存在安全性而飽受質(zhì)疑。近年來，F(xiàn)lash的許多功能都已經(jīng)被競爭對手HTML5技術(shù)所取代。而HTML5的好處之一是，它可以在網(wǎng)頁上提供多媒體內(nèi)容，而不需要用戶安裝和更新專用插件。

Adobe Systems has said that it plans to phase out its Flash Player plug-in by the end of 2020.
Adobe Systems公司表示，計劃在2020年底前逐步淘汰Flash播放器插件。

The technology was once one of the most widely used ways for people to watch video clips and play games online.
Flash曾經(jīng)是人們觀看視頻片段和玩在線游戲時最常用的播放技術(shù)之一。

But it also attracted much criticism, particularly as flaws in its code meant it became a popular way for hackers to infect computers.
但該項技術(shù)也受到許多批評，特別是代碼缺陷讓它成為黑客入侵計算機的普遍方式。

In recent years, much of its functionality has been offered by the rival HTML5 technology.
近年來，F(xiàn)lash的許多功能都已經(jīng)被競爭對手HTML5技術(shù)所取代。

One of HTML5's benefits is that it can be used to make multimedia content available within webpages without requiring users to install and update a dedicated plug-in.
HTML5的好處之一是，它可以在網(wǎng)頁上提供多媒體內(nèi)容，而不需要用戶安裝和更新專用插件。

衰落與消亡

Apple was one of Flash's most vocal critics. The late Steve Jobs once wrote a public letter about its shortcomings, highlighting concerns about its reliability, security and performance.
蘋果是Flash最強烈的批評者之一。已故蘋果公司聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人史蒂夫?喬布斯曾經(jīng)寫過一封關(guān)于Flash缺陷的公開信，強調(diào)對其可靠性、安全性和性能的擔憂。

The plug-in was never supported by Apple's iOS mobile devices.
這款插件也從未獲得蘋果iOS移動設(shè)備的支持。

Adobe's vice president of product development, Govind Balakrishnan, said the firm had chosen to end Flash because other technologies, such as HTML5, had "matured enough and are capable enough to provide viable alternatives to the Flash player."
Adobe的產(chǎn)品開發(fā)副總裁戈文德?巴拉克里欽南表示，公司已經(jīng)選擇關(guān)閉Flash，因為HTML5等其他技術(shù)“已經(jīng)足夠成熟，完全能夠替代Flash播放器?！?/p>

He added: "Few technologies have had such a profound and positive impact in the internet era."
他補充說：“在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)時代，很少有技術(shù)能產(chǎn)生如此深遠而積極的影響?！?/p>

Apps developer Malcolm Barclay, who had worked on Flash in its early days, told the BBC: "It fulfilled its promise for a while but it never saw the mobile device revolution coming and ultimately that's what killed it."
應用程序開發(fā)者馬爾科姆?巴克利曾參與Flash的早期開發(fā)，他告訴BBC：“Flash滿足了人們的短期需求，但它沒有預見移動設(shè)備革命已經(jīng)到來，因此最終被淘汰?！?/p>

When Adobe acquired Flash in its 2005 purchase of Macromedia, the technology was on more than 98% of personal computers.
Adobe公司2005年收購Macromedia獲得Flash技術(shù)時，超過98%的個人電腦都在使用該技術(shù)。

But on Chrome, now the most popular web browser, Flash's usage has fallen off dramatically.
但在現(xiàn)下最普及的網(wǎng)頁瀏覽器Chrome上，F(xiàn)lash的使用率卻急劇下降。

In 2014 it was used each day by 80% of desktop users, according to Google. The current figure is just 17%.
據(jù)谷歌稱，2014年80%的桌面用戶每天使用Flash播放器，而目前只有17%。

"This trend reveals that sites are migrating to open-web technologies, which are faster and more power-efficient than Flash," Google added. "They're also more secure."
谷歌補充說：“這種趨勢表明，各個網(wǎng)站正在轉(zhuǎn)向開放網(wǎng)絡技術(shù)，這些技術(shù)與Flash相比速度更快也更節(jié)能，而且還更加安全?！?/p>

Google phased out full support for Flash software at the end of last year.
去年年底，谷歌徹底停止對Flash軟件的全面支持。

Mr Balakrishnan said it did not expect the demise of Flash to affect profits at Adobe.
巴拉克里欽南不認為Flash的消亡會影響Adobe的利潤。

"We think the opportunity for Adobe is greater in a post-Flash world," he said.
他說：“我們認為Adobe在后Flash時代的機遇更好。”

But the firm added that it remained committed to support Flash up until the end of 2020 "as customers and partners put their migration plans into place".
但該公司補充說，他們對Flash的技術(shù)支持將持續(xù)到2020年底，“這期間客戶和合作伙伴會將他們的更替計劃落實到位”。

英文來源：BBC
翻譯：王雅鈺（實習生）
編審：yaning 董靜