Steve Jobs Blogs On Why He Hates Flash, But Can't Get His Facts Straight

Added 4/30: Since I published this, I have gotten more than one email sent to me threatening me with bodily harm for writing this post. In fact, quite a few. So if you are reading my post, or any other post on this topic and then feel the need to want to hurt someone, I would suggest you stay calm, relax and then go about the rest of your day. This topic is not worth anyone getting that upset over it.

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Clearly Apple must be feeling some pressure from the large group of consumers who are tired of not being able to get Flash content, specifically video, on Apple's iPad and iPhones because Steve Jobs just posted an article on Apple's website entitled "Thoughts On Flash".

Steve starts off by saying that, "Adobe has characterized our decision as being primarily business driven", which is correct, but of course Steve says that, "in reality it is based on technology issues". While Steve spends some time to talk about what an "open" environment really means, and rants about how Flash is not open, he also then says that "the operating system for the iPhone, iPod and iPad is proprietary". So on one hand he calls Flash out for not being open, then rightly states that neither is Apple when it comes to their OS, but also then says that in fact, Apple is the one that has an open system, not Adobe. Make up your mind Steve, do you think Apple is open or closed? The reality is both companies have proprietary systems.

Of all the things that Steve says in his article, he's flat out wrong when it comes to his description of the "full web" experience and he should be ashamed to try to think he can fool us. Steve says that, "Adobe has repeatedly said that Apple mobile devices cannot access “the full web” because 75% of video on the web is in Flash. What they don’t say is that almost all this video is also available in a more modern format, H.264, and viewable on iPhones, iPods and iPads." Steve also says that, "iPhone, iPod and iPad users aren’t missing much video."

This comment by Steve is simply a lie, which is not my opinion, but a fact. Anyone who uses an iPad can't get video from the websites of NFL.com, MLB.com, Petfinder.org, Amazon.com and many other really popular websites. So to say that users aren't missing much video and that almost all of this video is also available in H.264, is wrong and you can't argue with it. I guess Steve does not feel that the NFL and MLB sports leagues command that big of an audience. Use an iPad, go to those sites and see all the video you can't get. Does Steve think we don't notice that? Of course, he also goes on to list all of the websites that have video that works on the iPad, but as I pointed out weeks ago, many of those sites only have a limited amount of their video that works. Is that his idea of a "full web" experience, seeing only a portion of the content on a website?

Steve ends his post by saying that, "Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice." Well I hate to tell you this Steve, but it's still the PC era. For all the growth of the mobile space in the U.S., how much of that content consumed on a mobile device is video? Very little. No one is getting rid of their PCs because they have a mobile device, the PC is not going anywhere and the volume of content that is delivered to PCs will always surpass what will be delivered to mobile. Apple's iPhone and iPad's are not going to replace the PC experience, ever.

If Apple does not want to support Flash, that's their right. But for Steve to think we're all dumb and that he can tell us something works, when we clearly see it doesn't, that's simply an insult to consumers. And for him to say that this is not about business, but rather a technology issue, his actions prove otherwise.

Apple knows that a lot of the ads on the web are delivered in Flash. So Apple clearly wants to divert some of those dollars over to Apple by having a platform that forces you to take webpages and convert them into micro apps making it impossible for the content creator to load any kind of ads. Then you launch your own proprietary mobile ad platform iAds and you make money by taking a small percentage of every ad impression on your closed platform. Steve needs to stop trying to make this into a "technology" issue when this is all about money. If you came out and said you're not supporting Flash because you can make more money without it, fine by me, I won't argue with that. But to try and disguise it as something else, that only makes Apple look bad, not Adobe.

Comments

[triggercat]

"hit-whore ass clown"

Brilliant! I'm still laughing! That made my day!

As for me, I haven't missed Flash on my iPhone or my new iPad. Everything I want to see works just fine sans Flash. Now that I think of it, I've kind of given up on Adobe products after they started treating Mac users like 2nd class citizens (hello? Photoshop?)

Adobe and this "hit-whore ass clown" (Ha! Gawd, that's funny!) are just pissed because they bet on the wrong horse!

[David]

It seems to me that more and more of these one-sided and clearly biased bloggers are getting called out for trying to defend clearly indefensible positions. They think they will see a small amount of money from taking a particular stance; the reality is that their credibility is gone forever.

Mr. Rayburn - why try to trash Apple who is promoting truly open standards? HTML 5, etc. are cross platform and completely open. Flash is (sort of) cross platform and proprietary. HTML5, etc. work on the mobile platform as well as the laptop/desktop platform. Flash does not. Now how much common sense do you need to work out which one is better??

[TFlint]

Dan Rayburn is lying.

[Blake]

Love to see the fanboys come out when anyone questions the DEAR LEADER. If you're too thick to realize that Apple's decision is purely about keeping interactive content on iDevices tightly controlled and monetized, then stop commenting on "web standards," go back to your digital consumption, and let the digital producers do the talking.

There are so many holes in Apple's "reasoning" for not allowing Flash that it's obviously a diversion from the real reason. If their reasons were at all benevolent, like supporting open standards, then there would be no need for such tactics.

