{"id":1151,"date":"2009-02-21T00:39:10","date_gmt":"2009-02-21T08:39:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.perivision.net\/wordpress\/?p=1151"},"modified":"2009-02-21T22:18:34","modified_gmt":"2009-02-22T06:18:34","slug":"why-we-are-not-going-to-see-flash-on-the-iphone-for-a-looongg-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.perivision.net\/wordpress\/2009\/02\/why-we-are-not-going-to-see-flash-on-the-iphone-for-a-looongg-time\/","title":{"rendered":"WHY we are not going to see Flash on the iphone for a looongg time."},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve written a few posts<\/a>.. ok, a number of posts on how annoyed I am that Flash in not on the iphone. My biggest complaint is the lack of video support.\u00a0 But WHY?\u00a0 What we hear from Adobe is that there are technical issues and its up to them to solve. Riiiigghhtt..\u00a0 Yes, I’m sure there are technical issues, but not as you might think.\u00a0 The problem is that Flash, like Java, has the capability to be its own OS on top of another OS. If you do not know already, there are a number of virtual desktops running in Flash that you can load within your web browser (‘g.ho.st’ is a good example).\u00a0 The beauty of this solution is the ability to take your desktop with you from machine to machine. Great.\u00a0 Wellll, not so great as far as Apple is concerned.\u00a0 Let’s remember that Apple are control freaks, almost to the point of being clinical. So to allow flash (or Java) on the iphone with access, (even limited) to OS level calls, could set up the possibility of a platform on a platform situation.\u00a0 So imagine we have Flash running on the iphone.\u00a0 It would pretty easy, as I used to be a pretty hard core Flash programmer, to set up a desktop with icons and widgets. People could call applications on the fly because you can insert flash apps into flash in real time. Include video support, socket connections and access to storage (even session limited) and you could have a phone OS within a phone OS including calling and running 3rd party applications.\u00a0 Waaiitt a minute.\u00a0 Now, we have a problem. Apple makes a LOT of money on it’s apps store.\u00a0 It also has control on what can and cannot be in the store. So image the possible review loss. But people still want Flash!\u00a0 And Apple cannot openly say, ‘ well, we do not want to run the risk of losing our cash cow, much less have to support something we will lose money on.’<\/p>\n

Solution?<\/p>\n

Allow Flash on the phone, BUT, with limitations.\u00a0 For example, a flash app CANNOT load another flash app remotely.\u00a0 Flash can only have very limited access to the file system. How about a limit on footprint? CPU usage limit?\u00a0 I can think of more, but you get the idea.\u00a0 By putting strict limitations on how Flash is allowed to operate within the iPhone OS, they can constrain Flash enough to insure it cannot be a threat.<\/p>\n

So what are Adobes options?\u00a0 Right now, none. They have to play to the rules Apple gives them, however, Andriod, Microsoft mobile, Sybian, soon the Pre and perhaps blackberry may not have such issues… Well, maybe blackberry will have a few issues. So why is Adobe still willing to play this game?\u00a0 Two reasons.. First, even with limitations, there will be TONS of flash programmers (I would be one of them) who would love to write for the iphone, even with limitations. Second, flash video. If they can get flash video running on the iPhone, this will insure Flash Video will continue to be the dominate player.\u00a0 Makes you wonder if anther limitation Apple will place is not Flash video eh?<\/p>\n

G.ho.st: An example of Flash as a desktop UI.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"ghost\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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