Getting student Flash code packaged as iOS apps

[FloatingBones]

Can anyone here run MyLanguage Lab, MySpeechLab, MyEconLab, Coursesites.com, etc. etc. on an iPad? They run on Flash and I need them for school and I want an iPad.

I am hoping that on an iPad like some other sites it may switch from Flash to something else. Can anyone tell me? Thanks.

There should be no reason that the developer of those Flash apps can't create a version to run on iOS devices, submit the apps to the iOS App Store, and have them accepted. Adobe's Greg Wilson (@gregsramblings and http://gregsramblings.com) has a bunch of information on his website on how to do this. FWIW, the same tech can be used to generate Android apps.

For users of the apps, you should contact the publisher and ask that they publish your apps for iOS. If this software is required or recommended by the course instructor, you should also contact the instructor and ask him to contact the publisher. This should be a win-win for publishers of such Flash apps: their apps will be available for a whole new segment of the marketplace, and they can easily update the apps whenever desired in the iOS store.

Ask your iPad-buddies at your school and other schools to do the same.

 

[FloatingBones]

I exchanged several tweets with @gregsramblings about this:

Q: In general, do devs have to change their code at all? Change the aspect ratio of their app? Or is this turnkey?

Greg: There are APIs for screen DPI, resolution, aspect, etc. One project can do all formats if done right.

Greg: Here is a good article by Michaël Chaize (@mchaize) about this topic.

Greg: Here is another good article by Mihai Corlan (@mcorlan) on the topic.

I think this is a great opportunity for Flash/Flex/Adobe Air developers to help those with existing Adobe apps to help deploy them on iOS and other handheld devices. But it seems the first issue is to let the owners of popular Adobe apps know that there is a need to deploy their code in these alternative formats.

Thanks to @gregsramblings for the information.

 

[Mdifilm]

I've been using Iswifter for flash related sites and it works.

 

[Tarzanman]

Thats a lot of work to deploy to iOS just because one company is stubborn about supporting flash and approving all programs that get run on your device, is it not?

 

[FloatingBones]

Thats a lot of work to deploy to iOS just because one company is stubborn about supporting flash and approving all programs that get run on your device, is it not?

Actually, I've heard it's quite easy to cross-compile a Flash/Flex app and generate an iOS app. Adobe certainly portrays their tool that way.

Have you read the Thoughts on Flash memo? The reasons Apple decided to keep Flash out of iOS browsers are quite rational. Read the sixth reason in that memo: Flash apps cannot access the accessibility widgets that specific vendors (like Apple) provide. Users who need those accessibility widgets are shut out from a big chunk of the Internet. The good news: the presence of a quarter-billion iOS devices is a strong motivation for Flash websites to update to HTML5.

 

[Tarzanman]

Actually, I've heard it's quite easy to cross-compile a Flash/Flex app and generate an iOS app. Adobe certainly portrays their tool that way.

Have you read the Thoughts on Flash memo? The reasons Apple decided to keep Flash out of iOS browsers are quite rational. Read the sixth reason in that memo: Flash apps cannot access the accessibility widgets that specific vendors (like Apple) provide. Users who need those accessibility widgets are shut out from a big chunk of the Internet. The good news: the presence of a quarter-billion iOS devices is a strong motivation for Flash websites to update to HTML5.

Don't believe the hype. There are only two possible real sticking points to Apple not wanting flash on their devices.

1. "Security" - As in Apple won't be able to force developers to use Apple's proprietary programming tools to develop for iOS.

2. Performance - iOS, which is poor at multitasking would take a huge performance hit running flash. Don't forget that MacOS runs flash poorly compared to Windows on identical hardware. I am not a programmer, but it seems like Apple's operating systems might not be geared for running VMs very efficiently.


All the other reasons are just window dressing. Personally, I think that #2 is the likely culprit.... but only Apple knows (and they ain't tellin). How well does flash run on iOS's alternative browsers?

 

[darngooddesign]

...

Or you can realize that a light laptop is more useful and versatile for many things, like full coursework, than an iPad. Regardless of what you think about Flash on tablets, it runs just fine on computers, and significantly more people have computers.

 

[FloatingBones]

Actually, I've heard it's quite easy to cross-compile a Flash/Flex app and generate an iOS app. Adobe certainly portrays their tool that way.

Have you read the Thoughts on Flash memo? The reasons Apple decided to keep Flash out of iOS browsers are quite rational. Read the sixth reason in that memo: Flash apps cannot access the accessibility widgets that specific vendors (like Apple) provide. Users who need those accessibility widgets are shut out from a big chunk of the Internet. The good news: the presence of a quarter-billion iOS devices is a strong motivation for Flash websites to update to HTML5.

Don't believe the hype.

Since I don't see any hype in the memo, I'm not sure what you're talking about. Jobs's memo is right on target in describing the problems with Flash in general and specifically its accessibility issues.

There are only two possible real sticking points to Apple not wanting flash on their devices [...]

@Tarzanman, Apple is allowing Flash apps through the App Store. Adobe released its tools a few months ago, and developers are now releasing apps. The app politifact was one of the first. I pointed to a website supporting this effort in the first message in the thread. Your opinions don't seem to reconcile against those facts.

Or you can realize that a light laptop is more useful and versatile for many things, like full coursework, than an iPad. Regardless of what you think about Flash on tablets, it runs just fine on computers, and significantly more people have computers.

WRT the question you ask, different students will come to different conclusions. Some will agree with you and think a light laptop is indispensable. Others will commit 100% to an iPad. Many will take a middle-ground approach taking in iPad with them most of the time and having a laptop or desktop computer at home. Part of the attractiveness of that hybrid solution is that the traditional PC (Windows or Mac) can be accessed via remote-control software on the iPad. That's the beauty of an iPad option: every student can determine what works best for them.

If textbook publishers have Flash-based apps to supplement printed materials, those publishers should provide those apps via the iOS App Store. It's a win-win situation for the students and the publishers. @darn: can you think of any good reason why the publishers shouldn't put their Flash apps up in the iOS App Store?