Apple and Adobe: Who needs whom?
Adobe has tipped its hand, and it now seems clear that it needs Apple's iPhone more than Apple (AAPL) needs Adobe's Flash. But it's not at all clear that Adobe (ADBE) will get the foothold on the device it seems to want so badly.
Two weeks ago Adobe turned the other cheek when Steve Jobs' publicly slighted Flash and Flash Lite, describing the first as "too slow to be useful" on the iPhone and the second as "not capable of being used with the Web." See here.
Nonetheless on Tuesday, during Adobe's quarterly conference call, CEO Shantanu Narayen announced that his company has begun development of a version of Flash specifically for the iPhone — surprising even his PR staff.
"We believe Flash is synonymous with the Internet experience, and we are committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone," he said. "We have evaluated (the software developer tools) and we think we can develop an iPhone Flash player ourselves." (link)
Presumably Adobe intends this version to fit what Jobs described as "missing product in the middle" between Flash and Flash Lite.
But there are other ways to deliver rich-media applications to the iPhone. Sun Microsystems (JAVA) has announced that it is developing a version of Java for the iPhone, for example, and Apple has some home-grown solutions of its own. (See Kontra's Runtime Wars (1) and (2) for a summary of Apple's options.)
And it's not clear that even this new version of Adobe Flash will thrive in the iPhone ecosystem unless Apple decides to allow it.
Daniel Eran Dilger at Roughly Drafted Magazine has already expressed his skepticism, arguing that it's no more in Apple's interest to become dependent on Adobe than it would be to become dependent on, say, Microsoft (see here).
Daring Fireball's John Gruber is even more dismissive. "Adobe Smoking Same Dope as Sun," was the headline of his post on the subject. He points out that the iPhone SDK explicitly states that no "interpreted code" can be downloaded and used in an application except those that are run by Apple's published program interfaces (APIs).
"Without approval from Apple (including APIs beyond those in the current third-party SDK)," Gruber writes, "they can distribute it in the same alternate universe as Sun’s supposedly-in-the-works Java port." (link)
UPDATE: Gruber is right about that, as Adobe acknowledged in the clarifying statement it issued on Wednesday:
Adobe has evaluated the iPhone SDK and can now start to develop a way to bring Flash Player to the iPhone. However, to bring the full capabilities of Flash to the iPhone Web-browsing experience we do need to work with Apple beyond and above what is available through the SDK and the current license around it. (link)
Why is it even a question who needs whom? Its obviously a symbiotic relationship. Apple has plainly told Adobe their product needs improving. So, Adobe, improve it. Why not?
dude why do you need internet radio on iphone
i use the FlyTunes web app that has streaming radio for iphone using, guess what, QUICKTIME that's already on the iphone
that would be sacrilegious for iPhone to use Microsoft's windows media player
Keep an eye open for up and coming Doug Flutieish co. called espre solutions to be the video collabriation key that these big players are looking for. Soon to be on the BB, hopefully.
I've worked with Flash since 2003 and I have also been a Mac user since 1999. I do think Jobs has a point about Flash. It has quirks that make is less easy to program with, and can open up security risks to the iPhone (which I also own).
Flash is great for the browser and excels with multimedia content. It will not kill Flash to be without iPhone any more than it is killing the iPhone to be without Flash.
In an ideal world, Adobe and Apple will kiss and make up. Apple is great at simplifying software for the end-user and Adobe is great at coming up with or acquiring software that drives media. If Adobe has not supported Apple in releasing its software for OSX, Apple may have been in a much more precarious position today. If Apple bought Adobe, it would sure seal my fate, and they may be able to fix some of the issues with Flash that make me tear my hair out.
love or hate Apple/Jobs, but you have to admire his ability to make everyone (RIAA, Hollywood, TV Networks, etc) to bow down to him. they all huff & puff like teenagers testing their independence & stand tall. however, the prospect of losing out on millions of dollars and/or high exposure makes them all come crawling back like those same runaway teens asking to be let back in the house. must be nice to be him and have that power and influence. just funny how these companies chest thump, then realize, "hey, we're missing out on $100-mill a year", or they can't let the fastest growing web presence pass them by, along with shareholder pressure i'm sure.
i welcome Flash, just give me controls to block certain files, audio and annoying Flash ads.
i have a iPod touch, don't really miss Flash on it (a nice to have if i can control the settings), but i do wish they supported Windows Media Player, so i can stream internet radio.
Even if Flash could be optimized to run faster on OS X with less of an impact on the CPU and battery life, there'd still remain a huge issue of clashing UIs and interaction frameworks on the iPhone between Adobe and Apple. The iPhone is establishing the first multi-touch driven mass-market platform, Flash doesn't even have a multi-touch framework. I explore the implications of this for both Adobe and Apple in:
The new UI wars: Why there's no Flash on iPhone 2.0