Not only has Adobe launched its own HTML5 video player, added HTML5 export tools to Adobe Illustrator and Dreamweaver CS5, but it has now released an experimental Flash to HTML5 conversion tool, codenamed Wallaby, over on Adobe Labs. Wallaby, currently at Prerelease 1, is an AIR application that allows designers and developers to convert Adobe Flash Professional (FLA) files into HTML5 with a simple drag and drop.
Adobe says it is not yet able to commit to a roadmap for the experimental technology since Wallaby is still in the testing and validation phase. That being said, the company really wants you to try it out.
"Adobe invites customers to download this tool, try out the code it generates and provide feedback on how they are using it," an Adobe spokesperson said in a statement. "With more than 3 million Flash developers in the creative community, Adobe continues to look for new ways to help them build on their existing skills and to make their content available to the widest possible audiences. User response to the Wallaby technology preview will enable Adobe to better understand what types of innovations are needed in our long-term investments in both Flash and HTML5 technology."
Back in October 2010, Adobe showed off an impressive demo of the tool. In fact, Adobe says Wallaby is being released on Adobe Labs in response to the tremendous amount of customer interest after it was first demoed.
The tool allows Flash developers to easily reuse graphics, masks, and animations from their Flash projects in an HTML file. This process previously took hours to do by hand. The tool also warns you which elements can't be converted, like animated masks, filters, and ActionScript.
The tool doesn't generate the best markup, but the ability to export your animations out of Flash to HTML, even if the final code needs some clean up, will certainly be appreciated by many developers. Flash isn't going away anytime soon but many will want to move their Flash content to HTML5 so it can run on devices that don't support Adobe's plug-in, including iOS devices like the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.