Developers Discuss: Is this the End of Adobe Flash?
November 14th, 2011
By Terreece M. Clarke
"Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.
The avalanche of media outlets offering their content for Apple’s mobile devices demonstrates that Flash is no longer necessary to watch video or consume any kind of web content. And the 250,000 apps on Apple’s App Store proves that Flash isn’t necessary for tens of thousands of developers to create graphically rich applications, including games."
-Steve Jobs, "Thoughts on Flash" April 2010
When news broke that Adobe was killing Flash for mobile many thoughts turned to Steve Jobs' now infamous open letter citing the multiple ways Flash fell short. Jobs was criticized for his straight forward and very public words. Yet, many in the tech community shared the same sentiment including IT Martini's own blogger Josh Harrison who made the case for killing Flash and implored the World Wide Web Consortium to set HTML 5 as the standard.
Zach McArtor, cofounder of Taivara said, "It's a jubilant relief; better than a snow day. A common way of delivering mobile web content is better for everyone. The future belongs to HTML5 !"
While many will give Jobs the credit for killing Flash, in reality, Jobs simply shined a light on the inevitable. Mobile killed the Flash star.
The need for longer battery life, touch support - among other things - on mobile devices slowly strangled the life out of Flash.
"Developers can safely focus their efforts on HTML5 as the main way of delivering mobile web content. When a programmer chooses a technology to specialize, they are making a great investment of time and energy in the future of a technology" McArtor said. "Just like the browser wars of the 90s, there was fear the mobile web ecosystem could become fractured with many competing ways to deliver content."
McArtor said another consequence for those who leaned steadfastly on mobile flash is they will have to make some adjustments to other technologies.
Desktop Dilemma?
Adobe was quick to insist the desktop version was alive and well. "We are already working on Flash Player 12 and a new round of exciting features which we expect to again advance what is possible for delivering high-definition entertainment experiences," Adobe said in a written statement.
Others in the industry and insiders are not so sure.
In an Twitter interview with IT Martini Lance Ulanoff, editor in chief of Mashable said, "While we don't know for certain, this really does feel like the beginning of the end for Flash. Mobile is the future, after all."
Scott Del Toro, IT consultant for Oxford Associates agreed. "I hope, for Adobe's sake, they know more about market segments, consumer trends and technology niches than I do. Because I do know that mobile devices and mobile development are the present and the future of technology, and if you're not keeping up with them than that means you are surely part of the past."
Exploited security issues and Microsoft's announcement that its Windows 8 browser will not include the browser plugin automatically doesn't look good for Flash's future. However, desktop Flash still has a few things going for it including the education software sector.
Essentially, there is no real consensus other than break out the black for mobile and keep a close eye on the monitor for desktop Flash. Worse case scenario - a half dead zombie application everyone's too polite to look in the eye.
What do you think of Flash Mobile's death? Are you confident in HTML 5's ability to step up to the plate? Tell us! Write an email to the editor: Terreece [at] ITMartini.com
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Terreece M. Clarke
