Hey Apple...Adobe has learned its lesson! We want Flash

[Arelunde]

It seems the obvious answer would be an option to enable Flash in Settings, but not as a built-in, but as an add-on. OR, enable a Flash download, if making it part of the iPhone4/5 package isn't acceptable. At least offer some options. Not everyone need Flash.

I know a guy who is a real estate agent. His company's website is all Flash. He CAN'T use an iPhone for work, and that's a real issue. That's too bad, because I think he would value the iPhone quality - it it were an option for him. Not.

 

[Geckotek]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2011/jul/06/ipad-browsing-web-domination-android

"In other words, for every thousand page views by a tablet, 965 would come from an iPad, 19 from a Galaxy Tab, 12 from a Xoom and 3 from a PlayBook. (In market share terms, that would show up as Android having a 3 percent share.)

With 25m iPads sold, that would imply (on a like-for-like basis) that there are something like half a million Galaxy Tabs in use, and 325,000 Xooms." - John Gruber

 

[BaldiMac]

It seems the obvious answer would be an option to enable Flash in Settings, but not as a built-in, but as an add-on. OR, enable a Flash download, if making it part of the iPhone4/5 package isn't acceptable. At least offer some options. Not everyone need Flash.

I know a guy who is a real estate agent. His company's website is all Flash. He CAN'T use an iPhone for work, and that's a real issue. That's too bad, because I think he would value the iPhone quality - it it were an option for him. Not.

I also know some real estate agents. Our local MLS system only works in Internet Explorer on Windows. (Yes, in 2011.) Should Microsoft be forced to build an iOS version and Apple be forced to accept it?

 

[heisenberg123]

use Skyfire i know its a pain to need 2 browsers but if you know you going to a site that needs flash you just fire it up and it works good

 

[sk1wbw]

I just saw Flash running on a Droid X. Very impressive! I think it's time for Apple and Adobe to kiss and make up. It will be a few more years before HTML5 really takes off. Until then it sure would be nice to view Flash websites!

Yeah, the internet is useless without Flash ads and Flash games!!!

 

[kdarling]

I don't think I ever got a response to my posting 'on the other side', but why no Flash, from a technical standpoint that is.

There's no real technical reason. And it's quite handy to have the capability available when browsing on a phone.

Jobs has given the main "why" before: he doesn't want any major parts of the phone to be dependent on another company. Both Java and Flash fall into that category.

Now, the iPhone was originally dependent somewhat on Google. The need for Google Maps, Search and YouTube conversions to make the early phone more desirable, is most likely what led Jobs to ask a Google CEO to get on Apple's board right smack in the middle of iPhone development... Apple had no alternative: they needed Google's help and cooperation.

However, since then we've seen Apple trying to move away from Google dependence as well. They've bought a mapping company, perhaps with an eye towards doing their own core app. Google's conversion of videos helped spark other sites to do the same, which was to Apple's benefit.

Apple needs to push HTML5. Two years from now, with the HUGE iPad growth and whatnot, websites everywhere will have to drop flash for HTML5, which is GREAT!

Not if they only cater to the majority.

Currently, iOS devices only count for 2% of the world's web browsing, with the iPad making up 1% of that.

 

[fertilized-egg]

I know a guy who is a real estate agent. His company's website is all Flash. He CAN'T use an iPhone for work, and that's a real issue.

If a site is "all Flash," the last thing he wants to do as a businessman is to try to use a phone to access that site. It's bad enough when you try to use an HTML real estate site, and an all Flash site is a nightmare to navigate on a touch phone, both because of the performance issue and the fact those sites just don't work all that well on a touch phone.

It happened a few times here at MacRumors. Anytime I see people say "this site/webapp is all Flash and too bad iOS couldn't access it when Android and PlayBook can!" I go visit that Flash app/site on my PlayBook or Android phone, and inevitably it's so terrible I don't see anybody wanting to use it. And I ask myself: did they actually visit those sites on mobile devices before mentioning them?

To me Flash's problem in its current state is obvious. Usually anything that can be done in Flash and played back smoothly on a phone is something that can easily replicated through HTML, JavaScript, etc. Those that require sophisticated Flash codes? You don't want to use them on your phone.

 

[davelanger]

I think it's time for Steve Jobs to take his head out of his Arse and make up with Adobe.

The problem is not apple/jobs, its adobe. Apple would use flash on the iphone if adobe would fix all its problems. I remember on my old power mac trying to go to some flash sites and it would just pretty much freeze my window, and that is on a desktop, sure it was 5 years old but still a flash side should not be doing that to a desk top that is running leopard, now imagine an iphone or mobile phone trying to go on that site?

The users would be blaming the phone instead of the site. Flash is bad tech, html5 is where the future is, there are too many people using flash for their sites that dont even know how to use it correctly

 

[Geckotek]

Apple would use flash on the iphone if adobe would fix all its problems.

Doubt it, I think that ship has sailed. I don't see Steve reversing his decision. So far all the iOS devices are selling just fine w/o flash support.

Ummm... Newgrounds is a Flash gaming site. Games can't be converted to h.264.

Forgot about the games. I only used it in the past for a few videos.

