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View Full Version : Flash or No Flash, That is the Question!


Jeff Campbell
02-01-2010, 05:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.9to5mac.com/apple-flash-iPad-website-changes-4653475?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+9To5Mac-MacAllDay+(9+to+5+Mac+-+Apple+Intelligence)' target='_blank'>http://www.9to5mac.com/apple-flash-...e+Intelligence)</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Our report from yesterday must have rattled some cages at Media Arts Lab, Apple's advertising agency. As we were told by our source at the secretive organization, Apple came crashing down on them with urgent requests to change the video."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1264956457.usr105634.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you are curious, you can head over to YouTube and see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-aVbSmfTFs" target="_blank">original version</a>, clearly showing the web site fully functioning, Flash included. What the folks at Chiat/Day Media Arts Lab do is mock up fake web sites so they perform as intended while making the commercials. So this little mistake slipped by apparently, but has since been corrected. If you have seen the video of the presentation, Flash clearly isn't working on the iPad and you can hear chuckles from the crowd when it is displayed while Jobs surfs with the iPad. But is it really a surprise to anyone?</p><p><MORE /></p><p>Not sure why it was a surprise since Jobs has a well established "dislike" for Flash and clearly doesn't want it on any of Apple's mobile devices. It has been suggested, other than <a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/apple-source-adobes-flash-is-too-buggy-for-the-ipad/28540?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+cultofmac/bFow+(Cult+of+Mac)" target="_blank">being buggy per Apple</a>, that it will have an <a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/adobe-theres-no-flash-on-ipad-because-apple-is-protecting-content-revenue/28564?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed:+cultofmac/bFow+(Cult+of+Mac)" target="_blank">impact on revenue</a> (people playing games for example on websites instead of purchasing games they can play on the iPad) if they do allow it. There is also the aspect of control by Apple since they don't own Flash and can't modify or "fix" it should a problem arise. My take is that it is more about controlling the device so that it works properly and the user experience is a pleasurable one, at least I'd like to believe it is true! I'm not naive enough to think that profit never entered the discussion, I'm just saying that one of the considerations had to be the user experience. Sure, that may be a bit pollyanna-ish for some, but I think it follows how they handled the iPhone/iPod Touch. You want our device? You have to take it with our restrictions. So if you want Flash, don't buy an iPad, go get a netbook. What are your thoughts? Do you think Apple will eventually put Flash on the iPad? I'm betting they won't.&nbsp;</p>

doogald
02-01-2010, 06:02 PM
From the comments that are attributed to Steve Jobs at the company wide meeting last week, it's clear that he doesn't think much of Flash. However, I think what people missed is that he said that Adobe was lazy, that they had the potential to do so much better. I think that he was also issuing a challenge to Adobe: make Flash good enough and we'll put it on our devices. Until then, we're not putting it on, because we have that ability with these devices (unlike the Mac), and we'll keep urging web site developers to use alternate methods of showing video until you do.

possmann
02-01-2010, 08:19 PM
Look - Adobe does great at it's photoshop but it is consistently the most annoying app to update (not to mention the security flaws). I mean how often do you roll your eyes when you see an update from Adobe - "Oh great! Here comes another reboot!"
Flash is heavy and clunky and intensive and the only reason that people still flock to it is because the "next best thing" hasn't yet taken flight.
What I am saying is that I agree with SJ's decision and don't think that, in the long run, it will hurt or certainly sway users and potential buyers.