iGeneration

Charlie Osborne

Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

By Zack Whittaker | April 23, 2010, 11:40am PDT

Summary: Adobe and Apple relations are at an all time low. Flash will no longer be used to develop for iPad, iPhone or iPod touch devices in a row over platforms

Adobe, which acquired Macromedia in 2005, the creator and developer of Flash technology, will no longer provide software to support Apple’s iPad, iPhone or iPod touch devices.

Though Safari and other Apple software, such as Mac OS X, will continue to support Flash technology, developers which create Flash content will not be able to port it to the newly released iPad, and existing or future iPhone’s.

The iPad lacked Flash when it was initially released, but it was hoped and expected that Adobe would throw its cards on the table and attempt, at best, to release a version of Flash for these devices.

As the BBC point out, Creative Suite 5 released last month enabled developers to convert Flash code into iPhone applications. However Apple’s developer terms and conditions change caused controversy amongst developers by limiting their scope of application function, and effectively banning them from using code translators such as CS5.

When considering mobile entrepreneurs and Generation Y developers a month and a bit ago, I knew and still know how powerful the mobile market is. Yet as Flash technology is an integral part of the Web and application power, regardless of whether HTML5 will negate the need for using the plug-in, it is also a major part of modern technology and creative design degree programmes.

All students from various countries and institutions who study programmes in multimedia design, electronics and computer science engage with Flash and Adobe technology, and passing code and design implementation is vital to their expansion of knowledge and portfolio building.

Not only will this move damage the reputation of Apple and developers as such, but harm the potential of younger developers exploiting the easy-to-use platform and knowledge base to generate revenue and self publicity.

Silverlight is thought to be released for the iPad, and therefore presumably the iPhone and iPod touch devices too; though at this point it is not clear when or whether the negotiations will yield any result.

Will this have a significant knock-on effect to not only Apple developers but consumers also? Could this signal a shift from the almighty iPhone to Android or BlackBerry devices? Or will HTML5 completely trump all arguments and be a much needed shift from Apple and Adobe dominance on the web?

Have your say.

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Topics

Developer, Apple iPad, Macromedia Inc., Apple iPhone, iPod touch, Development, Adobe, Flash, Apple, Creative Suite 5, HTML5, Mobile, Silverlight, Zack Whittaker

Zack Whittaker, a criminologist who studied at the University of Kent, Canterbury, is a journalist, writer and broadcaster.

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RE: Sea of cubicles - today's enterprise

drumandyou 9th Mar

Will this have a significant knock-on effect to not only Apple developers but consumers also? http://france-pharma.com | http://bluepillsau.com | http://edproblemsolver.com Could this signal a shift from the almighty iPhone to Android or BlackBerry devices? Or will HTML5 completely trump all arguments and be a much needed shift from Apple and Adobe dominance on the web?

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Come on Zac. This is so yesterday. Get Twitter.

Dietrich T. Schmitz, Your Linux Advocate 23rd Apr 2010

Write something original--you know--your very own thoughts on a new topic.

AKA 'Good content'.

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LOL

oncall 23rd Apr 2010

"This is so yesterday."

I had that exact same thought. Oh well that's modern news for ya wink

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I second that, it's so last week!

Linux Geek 23rd Apr 2010

not even yesterday!

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

rossdav@... 23rd Apr 2010

Zack, pretty sure this has been done to death.

First, we're not missing what we don't have. There are thousands of iP* apps already so I don't see a problem on the developer front.

Flash is a desktop add-on only at this point - both because it requires the horsepower and because it simply does not have a run-time on any other platforms. (somebody said it runs on an Android 1.6 machine...??)

Are the developers that create Flash applications for the desktop truly the same ones that develop for the iP* platforms (or any other mobile platform for that matter)? I doubt it. Really - they *can't* be because it doesn't exist! But also because I don't think it translates well to the size of a smartphone. Even advertisements would most likely need to be reworked.

If we're talking movies only, well there is a work-around that doesn't require the Flash run-time.

So, no - not missing it.

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Flash runs on Palm Pre smartphone

zdnetviewer 23rd Apr 2010

newsflash: Flash is not just for desktops, it's for smartphones. Check this out on YouTube and see if it crashes or hogs too much resources on a true multitasking operating system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpI6gA9cuME

Flash will soon run on the Palm Pre, Android, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile. Except for iPhone...Apple doesn't want to give developers any chance in making money without them. Ultimately, that's what web browser pluggins on a smartphone will introduce and what Apple fears!

