Apple CEO Says No Adobe Flash on iPhone, iPad

The Apple iPhone and iPad boast countless apps and features. However, according to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, there is one particular feature that will not be appearing on the aforementioned Apple devices: Adobe Flash technology.

In a 1,685-word offensive against Adobe (titled "Thoughts on Flash"), Jobs mentioned that Flash has too many "bugs", drains batteries too quickly and is too oriented to personal computers to work on the iPhone or iPad. Jobs went on to state that Flash was designed "for PCs using mice, not for touch screens using fingers." (Source: yahoo.com)

Still, many believe that the most important reason for keeping the program away from their devices is because Flash puts a third party between Apple and software developers. This means that developers can only take advantage of improvements from Apple if Adobe upgrades their own software.

Adobe CEO Remains Adamant about Flash

Adobe, on the other hand, remains committed to the old adage "never say never" in terms of seeing Flash technology appear on an iPhone or iPad screen. In a March 23 conference call, President and CEO Shantanu Narayen stressed that his company is "committed to bringing Flash to any platform on which there is a screen." (Source: stockhouse.com)

Narayen went on to reiterate that the Flash ban has more to do with Apple's personal preference than problems with the technology.

Many have criticized Apple for the Flash omission, claiming that it limits what the iPhone and iPad can do. Nevertheless, more-and-more application developers are offering their additions without requiring the use of Flash.

HTML5 Could Make Adobe Flash Obsolete

HTML5, a new web standard (or manner in which to create web pages), will have built-in support for videos and audio files. If HTML5 eventually wins out in terms of consumer preference, Flash could soon become obsolete.

Still, it could be a decade before HTML5 receives widespread acceptance by common users and developers alike, so Flash has more than enough time to make the necessary changes needed to keep their loyal following intact.