QuickTime 7.1.3, Flash content, and you (2)
This is an update to my earlier post regarding the sudden decision by Apple to disable by default any Flash content/tracks embedded in a QuickTime movie.
It turns out that Apple's decision is because of "critical vulnerabilities" identified in Flash Player versions 8.0.24.0 and earlier -- this of course includes Flash Player version 5, which is the latest version QuickTime supports as an embedded track. These vulnerabilities suggest that a malicious swf creator could take over an unwitting user's system via the Flash content. (news article: http://digitalproductionbuzz.com/news_cmp.php?newsid=1006 )
QuickTime 7.1.3 not only works around the reported Flash Player vulnerabilities, but also addresses security concerns related to the crafting of other malicious content which can be delivered via QuickTime; such as FlashPix, SGI, H.264, among others.
All that said, I still believe Apple needs to know how many people in our industry this affects, and what a hugely adverse impact this decision can have... This impacts not just all previously created QuickTime content, but any content which you might want to create in the future.
In my case, I have several clients now asking me if delivering in Flash Player isn't a better choice to begin with. I have one project in particular which was ready to "go live" the day of QuickTime's 7.1.3 update; I'm now reworking the entire project, because it relied on three Flash elements. This is a huge time-suck, obviously, and will result not only in my client's project launch being 2 to 3 weeks past deadline, but also in possible lost revenue.
In the end my client will get a working project, which will do everything they need -- but it is very likely that "version 2" of this project will be delivered solely in Flash.
sigh
I urge my gentle readers to file a feature-request-slash-bug-report via Apple's online bug reporter. Please reference my previous post for possible ways of wording your request. The more people who voice their concern, the better -- this is something which affects every one of us who create interactive QuickTime content, both for ourselves and our clients.
It is my hope that rather than continue to basically nullify any QuickTime content which contains Flash elements, Apple thinks about upgrading QuickTime's Flash capabilities to include the latest Flash Player.
Patrick