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Not totally discounting the statement of

Snooki_smoosh_smoosh 23rd Apr 2010

"Apple doesn't want to give developers any chance in making money without them"

but could it be that it is more of quality control of content on a mobile device as opposed to some buggy translator or emulator trying to run on the device. I can't count the number of times flash advertisements have taken down a tab in my browser on this website alone.

Sure flash sites are kind of neat, but so far in practice often times they suck. Occasionally I run into site that I can't view, but at the same time, I don't know that I would want to have to suck down all of that flash data down a 3g connection even if it is available.

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quality control......

cymru999 Updated - 26th Apr 2010

dont make me laugh - have you seen some the crap buugy apps out there on the istore?
Apple dont want flash because it makes it easy for good natured developers to create zero cost games and apps for the fun of it - not a business model apple ever wants to see. 95% of free apps are in my experience trailers for something you have to pay for. People develop free apps for windows all the time - true some are hoping you will pay for a premium version or try another piece of paid software but most of them are more fully functional than those you see on the iphone.

Maybe apple should run a monthly competition for the best genuinely free apps uplodaded to istore - I guarantee it would attract more of the market that apple dont have and with their present practices wont ever get. It needent be a cash prize just an award page on the apple website - people will create apps for the kudos it brings them believe me

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You don't have much faith in other platforms.

hill60 24th Apr 2010

"Apple doesn't want to give developers any chance in making money
without them"

No wonder developers are flocking to Apple, if as you say they are the
only one's giving developers any chance to make money.

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Horse Power Needed? Hogwash Propaganda Flash10.1 is GPU Accelerated! lol

i2fun@... Updated - 27th Apr 2010

In other words, it uses LESS CPU cycles.. not more you
Apple Cult followers!

Why are you trying your Fuhrer Steve Jobs worn out
propaganda ploy? We all know it's about little
Stevie Hitler throwing a fit over not having a
complete monopoly yet! grin

"Don't Be Evil, Dude"... your fearless leader is already
the best at spreading propaganda and attempting Mobile
Phone Genocide on his competition! wink

Can't wait for this all to sink into the moronic idiots
that only prove they'd follow their leader into debt or
worse into Credit Card Hell! ....maybe into realizing
your iPhone and iPad will GAS you out of a full web
experience, you morons won't have until 2020 when HTML5
might actually be FINAL! haha..... Genocide? ...maybe
Comrade Jobs will just die after he repeats "We Will Bury
YOU" a few more
times! lol

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RE: Sea of cubicles - today's enterprise

drumandyou 9th Mar

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

zdnetviewer 23rd Apr 2010

HTML5 will not succeed against Adobe Flash. HTML5 is nowhere close to the capabilities, flexibility, and simplicity compared to the Flash development environment. You'll find that most developers who have made applications in both HTML5 and Flash would agree.

Flash is secure and so versatile, it's the engine behind the majority of web applications, animations, games, and streaming video. It's also one of the most popular pluggin for all web browsers. HTML5 is not a pluggin and requires installing unsecured code on a device such as the iPhone or iPad.

Because Flash is a pluggin and instantly runs from within web browsers, it's in the best interest for Apple to deny Flash as Apple would lose revenue from developers. Many developers will realize that they could potentially provide Flash-based apps without having to pay Apple registration fees and other costs. And that's not good for Apple. So Apple's best defense is to promote HTML5 so developers will be convinced to walk through Apple's toll gate!

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Nice one.

tk77 23rd Apr 2010

LMAO. I thought you were serious for a moment, until I saw "Flash is
secure" and "instantly runs from within web browsers". The rest of the
comment made perfect sense then.

Incase you were being serious, I just cant get enough of the "lost
revenue" BS argument everyone without a clue uses. There are many
FREE apps on the store. Apple receives NO revenue from these. Also,
since Apple promotes HTML5, those apps would also generate NO
revenue. Try again.

But again, your comment was too good to be serious. Again, good one.

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Flash is a steaming load of cr*p.

hill60 24th Apr 2010

How you like them apples, Mr Astroturfer?

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and HTML5 is:

Michael Alan Goff Updated - 27th Apr 2010

A) Not a finished standard
B) The type that Apple is hoisting is royalty-enriched and proprietary.
C) Can pretty much only do video.

