Apple Corrects iPad Promo Video to Show No Flash Capability

[sohelpme]

Newton
PowerPC
Apple TV
.....
(the Flash-less) iPad

But he has failed, too.... Perhaps if he had opened up way back when, Apple would have been bigger than MS....

Newton -> failed because the concept was more ambitious than the hardware/software at the time could support. Even then, it was adapting to the user [ie, learning your handwriting], rather than Palm's idea of you adapting to the device [their wacky script]. This was the same as QuickDraw GX, WAY more advanced graphics system than anything else, but the available hardware to make it run was just too expensive [it needed lots of RAM at a time when RAM was rather expensive], and Taligent [I think that's the cross-platform name, there was another name that Apple used, but I can't think of it], where you had basically a blank slate, and you build a document by adding containers to it [of a variety of content], also really RAM-hungry (and complicated to program).

PowerPC -> failed how? While Apple was selling PowerPC systems [particularly after the 'cloning' debacle], Apple was consistently gaining market share each year, selling millions of computers each quarter. There are a lot of PC manufacturers that wish they could sell as many systems now each year that Apple was selling 10 years ago. Apple had to bail to Intel because IBM wasn't interested in furthering PowerPC chips for desktops and laptops, just for their servers and higher end workstations.

Apple TV -> failed how? Over 3 years, they've sold over 6.6 million of them. Again, there are LOTS of media devices that are made to connect to TV's that their manufacturers WISH sold that well.

Hell, Analysts are expecting Apple to sell what, 10 million iPads in the first year. That probably is more than all the kindles [of all versions] than Amazon will have sold, and Amazon has had an extra year of sales. There's a reason why Amazon isn't saying how many Kindles they are selling....and why they were offering a 100% money back [and you keep the kindle] guarantee during January to their customers before the iPad was announced.

 

[AidenShaw]

My suggestion: he should just use wget to grab the HTML files and view them in textedit. No glitz, just the content.

I tried that, but there's this line

'<param name="movie" value="'+swf+'"><param name="flashvars" value='+fv+'><param
uality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="'+wmode+'"><param name="base" value="'+swf.substring(0,swf.lastIndexOf("/"))+'"><PARAM NAME="AllowScriptAccess" VALUE="'+dcallowscriptaccess+'">​

which I'm having trouble understanding the "content" you speak of....

 

[bretm]

This and other comments that say flash is flawed because most ads are in flash make no sense whatsover...
There are flash ads because people MAKE them...

IF HTML5, silverlight, or (insert something high tech sounding) were to become the standard, people would just move on to coding in that.

Stop and think for a moment: flash dieing =! advertising dieing.

Well, no. If you can turn off flash and turn off quite a bit of advertising, how do you turn off the ads when they are part of the built in standard? Turn off HTML5?

Not that I care. The real way to block ads is to simply use plugins to block files from ips other than the server you requested. Like pop up windows.

 

[bretm]

Newton -> failed because the concept was more ambitious than the hardware/software at the time could support. Even then, it was adapting to the user [ie, learning your handwriting], rather than Palm's idea of you adapting to the device [their wacky script]. This was the same as QuickDraw GX, WAY more advanced graphics system than anything else, but the available hardware to make it run was just too expensive [it needed lots of RAM at a time when RAM was rather expensive], and Taligent [I think that's the cross-platform name, there was another name that Apple used, but I can't think of it], where you had basically a blank slate, and you build a document by adding containers to it [of a variety of content], also really RAM-hungry (and complicated to program).

PowerPC -> failed how? While Apple was selling PowerPC systems [particularly after the 'cloning' debacle], Apple was consistently gaining market share each year, selling millions of computers each quarter. There are a lot of PC manufacturers that wish they could sell as many systems now each year that Apple was selling 10 years ago. Apple had to bail to Intel because IBM wasn't interested in furthering PowerPC chips for desktops and laptops, just for their servers and higher end workstations.

Apple TV -> failed how? Over 3 years, they've sold over 6.6 million of them. Again, there are LOTS of media devices that are made to connect to TV's that their manufacturers WISH sold that well.

Hell, Analysts are expecting Apple to sell what, 10 million iPads in the first year. That probably is more than all the kindles [of all versions] than Amazon will have sold, and Amazon has had an extra year of sales. There's a reason why Amazon isn't saying how many Kindles they are selling....and why they were offering a 100% money back [and you keep the kindle] guarantee during January to their customers before the iPad was announced.

Steve had nothing to do with PowerPC and the Newton. But lets not forget his baby Cube! Microsoft wishes they were as profitable as Apple. Are they profitable?

