Posted on 04/29/2010 10:07:50 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
* Adobe shares fall 2 percent, Apple up 2.4 pct
SAN FRANCISCO, April 29 (Reuters) - Apple Inc (AAPL.O) Chief Executive Steve Jobs on Thursday called Adobe Systems (ADBE.O) Flash multimedia software a "closed system" that is ill-suited for the company's suite of mobile devices, escalating the war of words between the two companies.
Jobs said Flash's system is closed because it is a proprietary system from Adobe, which controls everything from its features to its pricing. Ironically, perhaps, similar charges have been lobbed at Apple's products and services, such as iTunes.
In a long, detailed letter posted on Apple's website, Jobs cited a number of problems with Flash, which is used to run video on many Internet sites but which is not compatible with Apple's iPhone and iPad."
"Adobe has characterized our decision as being primarily business driven - they say we want to protect our App Store - but in reality it is based on technology issues. Adobe claims that we are a closed system, and that Flash is open, but in fact the opposite is true," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Wonder if Microsoft is listening?
Apple's Jobs: Adobe Flash Is Closed, Unstable, Antiquated
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Steve Jobs on Thursday fired back at Adobe, denying that Apple eschewed Flash on the iPad to protect its App Store, and instead accusing Adobe of living in the past and not innovating to keep up with the mobile Web.
"Adobe has characterized our decision as being primarily business driven they say we want to protect our App Store but in reality it is based on technology issues," Jobs wrote in a note posted to the Apple Web site.
Apple's recently released iPad tablet does not support Adobe's Flash technology, meaning that Flash-based videos (like those on Hulu.com) accessed in the iPad's Web browser will not play. Companies like YouTube and Netflix have gotten around this issue by developing apps that play on the iPad, prompting Adobe to accuse Apple of ignoring Flash so it could make a few extra dollars via App Store purchases.
Jobs denied this, and said that "iPhone, iPod, and iPad users aren't missing much video" because online video is "also available in a more modern format, H. 264," which works on Apple products.
Jobs highlighted six specific reasons Apple takes issue with Adobe Flash.
Apple invented the concept of closed systems. They are the king of proprietary hardware and software.
Pot calls kettle black!
Once they release the new OS for iPhone, the only thing that I will not like about my iPhone is that it can’t view Flash. It’s frustrating to go to Flash driven websites and see that little 3d blue block!
Excerpt from Jobs' statement:
Sixth, the most important reason.Besides the fact that Flash is closed and proprietary, has major technical drawbacks, and doesnt support touch based devices, there is an even more important reason we do not allow Flash on iPhones, iPods and iPads. We have discussed the downsides of using Flash to play video and interactive content from websites, but Adobe also wants developers to adopt Flash to create apps that run on our mobile devices.
We know from painful experience that letting a third party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform. If developers grow dependent on third party development libraries and tools, they can only take advantage of platform enhancements if and when the third party chooses to adopt the new features. We cannot be at the mercy of a third party deciding if and when they will make our enhancements available to our developers.
Gee, Steve, don't you think that should be the free choice of developers to use or not to use Flash to create apps? Let the market decide if the apps suck or not?
My thoughts exactly!
Is this really about the iPhone and iPad alone? I thought Flash did not work in Safari on any platform - and I wrong?
this is a tough call because I don’t like either one’s closed system. (and I really LOATH those flash and flash type websites)
Yeah that is a huge problem with UNIX, how closed it is.
That’s why it works better.
I’ll give him the unstable and antiquated, but Jobs complaining about somebody having a closed system is serious hypocrisy.
Yep. Take a look in the mirror, Steve-o. Blatant hypocracy.
Closed system?
Pot, meet Kettle. Kettle, this is Pot.
Sure NOW wit OSX Apple has an open OS. Pre-OSX they didn’t have open anything. And of course by picking and choosing which apps are available they’re keeping the iGadgets pretty closed too.
LOL
Pot, meet the Kettle....
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