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

kitconcepts 23rd Apr 2010

All I can say is "**** Steve Jobs"..I'll be getting rid
of my iphone and looking for a windows mobile or droid
phone that has flash. I've been fighting these guys ever
since the release of Slingplayer which was originally not
capable of being used on a 3g connection. They lied to
me repeatedly, as did AT&T. The companies are money
hungry, greedy bastards.

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I second that!!

flipicaneze 26th Apr 2010

No more unsupportive and no fun iPhone and no more AT&T. Just one more year.......

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Adobe should add HTML5 to their tools

linuser Updated - 23rd Apr 2010

Adobe should modify their web development tools to generate HTML5 AND Flash runtimes (there is a demo of HTML5 in DreamWeaver here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v69S22ZBBqA). Then, the customers of their software can decide if they want to deploy Flash, HTML5 or both, on their websites. Adobe will sell more software/upgrades, Adobe's customers will have more choices for their website design AND non-Flash devices will get access to more content. Win-Win-Win

I recently installed FlashBlock plug-ins for Google Chrome and Firefox and the experience is amazing!

- pages load faster.
- you don't waste unnecessary CPU cycles, battery, etc., on Flash content.
- if you want to see the Flash content, you just click on it.

Smartphones that ultimately support Flash should enable FlashBlock by default. That way, a user won't inadvertently drain their battery by simply browsing a few websites.

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Um I agree with,

Snooki_smoosh_smoosh 23rd Apr 2010

although you may want to adjust your last statement, I think you meant Flash should be disabled by default, right?

Yes it is amazing how much faster sites load when you don't have to wait half a day for flash to load up, or other times when it crashes your browser.

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Flash is the Future.

Jay Casa 23rd Apr 2010

I am a Art Director and Designer for a major
advertising agency, I have grappled with how best to
produce our campaigns to cross all web interfaces.
Simply, our conclusion is this; Android, Blackberry
and Windows 7 Mobile provide a far larger market
segment than iPhone/iPad/iPod.. We simply cannot
produce vivid multimedia experiences using
html5/silverlight etc, and I can't see this changing
for a very, very long time if ever. The answer to me
and my agency is simple; we will support Flash and
that is that.. Apple has lost the creative community,
we will not learn new inferior languages just to
please their whims, CREATIVITY is the centre of this
industry, NOT idiotic business games.. The tide is
turning, Google understand freedom allows expression
and the creative community is on their side.. IRONIC
considering it is this very community who helped Apple
become the force they are today. 90's belonged to
Microsoft, Noughties belonged to Apple.. Like it or
not the non-restrictive ideology of the One-ders will
prevail for Google. Full Stop.

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business

banned from zdnet again and again 23rd Apr 2010

if your company is really ignoring soon to be 100 million ipod touch,
iphone, ipad users only because you designers are to lazy to learn new
tricks then good luck with your business.

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Nothing compared to 500 Million users

Jay Casa 23rd Apr 2010

It's not about being lazy, it's about protecting
the most creative aspects of the web.. this is
Apples' 'jumping the shark moment' We simply
cannot allow Apple to pull back the web by a 10
about 10 years, this isn't just about video
content but about compelling interactive
experiences.

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It's people like YOU who destroy the internet

Mikael_z 23rd Apr 2010

and the joy, efficiency and reliability in human communication on the web.

"When there's a crash, it's probably Flash", and likely some ad crap. sad

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compelling

banned from zdnet again and again 24th Apr 2010

why not create your compelling interactive experiences with other tools?
flash is just a tool and as an designer myself i am used to learning new
programs and tools all the time. you can't express your creativity if you
coudn't use flash?

and by the way, have a look at apple's website for a compelling
interactive experience without any flash.

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Why can't we all just get along?

LowBudgetDave 27th Apr 2010

The only thing that runs slower than flash on my computer is the Apple website.

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Ah, they are using different servers for images

Mikael_z 1st May 2010

images.apple.com
devimages.apple.com

So the point remains: We-Don't-Really-Need-Flash!
Most of us don't want that crap either.

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It's his business

oncall 23rd Apr 2010

He can run it as he sees fit. Doesn't matter really, if there is money to be made someone will step forward to make it. Adobe pulling out spells opportunity for someone else, that's all.

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right

banned from zdnet again and again 24th Apr 2010

you are right. from his post it seemed though, that sticking with flash is
not a business decision, but ideological. following ideology or emotions
(hating apple) wouldn't be a good business move. and creativity is a
nonsense argument. flash is a tool. you can express your creativity with
any tool. as a designer you always have to learn new programs.