I now block Mobile Safari from my blog. Some people say it's a poor marketing decision, but unlike Apple, I don't always think with my wallet and speak out the side of my mouth.

[Rudy]

I'm not an Apple fanboy, but I do have an iPhone (and love it)! The lack of Flash does irk me because I can't watch Hulu on it. But, on Apple's defense, iPhone users have the option to get the app, if available. As you pointed out, it's not exactly the same experience as the web, but at least there's a way out.

Oh by the way, on mobile, it makes more sense to use an app anyway. Less time being spent downloading the look & feel. Get right into the data. Save bandwidth.

[Ansel]

Bottom line is Adobe has had years to present a mobile flash player that works and does not suck battery juice and Adobe has not .....

Perhaps Adobe needs to realize there is a huge market in the mobile world and they either play or watch from the sidelines .....

At this point, with Apple posting the letter, there is not going to be any Flash so whoever or whatever wants Flash ain't, brothers and sisters, going to get the darn thing ....

Also with respect to MBL.com .... I never went to the site on my "PC" but with the iPad I ponied up the $10 and got the darn thing ... It is totally assume to watch highlights and the game - without the iPad no traffic from me at MBL ....

Final words ..... All my family members and the 25+ people I've showed the iPad to all say they love it ... Apple has a huge jump start - just like with iPhone - and there will be html5 web more and more - if you are a developer you are silly to miss the billion customers Apple will have one day ....

[Cybertuna]

I, for one, am glad that Apple has decided to put a nail in the coffin of Flash. I have hated Flash for as long as it has existed, even before I became an Apple fan. It's a CPU hogging, crashy platform, and both it and Microsoft's Silverlight are blemishes on the face of the internet. Apple has made the right decision both for their own bottom line (as they have invested heavily in OPEN standards like HTML5) and for the rest of us. For the Flash-lovers out there who (rightly) say that HTML5 can't do everything that Flash can, well, that's true, but HTML5 is only NOW hitting its stride. Give it a couple years (maybe 5) and I predict that the world will be almost entirely Flash-free, and honestly I can't see myself looking back.

[Igroucho]

Of course zem, very intelligent post. Go now and play with your augmented reality on your joojoo tablet but keep it plugged to the wall.
Flash for mobile devices is just not going to happen and the reasons are many - the problem with people is that today they just cannot take the time to read a text stretching over more than 2 paragraphs. Jobs open letter was sparked from badmouthing adobe representatives, in a lingo like you never heard before: "screw you Apple" together w pure lying. I really think Jobs is making a lot of sense and using a decent tone too. Its not about being fanboi this or that but if you dont use mac you dont know all the agony pertaining to flash and how long this has been going on w/o adobe doing anything to correct the issues. They know have to deal with the dragon seeds and it sux for them.

[Mrmac]

Apple lovers give the guy a break he is correct. Steve is about control and if he can't control something he will find it no good and has to go. He will make up anything to get his way and your support without question is furthering his ability to control and do as he wants. Step back and take a look, stop saying his control is needed. He has become the evil e-king or is it i-King.
This goes back year to when Adobe started to make PC compatible software not just Apple. Steve was in shock and now he is strong enough to get back and boy does he like to get back.

[Mark Hayes]

Hi Dan, Wow you really created a firestorm here. I am singed just reading all of this. I read the article with care and expressed my opinion today on my site as well. Having worked for Jobs at NeXT Computer and having later been a huge Flash fan pushing FMS licenses at Macromedia, I think I see both sides of the story. Did Steve stretch the facts somewhat? Absolutely! That's what we ex-NeXTers refer to as the "reality distortion field". However, fact-checks aside, he made a great number of coherent arguments as to why iPad, iPhone were not going to support Flash. They ALL made sense to me. In particular the fact that the mobile web has moved to HTML5 and that these devices need to leverage H.264 decoding in hardware, a software based plug-in was not going to cut it. Is it backwards compatible? No. Does it encourage a technology shift(I won't you the overused "P" word here)? Yes. Will it be painful? A little, yes. Is it the right thing for Apple to do? Absolutely! 5 years ago you might have been asking why iPod went with AAC as opposed to MP3. Is anyone asking that question now? Hardly.

[Speaker to Wolves]

>>I should be able to get highlights in the browser, or have the option to pay to get a better experience via the app. Point us, Apple keeps the user from having any choice.<<

Nonsense. MLB could post H.264 video on their website and you could access it in your browser and on your iPad. The fact that the MLB chooses to put up Flash content, which requires you to download Adobe's plugin, isn't Apple's fault. Take it up with the MLB.

Oh, and technically, when you use the MLB app on the iPad, you are getting video off the website. Where do you think they store it? Some magic, iPad-only server?

[Michael N]

Wow...flame bait. Bottom Line.

Currently, flash is ubiquitous on the internet. There is no arguing about that. Flash is NOT a video playing platform, it is an interactive media playing platform. Which is one of the main reasons why Jobs' rants don't reflect reality. Most of the video players have built in interactive features (not least the ability to incorporate Ad playing in the video player).

