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As previously reported, Apple has made it quite difficult for Adobe by banning its Flash CS5 Flash-to-iPhone converter a mere 4 days before the public release of Adobe Flash CS5. Nearly two weeks later, Adobe has responded by announcing they are ending development on the Flash CS5 iPhone compiler. |
Mike Chamber, the Adobe Flash Platform project manager, made the announcement in his blog, saying:
- While it appears that Apple may selectively enforce the terms, it is our belief that Apple will enforce those terms as they apply to content created with Flash CS5. Developers should be prepared for Apple to remove existing content and applications (100+ on the store today) created with Flash CS5 from the iTunes store. We will still be shipping the ability to target the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5. However, we are not currently planning any additional investments in that feature.
Mike also comments about the merits of the endeavor:
- So, was all of the work on the iPhone packager a waste of time and resources? No, I don’t believe so. We proved that:
- 1. There is no technical reason that Flash can’t run on the iPhone
2. Developers can create well performing and compelling content for the device with Flash
While I understand he’s trying to find a silver lining in this murky cloud, I don’t think anyone ever questioned Flash’s ability to run on an iPhone. Steve Jobs seemed more concerned with Flash’s likelihood to drain battery life than with its ability to run properly.
Finally, Mike writes that if Apple won’t have them, they will be pushing forward with the release of Flash for the Google Android.
There hasn’t been a public fight between two big powerhouses like Adobe and Apple in recent memory and it betrays the two companies’ roots. Once upon a time, Adobe’s Photoshop product was the reason you bought a Mac. It was Apple’s biggest competitive advantage, at a time when it didn’t have many. As the Adobe creative suite grew, the number of designers dependent on Apple’s products grew with it. It is hard to imagine that two companies who evolved together and owe each other for their success could have such a falling out. If Adobe really wanted to hurt Apple, they could stop releasing their creative suite products for Mac. While last month this would have sounded like an outlandish prospect, this month after such a public feud between the two companies, it seems well within the realm of possibilities.