 

[bretm]

No, the iPhone changed to work well with YouTube. Apple realized the phone would look silly without being able to view YouTube videos so they made a special YouTube application for it. It's a testament to the importance of YouTube, not the importance of the iPhone, and it highlights the problem with not supporting Flash.

You Tube recompressed almost all of their video catalog into h.264 at 2 different bit rates for cell and wifi just for the iphone. I'd say YouTube bowed to Apple on this one.

 

[Journojulz]

10% of web Flash has amazing capablities of interaction
90% of web Flash is adverts or "press button to play"

The first can be replaced by an app
the second by gifs or h.264

Yes the market share of apple mobile devices is small - but the spending power of the demographic is HUGE

it may be 1% of the browsing population - but it is growing from the richest downwards - advertisers know this.

 

[Padraig]

Steve had nothing to do with PowerPC and the Newton. But lets not forget his baby Cube! Microsoft wishes they were as profitable as Apple. Are they profitable?

MS beat out aapl by over 3 billion in profit in Q1 2010.

 

[Journojulz]

To replicate that profit spike in Q2 wouldn't microsoft need everyone to start to hate Win 7 and then release a vastly improved Win 8?

 

[blackcrayon]

MS beat out aapl by over 3 billion in profit in Q1 2010.

Disregarding the reason for your post, isn't it amazing that Apple is even in the same league with Microsoft in revenues and profits these days? I remember a decade ago when Apple's entire revenue was equal to Microsoft's profit in a quarter

 

[AidenShaw]

Disregarding the reason for your post, isn't it amazing that Apple is even in the same league with Microsoft in revenues and profits these days? I remember a decade ago when Apple's entire revenue was equal to Microsoft's profit in a quarter

Yes, it's amazing that a hardware company is in the same league as a company that's primarily software. Selling $2K to $3K systems vs selling $100-$300 licenses....

The point is that the two companies are very different, which makes comparisons somewhat murky.

 

[bmaltais]

For those who are missing Flash on the iPad here is something that could ease your pain:

http://github.com/tobeytailor/gordon

Mind you it is only v1.0 compatible but it is a start.

 

[shiseiryu1]

I Agree And...

10% of web Flash has amazing capablities of interaction
90% of web Flash is adverts or "press button to play"

The first can be replaced by an app
the second by gifs or h.264

Yes the market share of apple mobile devices is small - but the spending power of the demographic is HUGE

it may be 1% of the browsing population - but it is growing from the richest downwards - advertisers know this.

I agree with this AND web developers need to STOP BEING LAZY and make non-Flash versions of elements in their website. Follow the design principle of "Progressive Enhancement, Graceful Degradation". Also, stuff like the flash on the New York Times website (which cycles through top stories) could probably be replaced with a Javascript based solution which would be more compatible anyways.

 

[diamond.g]

Because unfortunately this forum has become, over the years, a magnet for Windows-loving whiners and trolls...we should get used to that.

Yup, it is a necessary evil for Apple to be so successful. They had to embrace their enemy (make iPod devices for Windows).

At this point Apple can't remove Windows compatibility...

 

[ugp]

I agree with this AND web developers need to STOP BEING LAZY and make non-Flash versions of elements in their website. Follow the design principle of "Progressive Enhancement, Graceful Degradation". Also, stuff like the flash on the New York Times website (which cycles through top stories) could probably be replaced with a Javascript based solution which would be more compatible anyways.

A lot of sites use different methods of scrolling through top stories or sales on retail sites and they do not use Flash for this. Like radioshack.com does it there three sale items and it works on the iPhone as a cycle based item.

 

[mlblacy]

ON TROLLS: we REALLY need an ignore button...

Yep, fanboy, you have reached it.

I have been a long time forum reader and occasional poster. The trolling is getting worse lately and I think perhaps MacRumors should offer some enhancements and offer features other forums have. I have no problems with contrarian positions and differing viewpoints, and don't believe in censorship... that being said though, I think it is time something be done.

One option would be to have an ignore feature, that would simply remove the posts from your view if selected. From a freedom of speech viewpoint this is a win, you are not really muzzling them, and the power resides in each reader to determine who the asshat dujour is.

Another solution is the "Surviver" approach, where posts can be voted out of view. The posts are still "there", but not visible unless you opt to show them, and would appear lightly grayed and tagged as being downranked into oblivion.
---
Anytime someone starts calling another a fanboy, they usually out themselves as the troll they really are...

 

[Mal]

mlblacy, there is an ignore function, though it's not easy to access. Copy their username, then go to your User CP (under the logo up top) and you should see the ignore list there. I've got a few people on mine.

jW

 

[LagunaSol]

I have been a long time forum reader and occasional poster. The trolling is getting worse lately and I think perhaps MacRumors should offer some enhancements and offer features other forums have. I have no problems with contrarian positions and differing viewpoints, and don't believe in censorship... that being said though, I think it is time something be done.