Another website goes HTML5.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/twitter-com-for-ipad-eyes-on-now-with-100-percent-more-html5/

 

[Hermes Monster]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but I don't want to read 39 pages ... Adobe has just released Edge, which as far as I can see is a HTML5 based replacement for Flash.

Everyone's a winner!

 

[Tarzanman]

The problem is not apple/jobs, its adobe. Apple would use flash on the iphone if adobe would fix all its problems. I remember on my old power mac trying to go to some flash sites and it would just pretty much freeze my window, and that is on a desktop, sure it was 5 years old but still a flash side should not be doing that to a desk top that is running leopard, now imagine an iphone or mobile phone trying to go on that site?

The users would be blaming the phone instead of the site. Flash is bad tech, html5 is where the future is, there are too many people using flash for their sites that dont even know how to use it correctly

I don't think that Steve Jobs has any room to complain. Apple software has run pretty sh*ttily on PC's for decades (quicktime, itunes, etc).

Flash runs poorly on Apple stuff? Oh, boo-hoo! Maybe we should go back to the 80's and 90's when there were very few cross-platform applications.

 

[LaunchpadBS]

From a dev perspective HTML5's implementation has far more potential than flash, and is easier to code(my opinion anyway, I always saw flash as cheating ), flash is sooo last century seriously!

 

[walie]

I don't think that Steve Jobs has any room to complain. Apple software has run pretty sh*ttily on PC's for decades (quicktime, itunes, etc).

Flash runs poorly on Apple stuff? Oh, boo-hoo! Maybe we should go back to the 80's and 90's when there were very few cross-platform applications.

+gabillion

 

[jagolden]

The problem with providing Flash as an option is that it provides a crutch for developers to fall back on instead of redesigning their websites with newer technologies.

Whether you agree with them or not, Apple has decided to support HTML5 and associated technologies over Flash. Providing an option for Flash would delay adoption of HTML5 in favor of legacy code.

But who died and left Apple as the one to force others to switch to HTML5?
Like others, I'd simply like the choice.

 

[err404]

I don't think that Steve Jobs has any room to complain. Apple software has run pretty sh*ttily on PC's for decades (quicktime, itunes, etc).

Flash runs poorly on Apple stuff? Oh, boo-hoo! Maybe we should go back to the 80's and 90's when there were very few cross-platform applications.

Regardless of whether the above argument is valid or not, it doesn't have much relevancy.
MS does not include Apple components in Windows.
Apple does not include Adobe components in OS X.

As for iOS; Safari does not support a plug-in architecture, so support for Flash would need to be bundled by Apple, or plug-in support would need to be added. Neither solution is going to happen in the near future.

 

[BaldiMac]

But who died and left Apple as the one to force others to switch to HTML5?
Like others, I'd simply like the choice.

Nobody died. Apple simply made a choice.

 

[err404]

But who died and left Apple as the one to force others to switch to HTML5?

Apple is among the worlds most influential technology companies. They don't need anyone's permission to attempt to drive the direction of technology.

Like others, I'd simply like the choice.

Then by a phone that supports Flash.

 

[Geckotek]

But who died and left Apple as the one to force others to switch to HTML5?
Like others, I'd simply like the choice.

Nobody is forcing anybody to do anything. You do have a choice. Exercise that power.

 

[iceterminal]

But who died and left Apple as the one to force others to switch to HTML5?
Like others, I'd simply like the choice.

How do you not have a choice? If you want adobe flash on your mobile or tablet, go buy an Android. Thats choice.
Apple made, just like you did when you purchased their product, a choice not to include flash.
No big deal. I like Pepsi, not Coke. I made a choice.

Also, HTML5 is open source. I can create it with notepad. Flash? Eh, not the same.

 

[sk1wbw]

Nobody died. Apple simply made a choice.

Sweet, another Tar Heel fan on the forums!!!!

 

[AppleTech22]

I just saw Flash running on a Droid X. Very impressive! I think it's time for Apple and Adobe to kiss and make up. It will be a few more years before HTML5 really takes off. Until then it sure would be nice to view Flash websites!

Here, this link magically fixes the flash problem for you.
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-DROID-Android-Verizon-Wireless/dp/B003UESOGA


iOS doesn't have it and hopefully never will. If you want Flash, go buy the phone and miss out on the design and smoothness of the OS. I used to have a Droid and the experience is NOWHERE near what I have on my iPhone now.

 

[mobiledesign]

Adobe tried with their Wallaby but that just targets iPhone.

HTML5 and CSS3 is the way to go. There are just not any great wysiwyg software to design it faster...except for Sencha Animator...but there are a lot of restrictions and it's tedious to implement into the iphone.

Best to move on and hunker down with the HTML5 and CS3 until then.

 

[Nicolas4ever]

i would like to have flash in my ipod touch.why apple hate so much flash?it won't kill their devices.

 

[brock2621]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Come back flexengineer!

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/11/09/adobe-discontinues-development-on-mobile-flash/

 

[boomhower]

I had several android phones and always kept flash turned off. 99% of its use was YouTube but now that just links and opens in the app. The other one percent was restaurant web sites that are still flash, not worth the system drain for those once every couple of month sites.

I don't miss it at all now that I have went iPhone.