RE: FLASH: Re: Opera/alternative browsers

[Jason White]

Matt/redstar,


Pardon me for stepping in mid-stream (and possibly tangenting on this

discussion), but this is a subject of curiosity to me. I have played

with alternative browsers/OS, including iCab on the Mac and even just

NS on Linux and have noticed similar problems to what redstar has

mentioned.


When I tried javascript detection, it worked only consistently with

NS and not with IE. Maybe I didn't use the "standard" one. Have a

reference or sample of the "standard" one?  I resorted to using Flash

to detect Flash in combination with meta refresh tags.


When I used iCab, I went to sites that would detect IE/NS

specifically.  If you weren't using one of those, you got a "sorry we

haven't made a page for you".  This is certainly not on MM's head in

any way...the point is that a lot of 'detection' and browser specific

issues have caused web developers to resort to these techniques.  I'm

sure there's many on this list who have developed two or more versions

of the same site in parallel.  With Linux/NS, there the problems

seemed to be more plug-in & mime type related.


Which brings me to the question...How do alternative browser makers

"align themselves with what the world of web developers do in common

practice for plug-in detection".  What is the common practice?  The

javascript plug-ins array that you mentioned?  From my experience,

there doesn't seem to be a common one.  This is not intened as a

troll...moreso I'm curious as to what is the common practice.  Using

Flash to detect Flash has been the least problematic for me, but maybe

I'll cause problems with other browsers?  Anyone tested that specific

situation?  More info below...


The detection I do is documented here

http://www.moock.org/webdesign/flash/detection/flash4noscript/index.html

(page appears to have been altered since I last visited, but the same

gist), or at least that's where I learned how to do it.


I would be curious if an Opera (or other alternative browser/OS) user

would test 'test' button at this

page...http://bimba.fact.usu.edu/newportfolio/integration/berimbau.html



Thanks,


Jason



Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 12:40:55 -0700

From: "Matt Wobensmith" <

mwobensmithmacromedia [dot] com

>

Subject: RE: FLASH: Re: Opera/alternative browsers


Hi redstar,


Discussing the Opera browser, and MM's lack of support for it...


You wrote:


>Couple this with the

>way nearly 90% of the sites do Flash detection and the end result is

that

>Flash is not Opera friendly.


If you're saying that the standard JavaScript "plugins array"

detection

doesn't work on Opera, then this would be an Opera issue, not a Flash

one,

yes? 


I have not tested Opera, but I would think it's up to the browser

maker to

align themselves with what the world of web developers do in common

practice

for plug-in detection. It would certainly be far more reaching than

just

Flash. Enlighten me if you have more info on how plug-in detection

works

with Opera vs. NN/IE.


>As for the wish-flash email address I would never think of using it

for a

>request of this type.


Well, you should. That is THE best place to get requests in to. I

suppose

there could be other ways to get attention for Opera, but the

wish-flash

address is the best way to have this heard.


(You could always spray paint the front of 600 Townsend - "Opera

rules!!" -

wait, scratch that, I was just kidding.)


>P.S. Do you happen to know the corresponding address for UltraDev ?

Would it

>be wish-UltraDev ? 


I do believe that it is wish-ultradev ... if it doesn't work, let me

know

and I'll find it for you.


Matt



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

Matt Wobensmith

Macromedia Tech Support

Flash Team Lead




"Everything that is wrong with training can be summed up in just four

words...*It's just like school*"

--Roger Schank


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