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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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European Union joins FTC in "No Flash iOS" probe

By | August 12, 2010, 1:48am PDT

Summary: Apple’s decision to ban Flash from the iOS platform attracts more legal hassles for the Cupertino giant, according to the New York Times.

Apple’s decision to ban Flash from the iOS platform attracts more legal hassles for the Cupertino giant, according to the New York Post.

According to a source, the European Commission recently joined the FTC probe into whether Apple’s business practices harm competition.

The investigation could last another four to six months, the source said.

Now, I hate Flash with a passion, and personally don’t feel that I really want it on my iOS-powered devices, but I do wonder just how far Apple is willing to go in this battle to keep Flash off iPhones and iPads.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, FTC

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

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RE: European Union joins FTC in
JBDragon 14th Aug 2010
I think if Apple doesn't want FLASH on their products, they have that right. Who doesn't know Flash is not allowed on Apple Products? It didn't stop me from buying a Iphone 4. I really don't miss FLASH on it. If you want FLASH, there's a easy solution, BUY SOMETHING ELSE!!! You have free choice to buy any phone or other device you want. I don't see Steve Jobs forcing anyone to buy a Iphone. It's like Buying a House next to a Airport runway and then complaining about the Noise!!!
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Isn't HTML5 good enough for the EU?
gjafg 12th Aug 2010
The European Union is investigating Apple because it wants to use the coming HTML5 world standard rather than Adobe's proprietary Flash?

Meanwhile, Microsoft's mobile IE browser will have no HTML5, and Microsoft said it has no plans to add HTML5 in the future. Shouldn't Microsoft get whacked with the EU stick for not allowing HTML5, rather than Apple for not allowing Flash?
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Except of course...
wolf_z 12th Aug 2010
@Market Analyst

Microsoft is simply "not supporting" HTML5 *in its own product*. Apple is FORBIDDING a *third party* from putting something on Apple's hardware (after the sale, mind!) that other third parties could then use to create a software market.

See the difference? No? I thought not. Sigh.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
HypnoToad72 Updated - 12th Aug 2010
@wolf_z - well said, thank you.

Their desire in locking down the app store from 3rd party types such as Unity and Flash adds fuel to the fire.

And as I recall, Apple's own putting out a Flash patch that was not only older, but happened to contain a security hole as well didn't help. (From June?) Found links: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/mac-os-x-update-leaves-flash-player-vulnerable-and-confused/8667

http://news.techworld.com/security/3227236/adobe-slams-apple-for-mac-os-x-update-with-wrong-flash-plugin/?olo=rss

Very immature and unprofessional of Apple's part. Even when Microsoft chimed in, Microsoft was more professional in its statements - and unlike Apple, Microsoft has a direct competitor with Silverlight.
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Adobe needs to change it's tune, not Apple
LTV10 12th Aug 2010
I'll bet Apple would allow Flash on the iPad (through their apps store) if Adobe could come up with a lite version that wouldn't suck up RAM and 12 hour battery life. They need to start taking Apple seriously instead of treating their ecosystem as some kind of an afterthought. If this is a way to pressure Adobe to come up with something new instead of sitting on it's fat laurels expecting the rest of the internet to cater to their whims, then that's a good thing. Otherwise they won't be under any pressure to change.

It's common knowledge by now that the iPad doesn't have Flash so if the consumer thinks Flash is that big a deal, then they shouldn't buy an iPad.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
Doctor Demento 12th Aug 2010
@LTV10

It doesn't matter if Flash (allegedly) causes degraded performance, if people want to take that chance and install it anyway they should be allowed to do so, and not prevented from it by Steve 'Shut Up and Do What I Say Because I Know What Is Best For You' Jobs

Apple can even 'recommend' that people not install, but if they want Flash they should be allowed to have it.

Is choice good? Yes
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
LTV10 Updated - 12th Aug 2010
@Demento says...
It doesn't matter if Flash (allegedly) causes degraded performance,

Yes it does matter. If it didn't matter, then it would be allowed and there would be no issue here.

And why should people have to put up with mediocrity from the likes of Adobe, anyway? Why should people settle for less and just muddle through with their buggy garbage without demanding better? Why aren't you calling them to task to build a better product if it means that much to you?

Remember Apple is a closed ecosystem and has been since 1977, so this is nothing new. This isn't something that popped out of the hat when the iPad was first released. It comes with the territory. If you can't deal with that, then stick with the buggy plug-ins (like Adobe) that go along with windoze.

Seriously, with only 9 percent of the desktop market, it's quite easy to avoid their products if you can't deal with the way they market them. That is called choice.

if people want to take that chance and install it anyway they should be allowed to do so, and not prevented from it by Steve 'Shut Up and Do What I Say Because I Know What Is Best For You' Jobs

Hmmm...this sounds more like a personal Steve resentment than anything.

Ya know, if Flash is that important to you, then don't buy anything Apple. Vote with your dollars. Its that simple. Not that I think you'd buy anything from them, anyway.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
green_collar 12th Aug 2010
@LTV10

Flash runs great on my 2007 Motorola Q.

Resource hog = iTunes

HTML 5 is early.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
LTV10 12th Aug 2010
Flash runs great on my 2007 Motorola Q.

Good for you.

Resource hog = iTunes

In windoze, true.

On the iPad, it runs just fine.

HTML 5 is early.

Ironically, I feel Flash is the lesser evil of the two. I'd like to know how to block_shitty HTML5 ads when they come.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
snoop0x7b 12th Aug 2010
"Now, I hate Flash with a passion, and personally don?t feel that I really want it on my iOS-powered devices"

The thing is if flash WERE allowed on the platform, you'd have the option of not installing it. And in turn, those of us that would want flash would have the option of installing it. So you may not want flash, but you could very well get your wish of not having flash, and everyone else that does want flash would be happy.
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RE: European Union joins FTC in
JBDragon 14th Aug 2010
I think if Apple doesn't want FLASH on their products, they have that right. Who doesn't know Flash is not allowed on Apple Products? It didn't stop me from buying a Iphone 4. I really don't miss FLASH on it. If you want FLASH, there's a easy solution, BUY SOMETHING ELSE!!! You have free choice to buy any phone or other device you want. I don't see Steve Jobs forcing anyone to buy a Iphone. It's like Buying a House next to a Airport runway and then complaining about the Noise!!!

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