One option would be to have an ignore feature, that would simply remove the posts from your view if selected. From a freedom of speech viewpoint this is a win, you are not really muzzling them, and the power resides in each reader to determine who the asshat dujour is.

Another solution is the "Surviver" approach, where posts can be voted out of view. The posts are still "there", but not visible unless you opt to show them, and would appear lightly grayed and tagged as being downranked into oblivion.
---
Anytime someone starts calling another a fanboy, they usually out themselves as the troll they really are...

It's true this forum has really hit the skids as of late, with a surprising number of posters who have absolutely nothing but disdain for Apple and are happy to tell us all about it. The more successful Apple becomes, the larger their numbers grow. They either don't know or don't care (probably the latter) that there are other forums out there that may be more sympathetic to their Apple-sucks-at-everything points of view, and many of them are clearly here for the thrill of agitation. Others' motivation reeks of competitive astroturfing.

There is a way to block such users by clicking their user name, viewing their public profile and then clicking the link to ignore all posts from that viewer (Cumbersome? Yes.). Heaven knows my Ignore list is filling up fast. Unfortunately you still get to view their hissy fits via email if you are subscribed to the thread - I would appreciate it if MacRumors could somehow make this not so. And of course when someone quotes a poster who is on your ignore list, that quote will appear so you get to see their rantings yet again. Fun.

These lonely souls defend their right to dissent as free thinkers while in turn attacking you as Apple cultists (or worse) if you disagree with their views. Ironic. Sadly the quality of discussion here has turned into a war of words between the Apple users and the Microsoft brigade or the Android army. One would think he was reading the Engadget comments section and not MacRumors. The discussion reached a new low of immaturity after the iPad announcement, featuring far more information about the female menstruation process than I cared to know (apparently some people can't see the common word "pad" and not think of anything else) along with cries for Steve Job's head on a pike (since he's driven the company into the ground since his return, don't you see).

T'would be nice to be able to discuss the strengths (many) and flaws (many) of Apple and its products with those who didn't hate every single thing they did and have devoted their lives to telling us about it.

 

[donbadman]

On Flash

I've used Flash for creating content since version 5 and it was ok in terms of resource overhead until around the release of CS2 (if I can remember correctly) until this point it ran just fine on all the machines I used for testing sites - a Pentium 133Mhz, a 1st generation Athlon K7 700mhz, a blue and white G3 tower and various laptops and workstations on site at clients and employers offices.

I have a suspicion that this was around the time Flash video was added, if the resource overhead is down to this I see no problem in the W3C specifying a less resource intensive (and therefor more accessible) video standard.

However as it currently stands flash is one of the few ways to actually design websites that don't look like websites.

Flash sites are more immersive, interesting to use and explore UI's that are a bit more experimental, not to mention being able to use more than five or six typefaces. Web design today is very boring compared to what was being done 5-10 years ago in terms of visual design. Most visually interesting sites today are still being done mainly in Flash.

Standards are useful as long as they are very flexible, for developers, designers and users.

Flash is currently the only good way to design web sites that avoid the web site aesthetic.

 

[mlblacy]

thanks for the tip... also, Engadget just turned OFF comments!

mlblacy, there is an ignore function, though it's not easy to access. Copy their username, then go to your User CP (under the logo up top) and you should see the ignore list there. I've got a few people on mine.

jW

Thanks. Sorry to hear it is not inline, but good to hear you can squash a troll with a click.

On a related note, this morning Engadget actually turned OFF comments because the trolls and spammers were getting out of hand (not that we have seen that here).

Here is their comment about the situation (http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/02/were-turning-comments-off-for-a-bit/):

"We're turning comments off for a bit
Hey guys, we know you like to have your fun, voice your opinions, and argue over your favorite gear, but over the past few days the tone in comments has really gotten out of hand. What is normally a charged -- but fun -- environment for our users and editors has become mean, ugly, pointless, and frankly threatening in some situations... and that's just not acceptable. Some of you out there in the world of anonymous grandstanding have gotten the impression that you run the place, but that's simply not the case.

Luckily, our commenting community makes up only a small percentage of our readership (and the bad eggs an even smaller part of that number), so while they may be loud, they don't speak for most people who come to Engadget looking for tech news. Regardless, we're going to crank things down for a little bit to let everyone just cool off, and we'll switch them back on when we feel like we've shaken some of the trolls and spammers loose from the branches (AKA swung the banhammer in our downtime). See you on the other side!"

 

[lilo777]

Steve had nothing to do with PowerPC and the Newton. But lets not forget his baby Cube! Microsoft wishes they were as profitable as Apple. Are they profitable?

MS is at least twice as profitable as Apple