Feb
11th

Oneupweb : Adobe Flash – Is Time Running Out?

Posted by Robert on February 11, 2010 at 10:09 am

Recently, Apple unveiled its new toy called the iPad. I was disappointed to learn that like the iPhone and iPod Touch, it will not support Flash. This got me thinking about the future of Adobe’s Flash Player.

I wrote an article last month about Flash CS5 having the ability to compile iPhone apps from ActionScript3 code, but now I’m wondering if that’s really the best solution. Flash is currently the best form of media for browser based gaming when it comes to reaching the masses, but if things don’t change, it will find itself reminiscing over its glory days before long.

HTML5, paired with JavaScript, is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with. Its biggest advantage is the ability to render graphics with the GPU (Graphic Processing Unit). Its disadvantage is that users must have a browser that supports HTML5. IE8 and FF2 are among the browsers that don’t support it. In a world where 10.2% of internet users are still on IE6, it’s not likely that HTML5 will be the standard anytime soon. In fact, HTML4 isn’t even fully implemented yet.

Flash currently renders graphics through CPU (Central Processing Unit) for maximum compatibility across computers and operating systems which, unfortunately, puts quite a load on the processor. The next release of Flash Player will have GPU support (v10.1), but that will require users to update the drivers to their graphics cards as well. All I can do is hope that it gives Flash enough power to compete in the years to come…

I love AS3, but if Adobe doesn’t do something, then I’ll have no choice but to move to something else. In the end, the fate of Flash will depend greatly on how Adobe plays its cards.

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Feb
2nd

Thoughts On The iPad, Flash And Online Video

Posted by Jeremiah on February 2, 2010 at 10:12 am

Ah yes, the iPad. Shrouded in secrecy until its recent unveiling, this newest gadget from Apple was the subject of nigh rabid speculation regarding its features, form factor and name. Post-launch, the product is still being hotly discussed, but one feature in particular (or lack thereof) seems to have grabbed quite a bit of attention: no native support for Adobe Flash.

This is nothing new for Apple. The iPhone and iPod Touch have lacked any support for Flash since coming to market, relying on custom apps to allow access to content on sites like YouTube (which ordinarily streams content as Flash video files). As described in an earlier post on this blog, Adobe has once again found themselves with the ball in their court. I wouldn’t be surprised if Adobe Flash Professional CS5 winds up able to compile apps for both the iPhone and the iPad. Or who knows, maybe that’s a CS6 feature?

But why take such a hard line against Flash with the iPad? First, Apple has been consistent in its position that Flash is too resource intensive for its mobile devices, citing decreased battery life and processor strain as the two primary examples of why it could be considered advantageous to drop support altogether. Secondly, Apple is pushing standards with the launch of this device—HTML5 specifically.

By supporting HTML5, Apple has enabled the iPad to stream video content without the need for a browser plugin. Most mainstream video content providers, including YouTube, are already moving to adopt HTML5. Currently, web browsers Opera and (unsurprisingly) Apple’s own Safari boast strong support of HTML5, while Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer lags far behind.

It would be unwise to take all of this as reason to be dismissive of Flash altogether, however. Roughly 96 percent of internet users have some version of Adobe’s Flash installed on their computers. While HTML5 may be the future of video distribution on the web, Flash developers continue to push the platform’s boundaries, delivering not only video, but games, advertising and interactive media to a steadily growing global market.

We may be just catching a glimpse of the end of Adobe’s market dominance on the horizon, but in the meantime, it’s still the 800 pound gorilla in the room when it comes to the multimedia content being consumed by the one billion plus global internet users online in 2010. Apple’s decision to essentially “lock out” its iPad users from this type of content may have been intended to be a push toward the future, but could wind up hurting them in the end.

Pushing standards is one thing, but denying people access to content they have become widely accustomed to consuming is another thing entirely.

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Jan
29th

An Open Letter To Apple

Posted by Maureen on January 29, 2010 at 4:01 pm

Dear Apple,

I want to commend you on the successful marketing campaign you built around the new iPad. While I have some concerns with the actual name itself, the amount of buzz that was carefully built around this announcement was incredible.

But alas, that’s not why I write.

Prior to your Wednesday announcement I had hoped and prayed that you would include an announcement of a different kind: that you were not renewing your contract with AT&T for another year.

I’m still praying for this.

It’s not that I don’t like AT&T. I hear they are fantastic. But I bought into one of those 2-person account contracts with a different carrier before anyone ever realized just how cool the iPhone was actually going to be. The other person that I bought into the account with (he shall remain nameless) has had a temporary bout of insanity, and bought one of those “other” smartphones two months ago with the same carrier (he claims it has better coverage or something like that). I could break my contract with this carrier, but that might mean breaking my contract with him as well (if you know what I mean). I’ve heard claim that your contract with AT&T expires in June.

Oh Apple, come on, just let it.

I, too, want to be able to build my own pizza and shake off those nasty toppings I didn’t really want. I’d love to shoot a buffalo and ford a river on the Oregon Trail. And I long to get in a virtual food fight with all of my friends on Twitter and Facebook.

The marketing opportunities that your iPhone presents are endless, and I’m pleading with you: let me be marketed at! Do you know how rare that statement really is? The companies currently pushing apps on your iPhone certainly do. So please, don’t punish them because I’m with another carrier.

In closing, I’d like to say thank you for your continued efforts in the technological space. And if you ever want to run a product name by me, I’d be happy to offer my opinion.

Sincerely and with great hope,

An iPhone Carrier Wanna-Be

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