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So will you use

hill60 Updated - 24th Apr 2010

Actionscript 2 or actionscript 3 based because at this stage in time Flash
is very limited in the mobile space.

You are an example of a useless developer because you are incapable of
meeting your customers needs.

We don't need your stupid inaccessible websites and we don't need your
client's products and pretty soon your clients won't need you.

Take a look at any mobile web use surveys and you will see Apple
devices dominate in this space.

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HTML5 video is presently overhyped

eMJayy 23rd Apr 2010

I looked at some tests that were done by various people to compare CPU usage of flash 10.0, 10.1 and HTML5 and, quite frankly, the only thing that impressed was 10.1 with its markedly enhanced GPU usage running on Windows. HTML5 video is just as demanding on the CPU as flash 10.0, so all this hype is really ridiculous.

I think once 10.1 actually gets released to the general public, the pendulum is going to swing decidedly in favour of flash. Plus, with Firefox releasing version 3.6.4 with its flash isolation feature, there's going to be less people on the PC side of things with major reasons to complain about flash performance.

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What about Photoshop for Mac?

peter_erskine@... 23rd Apr 2010

If Adobe really want to put their money where their mouth is, that's the product they'll have to withdraw.

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pixelmator

banned from zdnet again and again Updated - 24th Apr 2010

then pixelmator and others will step right in.

pixelmator is no photoshop, i know. i have been an avid photoshop user
for a long time myself but i have to admit i find myself more often then
ever just firing up pixelmator for most tasks. much faster and more
elegant.

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I guess Steve Jobs would be upset, though.

peter_erskine@... 23rd Apr 2010

If the "row" between the companies reached the point where Adobe fought back by not supporting Apple at all, it would be extremely damaging for both companies.

I think the wisest thing Adobe could do right now is to publicly address the crappiness in Flash that Jobs is complaining about. Steve Jobs does have a point. Adobe should bring out a smaller faster better-coded Flash, cutting out some of the old cruft.

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Agreed

oncall 23rd Apr 2010

Never does anybody argue that Flash is a rock solid, efficient progam. Nope it's
always the same discussion: "yeah Flash is a unstable, resource hogging
security risk but gollly Apple should use it anyway." Yes maybe Adobe should
just fix the program and take away Apples ammo.

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and

banned from zdnet again and again 24th Apr 2010

and most people forget or don't know, that even if apple had wanted to
put flash on the iphone it couldn't. there is only flash lite available for
smartphones (flash 10.1. postponed the second time now) and flash lite
doesn't do anything except draining your battery.

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Flash lite?

Michael Alan Goff 27th Apr 2010

Oh lord, the ignorant things I read on ZDnet.

A) Flash 10.1 is not flash lite. It is a sleeker, more GPU driven, flash. It's what you guys have been bitching for. A flash program that doesn't dog resources and is fast.

B) It is not delayed again. Adobe has said, again and again, that they are ON TRACK for their release in the first half of 2010.

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

pubwvj 23rd Apr 2010

"All students from various countries and institutions who
study programmes in multimedia design, electronics and
computer science engage with Flash"

Wrong. I run the web with Flash OFF. I develop all of my
web sites without Flash. Flash is a resource hog used for
advertising and glitz. It's a waste of bandwidth and
processing power that churns computers. If we saved all
the electricity wasted by Adobe Flash we might even
prevent Global Warming and shut up Al Gore.

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

animation_teacher 23rd Apr 2010

I have to agree with Jay Casa. I'm an animation
and video game design teacher who and while I'm
concerned about the Apple/Adobe war and had
hoped that this could be worked out, I have to
think of what systems my students will need to be
employable 3 and 4 years from now. I love Apple
products, but I'm going to have to throw my
weight to Flash and Android. I've been reading all
the sites and blogs for the last month about this
subject and while the techies keep saying Flash is
dead and then give me a dozen reasons why it's
fat and slow and dozen ways to avoid it, in the
end it's the Walmart shoppers who will decided
the market, not latte sippers in Cupertino.

Sorry, but that's just the way it will be.

There are a lot more people who want an easy,
cheap experience and have no idea that they are
supposed to be irritated that their Flash takes
.0005 seconds too long to load up than there are
who will pay more money for an elegant, but
limited machine. They want pretty pictures and
their porn and if Apple won't deliver, Android
will... and where the money goes, the jobs will be
there and classes that help them get those jobs
are what my students want.

