Apple ain't that Flash
Peter Vullings
Fri, 30/04/2010 - 10:15
Pixelthis is a developer of content for the original Flash Lite 1.0/1.1 devices all the way up to AS3/Flash Player 10, and we also actively develop for the iPhone/iTouch/iPad devices. As such we are obviously very interested in why Mr. Jobs seems to have a personal pickle with Flash content appearing on Apple's mobile platforms.
Steve has addressed this issue (I guess he thinks 'once and for all') by posting his thoughts on Flash on www.apple.com. Here is a brief recap of Steve's thoughts:
- Open - Flash technology is owned and managed solely by Adobe, and is not 'open'. People should use open standards to build content for the web such as HTML5, css and javascript.
- Video - Internet users should watch video in H.264, not Flash, because it consumes less power on mobile devices
- Games - The App Store (with over 50,000 games) shows that users don't need Flash to play games
- Performance - Flash is the leading cause of crashes on Mac computer
- Security - Symantec highlighted Flash as having one of the worst security records in 2009
- Touch - Much existing Flash content would have to be rewritten to work with touch
- Layer - Flash is a layer between the user and the technology platform, and develoeprs do not have access to all platform features
<rant>
These are all valid points in some shape or form, but overall they read like a hastily compiled list of excuses to try to validate some personal vendetta after all the backlash from the Flash development community.
The way I see it, it is all about choice.
Rather than let people decide whether they would like to use Flash or not, it is barred completely from the platform and users are not given the option to use it or not.
Yes, Flash has some short-comings, but it also has many, many advantages for developers. Definitely a big negative that Flash has security issues and crashes Mac machines. This is something that Adobe is no-doubt working on and should have addressed a lot earlier.
HTML5, CSS and js is all well and good as open standards, but I would love to meet the guru who can create a stunning, beautiful piece of online interactivity in anywhere approaching the time that it can be done using Flash - and that says nothing of the average developer. Besides, since when can you access all of the advanced platform features (GPS, Accellerometer, Contacts, File system etc) using these standards?
Apple are worried about the seemingly substandard content that will be available for iPhone if Flash comes on board, but what about the hordes of crapware that already needs to be dredged through on the App Store to find something good. How did that even get through the submission process in the first place?
Yes, Apple have their own opinions - let others make up their own mind.
</rant>
Footnote: Pixelthis develop for the iPlatform and will continue to do so (my personal phone is an iPhone). The devices are beautiful, the user experience and market place is fantastic. I have nothing against the iPhone, iPad, iTouch, or against Apple - just against their insistence to keep Flash off their devices.
Latest blog posts
- Elegant object pooling in AS3
- ADT helper tool
- Latest Facebook Stats (Feb 2011)
- Flash on iPhone - wildly fluctuating framerate or frame skip?
- How to stop employees emailing
- Birds eye view of our studio
- Optimising Flash for iPhone - sprite atlas
- Bringing Mr Ice Cream to iPhone (Adobe Flash AS3)
- Latest Facebook Stats (August 2010)
- USA vs NZ
Navigation
©2009 Pixelthis Limited 
And a great response to Apples post by Flash and Flex developer Jesse Warden.
it is usefull!
Antheia This website is really good. How can I make one like this !
When use this Microsoft Office 2007 Download you can create a digital Microsoft Office 2010 notebook in Microsoft Office 2011 to organize your ideas Office 2007 Key information for any Download Office 2007 project, from a home remodel Microsoft Office 2007 Professional to a major purchase decision.
Download Office 2010 and share all the materials and Office 2010 Key media for a Microsoft Office 2010 Download project in an Office 2010 Download: Windows 7, Microsoft Windows 7, Win 7, Download Windows 7, Buy Windows 7, and more. At the same time Office 2007 may find the information Microsoft Office 2007 you need with simple Office 2007 Download tagging and search functions and Office 2007 Professional take notes as you work. In MS Office 2007 addition the notes link automatically buy microsoft office 2007 to the page purchase microsoft office 2007 working on in the other Office 2010 application so that MS Office 2010 you can easily Office 2010 Professional search and find buy microsoft office 2010 them.
Post new comment