The newest member of the Apple family, iPad, is being marketed as “The     best way to experience the web, email, photos, and video. Hands down.”

Fact is, 70% of games and 75% of videos on the web [Reference: http://blogs.adobe.com.../] still runs on Flash. So, how does Apple propose to us users that we’ll get to experience the full range of the web with iPad? For us at Key2Flex, there is no other way around it. We believe that by not supporting Flash, Apple is restricting users’ web activity especially now that more and more applications are being built in Adobe’s Flex and AIR platform—both runs on Flash.Despite many complaints by Flash enthusiasts, Apple’s decision is expected, based on experience with the iPod Touch and iPhone. And yet, tech blogs and forums still debate about the topic. We at Key2Flex found both sides of the argument very convincing. On one side, analysts are defending Apple’s decision, saying that the instability of the Flash Player and its resource-intensive nature would only weaken iPad’s performance. Apple is putting conscious efforts in creating the best possible computing experience where in users can take advantage of the gadget’s speed, stability, and battery life. In fact, it is the same reason why the iPad allow users to run only one application at a time— a deal-breaker for users who prefer to multi-task when working. They are also placing their bets on HTML5, despite the odds that it will take years before it is fully optimized to support all available RIAs on the web. On the other hand, experts are also saying that Apple’s reason is purely financial. If Flash is supported by the iPod, iTouch, and iPad, Apple’s sales from their app store would automatically decrease because no one would feel the need to buy apps that they can simply download for free.

In conclusion, iPad is, with no arguments, a cool, sleek gadget. While the conflict between Adobe and Apple may go on for a while longer, its success will ultimately rely on its popularity with the market—us consumers, who in turn should decide if the gadget is a fair trade for gaming and media streaming.

Tags: Adobe, Apple, Flash Player, iPad

This entry was posted on Friday, January 29th, 2010 at 8:47 am and is filed under Experience. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.