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

corefile 23rd Apr 2010

PORN. ...It's all about porn. The Internet was born
from it, and it's what continues to drive bandwidth
requirements. And Google knows it. This is not a
joke. It's the absolute truth. Remember the VHS VS
Beta war? Beta had a huge head start, and was the
better technology. Sony refused to allow Beta to be
used by an industry it felt was distasteful. ...and
that's how VHS got its foothold, and eventually won
the war. What exactly do you think is going to be
watched on all those big portable tablet screens?
Only the Apple faithful and Flash-bashers will be
looking at pictures of their wives and 2.5 children.
...and maybe shots of Steve P. Jobs chopping wood with
his shirt off. The rest of the world will do what
thousands of years of evolution have programmed them
to do. (err, "divine design" for fanboyz and Flash-
bashers) Flash 10.1 is an amazing software
accomplishment. It rewrites all the rules of
application design and distribution. Jobs is right to
be scared of it. - And to close the gates to his
magical kingdom. He has 12 more months of protected
i-revenue before the great unwashed horde ransack
Pleasantville.

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Not to burst your bubble

oncall Updated - 23rd Apr 2010

But there really is a lot of porn already available for iPhone users. Maybe porn
vendors are not a dumb as you think wink

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iPhone porn into Google =

hill60 24th Apr 2010

About 40,100,000 results (0.17 seconds)

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And Silverlight is Microsoft - and I don't think MS likes Apple so much. ^^

kchick 23rd Apr 2010

screwed.

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Don't hurt the hand that feeds you. (nt)

statuskwo5 23rd Apr 2010

Don't hurt the hand that feeds you. (nt)

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

corefile 23rd Apr 2010

No, the porn vendors are not as dumb "a" I think. They
actually understand how to create magical and efficient
Flash apps.

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Do you understand this issue at all?

paul@... 24th Apr 2010

You make it sound like Adobe has options. I'm sure if
Apple provided the slightest inkling of anything but naked
aggression, slammed doors and utter contempt towards
their Flash platform, Adobe would put the resources in to
making Flash work on iDevices, as they are for every other
mobile platform. And far from "no longer providing
software to support" iPhone OS, they will actually support
it with a public product for the first time with the packager
for iPhone in Flash CS5. They have merely indicated, that
given Apple's intention to make that feature of no practical
value by refusing every App produced that way, they will
not spend more time working on it. You make it sound
like want of effort on Adobe's part for the rift with Apple!
Sensible readers may wish to sign the petition to tell Apple
its their attitude that sucks! http://flash4ipad.com

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

baez74 24th Apr 2010

Adobe scrapping the iPhone is like Verizon scrapping passing up on the iPhone. Not a wise business decision.

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Stop this madness

paul@... 24th Apr 2010

Apple scrapped flash, OK, adobe didn't scrap iPhone OS. You've got a lot
of confusion to answer for here, Zac.

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I was with my 2 year niece...

Roque Mocan 24th Apr 2010

We were dining with my brother's family in a restaurant with WiFi, and I had my netbook. My 2 year nice passed the time playing in the Winnie Pooh flash app. Surely, NOT the pinnacle of programming, but fun and she was amused (and in a Disney web site, which is largely owned by Steve Jobs, by the way).

Flash is NOT only for advertisemenst.

And again, what I think of the iPad and Flash: On the iPhone, or any phone, you tolerate the lack of flash and many things in the altar of mobility and battery life. But the iPad is so "normal" computer like in its screen size, that you EXPECT it to be as capable in browsing as other devices with similarly sized screens. For that reason, I think: No Flash on iPhone: understandable; No Flash on iPad: deal breaker

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Good news.

wright_is 27th Apr 2010

As a web developer, I always hated Flash.

As a web user, I hated it even more.

As a system administrator, it is a security nightmare.

I'm glad I don't have to worry about it on our phone fleet.

On the desktop, I either don't install Flash or I run with a Flash blocker and only enable it on sites that I really have to have it - which is few and far between.

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RE: Adobe scraps Flash plans for iPad and iPhone

Extremely_Frust8d 6th Jun 2010

As a web designer, I use flash to create my sites and videos all the time. Why??? because it is the industry standard! Period. Same reason why I use all adobe products. Flash is an integral part of the internet world. It will just be a matter of time until consumers realize that they cant access sites that they need and this is extremely frustrating.

I am both a PC and a MAC user but Im extremely ticked off by all this MAC bull-crap that Im no longer interested in their iPhone and iPad.