Adobe begins work on Flash player for iPhone
Adobe has started development of a Flash player suitable for use on Apple Inc.'s iPhone, company chief executive Shantanu Narayen said Tuesday.
Narayen made the revelation during a conference call with investors, explaining that Apple's recent release of an iPhone software developers kit (SDK) has afforded his company the necessary tools to finally begin work a version of its proprietary media player for the touch-screen handset.
"We believe Flash is synonymous with the Internet experience, and we are committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone," he said. "We have evaluated (the software developer tools) and we think we can develop an iPhone Flash player ourselves."
Narayen's comments are the latest in an ongoing saga between the two companies largely played out by the media. It all began last month following claims on the part of one gadget blog that Flash on the iPhone was finally imminent.
That surprised Adobe spokesman Ryan Stewart, who quickly noted in an official company blog post that: "No one aside from [Apple chief executive] Steve Jobs has any idea if or when it's coming. Everyone I talk to doesn’t know anything."
For his part, Jobs would later claim that technological limitations were to blame for the absence of the media player, which has grown in recent years to become a staple of the modern web experience, fueling everything from media-intensive advertisements to full-fledged websites.
The version of Flash player that runs on Macs and PCs is "too slow to be useful" on the iPhone, he said during the March 4th Apple shareholders meeting, while the mobile version known as Flash Lite is "not capable of being used with the Web."
"There's this missing product in the middle," Jobs added. "It just doesn't exist."
Narayen and his team now appear poised to alter that notion. They hope to deliver their missing product via Apple's new App Store, set to open in June alongside the release of iPhone software version 2.0.
Still, several unanswered questions remain, such as how the Flash player would function within websites given Apple's current iPhone developer guidelines which seem to require that all third-party software be released as standalone applications rather than as plug-ins.
Narayen made the revelation during a conference call with investors, explaining that Apple's recent release of an iPhone software developers kit (SDK) has afforded his company the necessary tools to finally begin work a version of its proprietary media player for the touch-screen handset.
"We believe Flash is synonymous with the Internet experience, and we are committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone," he said. "We have evaluated (the software developer tools) and we think we can develop an iPhone Flash player ourselves."
Narayen's comments are the latest in an ongoing saga between the two companies largely played out by the media. It all began last month following claims on the part of one gadget blog that Flash on the iPhone was finally imminent.
That surprised Adobe spokesman Ryan Stewart, who quickly noted in an official company blog post that: "No one aside from [Apple chief executive] Steve Jobs has any idea if or when it's coming. Everyone I talk to doesn’t know anything."
For his part, Jobs would later claim that technological limitations were to blame for the absence of the media player, which has grown in recent years to become a staple of the modern web experience, fueling everything from media-intensive advertisements to full-fledged websites.
The version of Flash player that runs on Macs and PCs is "too slow to be useful" on the iPhone, he said during the March 4th Apple shareholders meeting, while the mobile version known as Flash Lite is "not capable of being used with the Web."
"There's this missing product in the middle," Jobs added. "It just doesn't exist."
Narayen and his team now appear poised to alter that notion. They hope to deliver their missing product via Apple's new App Store, set to open in June alongside the release of iPhone software version 2.0.
Still, several unanswered questions remain, such as how the Flash player would function within websites given Apple's current iPhone developer guidelines which seem to require that all third-party software be released as standalone applications rather than as plug-ins.
Comments
A little full of ourselves, aren't we?
Synonymous with annoying internet experience, maybe.
LIsten... I'm sure there are a lot of cool things being done with Flash, and I understand the fun Flash developers have with it.
But Flash is NOT the internet, and the meme that we're not getting 'real' internet without it is more than annoying. Its really dangerous for any concept of a standards-based internet.
I miss the days of web sites just being easy to read and navigate.
Now you have to look at six things before you actually find the info you need.
Let's not be hasty and see how it turns out before going ballistic. I say as long as the user can turn it on or off, then make it available and leave it up to the user. That should satisfy everyone.
I totally agree. I think it has its advantages and disadvantages. The best solution is to warn the user of the possible negatives, but give them the choice. I would want it sometime, but by default, I would leave it off. As for being a plug-in or Apple allowing it, I think the solution would be for Adobe to create their own browser with Flash support.
The rumor from the Apple Phone Show was that the real hold-up is something completely different from what Apple & reps have been telling us, something about complex rights issues. I'll have to dig it up, my memory is fuzzy on that.
... As for being a plug-in or Apple allowing it, I think the solution would be for Adobe to create their own browser with Flash support.
That would mean we'll have to wait for apple to make a 128 gig iphone...
will apple let them install it as a plug in?
It is Apple's rules so I'm sure they'll make an exception for the Flash player. I doubt Java will get as good of treatment as Flash will.
Personally, I can do without either Flash or Java on the iPhone. If they are there then fine, but so far I haven't missed them.
Even though some people make such a big deal as to how they hate it, I would like to see it. I don't know any reason why it couldn't be turned off, or removed, for those who just can't stand the idea.
i agree with the above statement "If done properly, Flash can be great - but executed wrong (which is 90% of the time at least) boy is it fucking annoying beyond belief."
so stop with the "we have to have flash" " flash defines the web experience" to what are the options for a clean user experience without hogging all the bandwidth and processor.
ade.
The clause is there to ensure that the software is 'complete' when apple test it, so that you can't go sending extra code to the program when it's running.
Jobs NEVER said that he didn't want flash on the phone. just as the article says, he said that the proper software wasn't available. If Adobe can come up with that software, I can't see any reason why Apple wouldn't use it.
Agree in part. I just can't see any reason why Apple would us it, as yet.
Even though some people make such a big deal as to how they hate it, I would like to see it. I don't know any reason why it couldn't be turned off, or removed, for those who just can't stand the idea.
I think that there are too many who just wouldn't comprehend the choice, causing more dissension from ignorance as seen in many of the arguments posted here.
Although this article (http://www.mercurious.com/wordpress/...one-and-flash/) was published last August, it does appear to have some relevance. Perhaps Melgross you could give your take on it.
I know it is on the N95 but what function does it serve?
(Also- any ideas of how to circumvent the 'roll-over' functionality of so much of flash? - Ireland- I have notice that you are one for solving these kind of touch-interface problems...)