Flash on the iPhone: A Hack Joke

Yesterday at Adobe MAX, it was announced that Flash will now compile into a native iPhone application. This is big news. Huge, even! But it's also a poke in the eye to everyone who has been clamoring for a Flash Player plugin for the phone's Safari web browser, which is to say: millions of iPhone owners and countless people who refuse to buy one because of its lack of Flash support.

Not to take away from what Adobe Engineers have done -- because it actually is pretty cool that Flash will compile into a native iPhone application -- but this is a bait and switch. This does (almost?) nothing for the real complaint: That embedded Flash widgets on the web (via the phone's Safari browser) are not usable. Apple's claim that the whole web is at your fingertips is still a bold faced lie.

And let's be honest. Everyone knows it's Apple that's holding out, because they know all too well that the minute they let Flash onto the iPhone everyone will start writing their apps as Flash and posting them on the web, and stop jumping through Apple's App Store hoops -- and donating a percentage of their profits to Apple for the privilege. But while we're being honest, it's only fair to say that it's Apple's device, and it is certainly credit-worthy that they had foresight enough to know that Flash would hurt their business model. It's their device, and they are willing to suffer whatever consequences may come from their decision to block Flash. Obviously they're suffering... all the way to the bank.

That said, it would be refreshing if Steve Jobs would just come out and admit that they're not going to let Flash onto the iPhone because it would hurt their business. Part of me thinks the honesty and openness could itself hurt business, because I'm sure there are hold-outs out there, hoping and praying for Flash every night before bed; and admitting on public record that it will never happen could drive them away, but beating around the bush with answers like "we're working on it" and "we want it to happen" might fool some people into keeping their hopes alive. But it's possible that such openness could help, too. People might find the honesty and transparency refreshing -- I know I would -- and be more open to the idea of adopting the phone. But it won't happen. Apple isn't exactly known for its transparency.

So, while I applaud Adobe for their engineering efforts, I think that this is a bad marketing move. Call a spade a spade, call a plugin a plugin, and don't try to pull the wool over people's eyes. I understand that Adobe has a working relationship with Apple that they need to maintain, and I don't have a problem with that. But I still feel dirty, like some shady back-alley dealer is pushing this Flash-iPhone compiler on me when I asked for a Safari plugin. And that itself takes away from the respect that the technology deserves.

Full disclosure: I have an iPhone and love it to death; and I love Flash and Flex. I'd love to see them together on the iPhone, but I don't think it will ever happen.

Posted in Adobe | 3 Responses October 06 2009