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發布更新，網絡瀏覽器將不再支持該技術。Flash曾經是人們觀看視頻片段和玩在線游戲時最常用的播放技術之一，但也因為存在安全性而飽受質疑。近年來，Flash的許多功能都已經被競爭對手HTML5技術所取代。而HTML5的好處之一是，它可以在網頁上提供多媒體內容，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曾經是人們觀看視頻片段和玩在線游戲時最常用的播放技術之一。

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，Flash的許多功能都已經被競爭對手HTML5技術所取代。

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，它可以在網頁上提供多媒體內容，而不需要用戶安裝和更新專用插件。

Decline and fall
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。已故蘋果公司聯合創始人史蒂夫?喬布斯曾經寫過一封關于Flash缺陷的公開信，強調對其可靠性、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的產品開發副總裁戈文德?巴拉克里欽南表示，公司已經選擇關閉Flash，因為HTML5等其他技術“已經足夠成熟，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：“在互聯網時代，很少有技術能產生如此深遠而積極的影響。”

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."
應用程序開發者馬爾科姆?巴克利曾參與Flash的早期開發，他告訴BBC：“Flash滿足了人們的短期需求，但它沒有預見移動設備革命已經到來，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年收購了Macromedia從而獲得Flash技術。這項技術當時被應用于98%的個人電腦上。

But on Chrome, now the most popular web browser, Flash's usage has fallen off dramatically.
但在現下最流行的網頁瀏覽器Chrome上，Flash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%.
據谷歌稱，2014年80%的桌面用戶每天使用Flash播放器，而目前的數據只有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，各個網站正在轉向開放網絡技術，這些技術與Flash相比速度更快也更節能，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?！?/p>

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，它們仍將致力于為Flash提供支持直到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