Right from their launch, the video viewing software Flash (made by Adobe) hasn’t been available on any mobile Apple device – neither the iPhone nor the iPad. In fact, Flash isn’t available on any mobile phone at the moment. Being the current leader in the mobile space, Apple has been the centre of attention during a debate between Apple, Microsoft and Google fans, including a more pointed debate amongst developers working on devices for one or all three of those mobile phone makes. This week, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs issued a statement clearly delineating why Apple has not yet implemented Flash. Given the attacks and misinformation rife in the debates, this was an opportunity for Apple to clarify its position – something which I believe was effectively achieved through Jobs’ statement. This puts Adobe in the awkward position of defending its aging and poorly performing platform. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen quickly arranged an interview with the Wall Street Journal to respond to Jobs’ letter, however was only able to suggest simply that he disagreed with Jobs and that consumers will decide. Unfortunately for Adobe, consumers are deciding – in droves – as they buy millions of iPhones and iPads and developers continue to move away from Flash and towards others like HTML5 and open standards. By failing to provide a more detailed response, addressing Jobs’s technical accusations, Flash has basically affirmed Jobs’ claims.
1 comments:
Just a few comments -
1. Flash is not just video viewing software. That is one application of it - You're iPhone isn't just for storing phone numbers.
2. Flash Lite is available on Nokia phones and there are hundreds of apps available for it. Last I checked Nokia's were mobile phones
3. Standards are great. HTML5 sounds very cool. ONCE it's fully formed and released. Even then there is no guarantee that all the browsers (web and mobile) will support it. Web design 101 - Browsers don't render HTML the same .
4. Flash looks the same no matter where you run it. Look into the Open Screen Project.
5. I am a developer and I will not be running from Flash any time soon. Consumers are typically not aware that Flash doesn't work with iPhone/iPad. Until their kids go to Lego.com to try and play the games there (all done in Flash)
6. Being a Social Media Integration expert you would know that pretty much every major game on Facebook is built using Flash. Be nice to play Farmville on your iPhone wouldn't it?
7. Flash is a very robust and mature program that allows for amazing things to take place online. Look at the examples of Augmemented Reality and Papervision3D - truly amazing and immersive experiences have been created with those Flash-based technologies and while some will say that Flash intros and mouse trailing effects are overdone and that Flash is the new "Comic Sans". Others would say that jumping on Steve's band wagon against it is too.
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