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Flash on iPhone? Adobe Is In the Dark

Rumors that Flash is finally coming to Apple's iPhone are easy to come by, but don't look to Adobe for confirmation. According to Ryan Stewart, Adobe's Rich Internet Application Evangelist, no one on the inside seems to know about a development project, which means an iPhone Flash player probably isn't in the works -- at least not yet.

"I assume someone at the high levels of Adobe knows what the status is but I don't and everyone I talk to doesn't," Mr. Stewart said on his blog. "That's because only Apple really knows anything about it. If you want Flash on the iPhone I'd keep bugging Apple."

Matthew Keefe from the Flash developer team added "I would be one of the many Flash developers that would love to see the iPhone get Flash support, but I just don't see it happening in secret."

That revelation translates into disappointment for anyone hoping Flash support would come along with the iPhone software developer kit launch before the end of February.

The lack of Flash support means that the iPhone can't properly display many Web sites that rely on the technology to deliver interactive interfaces. It also means that many video Web sites are off limits to iPhone and iPod touch users, too.

While the iPhone's lack of Flash support could signal some kind of feud between Apple and Adobe, it more likely is simply the result of prioritizing developer schedules. When Apple launched the iPhone last year, many analysts and users criticized the device for lacking several key features that were already available on other cell phones.

The company has released a handful of updates since its initial launch to add new features and fix bugs. Once the base feature set, primary bug fixes and security holes are handled, it will be easier for Apple to justify focusing its resources on Flash support.

Exactly when that will happen, however, is anyone's guess.

Mr. Stewart added "I'm really stoked about what's going to come with the iPhone SDK and believe me, I want Flash on it just as much if not more than most of you. But no one aside from Steve Jobs has any idea if/when it's coming."

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A guest said: (hide)

I can't believe Apple will let Adobe control a key part of an iPhone interface.

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A guest said: (hide)

Flash oh iPhone:

DO NOT WANT.

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Sir Harry Flashman said:

member since 08 Feb 2007 with 787 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Guest wrote:
Flash oh iPhone:

DO NOT WANT.

I don't want it on my desktop Macs either. Well a few Flash animations on a page is fine, but those pure Flash sites I will visit only when necessary.

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A guest said: (hide)

Yea. "Do not want" is right.

The best are the flash ads that start spewing out loud sounds, especially concerning movie advertisements. Ugh.

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deasys said:

member since 08 Apr 2003 with 294 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

I encourage Apple to shun Flash on the iPhone / iPod touch.

Apart the fact that Flash is an irritating resource hog, Apple must not be dependent on the goodwill and development whims of a third party for significant functionality. Adobe has for years now clearly shown its interest in Flash development for the Mac, i.e. 'we'll create a poor performing port for you when we get around to it.'

No thanks--keep Flash away from the new generation devices.

BTW, Google has made a significant investment in converting at least one of its Flash-based services--YouTube--to H.264. What would Google think if Apple now implemented Flash support?

Flash: Just Say Noâ„¢.

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A guest said: (hide)

Granted that Flash ads suck but I honestly don't think you know what you are talking about deasys. The current version of Flash Player (9.0.115) supports H.264 so Google's decision to convert it's YouTube videos to H.264 would have been done in the full knowledge that a version of the Flash Player with H.264 support was not far off. Further, Adobe has for more than a year released it's Mac version of the Flash Player simultaneously with the Windows version (and the Linux releases will soon be synchronized too) so I don't know what you're complaining about. They've only owned Macromedia (and Flash) for under three years and they've made great strides towards making the Macromedia products much more cross-platform in that time. Shun away (do you mean you'll never upgrade the firmware on your iphone?) if it makes you feel better - it's not going to stop Flash coming to the iPhone.

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