But besides that are the thousands of sites that use Flash for interactive media. Go to any blockbuster movie site and you will find an interactive website with more than just video. You can't do that now in HTML5, so what do you do with those sites? On a daily basis I visit (and ENJOY) sites that use Flash for interactive media. From automobile sites that allow you to configure your dream car to interactive tours on University campuses to Nickolodean video games for my son, flash is the defacto standard on the web for those type of sites. Not an app that only runs on one company's device, but the web.

Lastly, I am a computer engineer who develops HTML/CSS/Javascript standard websites as well as developing Flash applications. Lately I have been making most of my money from clients who ask for custom video conferencing apps for live audio/video streaming. That ain't happening with HTML5 for a while.

Flash isn't going away or dying. As HTML5 matures will more sites use HTML5/CSS3 for media? Absolutely, as it should be. Someday will HTML/CSS/Javascript allow developers to realize interactive applications that Flash excels in now. Hopefully. But all the wishing in the world (or posts by Steve) isn't going to stop my clients from asking for websites that give their customers the best interactive experience they can have (and for certain interactions such as video conferencing, the only way) I will continue to happily develop with Flash.

[Matthew Quinn]

For content owners Apple's attitude over flash video is a roadblock, the amount of development, investment and research to have to get this working on yet another platform is often prohibitive.

I've only just stopped encoding all 3 (Real, Windows and Flash), we finally get to a point where one format just works for everyone then we have to start all over again.

The new OS for iPhone and iPad with multitasking and the announcement made earlier in the week about the Adobe being given access to the Mac OS for better performing flash may be a small step along the way to reaching the best outcome for everyone. Flash on the iPhone/Pad.

[st1]

Flash is gay.

[Brian Lesser]

Steve Jobs writes:

"We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash performing well on a mobile device, any mobile device, for a few years now. We have never seen it."

Whatever else Steve Jobs got wrong in his post this is what consumers will start to decide later this year and next. So, the whole Apple vs. Adobe debate is Adobe's to win or lose. If the 10.1 player works well enough to satisfy almost all users then Adobe wins. If it doesn't then they can try again with 10.2, but they will have lost the initial argument.

[j_boston]

The biggest problem with Flash on a mobile device is the drag on the battery. Flash is FAT and inefficient. You can not blame Apple (or Steve) for wanting their mobile device to have decent battery life.

HTML 5 promises the delivery of Flash-like content efficiently. I support the move away from this OLD platform.

One more comment regarding the statement: "No one is getting rid of their PCs because they have a mobile device..." This is a bit short sighted. You may be right in the short term, but this WILL change.

[The Digital Hobo]

You Apple fan boys are ridiculous.

From Bloomberg: Flash is installed on about 98% of PCs connected to the Internet, according to Adobe. Flash also runs on more than 800 million mobile phones, manufactured by 19 of the top 20 handset makers—all except Apple.

So 800 million people are wrong. 19 of 20 device makers are wrong. If thats not a fanboy argument, I dont know what is.

If anyone is flame baiting, its Jobs. Should Flash run better on mobile devices? Yes it should. Will it? Of course it will. Creating a media storm is just a PR move aimed at damaging a frienemy who wasn't giving in to the Messiah's every whim.

[Rob L]

I think it is safe to say that Dan Rayburn is in fact Trolling.

[Alan]

I'm writing this on a G5, if I look to my left I see another G5 and a Macbook Pro, in my pocket an iPhone. And you know what I hate flash (as in working in the program).

But Apple is crazy to think flash is not useful. It just isn't about video, it is about interactive web programs! And 99% of people have it!!! That includes the retards using IE6. Uninstall it, see how your internet life is!

Since iTunes (iPod, iPhone, iPAD related) has grown service to the pro users has dwindled. More than once the regular itunes update has broken my FCP Suite.

[Marc of FL]

Mr. Rayburn, I am sorry that people are threatening you. Schools do a very, very poor job of educating people, which is why many, many people can not carry on an analytical conversation without getting nuts. Anyway, I write to say that I love Apple products and that I am very, very...(here it comes....) thankful that you spoke your mind on the subject. U make good points. I like that you are not trying to curry favor with Mr. Jobs or any other Apple lover, unlike most of the people that attend the Apple events. I'll give u an example. At the event when Jobs showed the ipad, people were clapping for certain features that were being demonstrated even though what was being showed was nothing novel whatsoever.

so, thanks again for taking a stand.

[alsand]

Too much confusion about H.264 and Flash. Steve J.leads Apple well but makes a lot of $$$ from the cult he created and follows him blindly. Your article is NOT biased in any way , job well done.....The real problem is the bandwidth ...look for a better codec that can compress HD video by order magnitude better than H.264 and we'll be watching video everywhere including mobil with an improved Flash. Thx. alsand.

[Tom Bradley]

These caustic responses are incredible.
Some border on hysteria.
I doubt the authors even know what blog they are reading.
Flash is still critical to the business of video.
Apple's contrary stance on this is certainly worthy of comment.

[Zero Lines of Code Blog]

SJ doesn't hate flash..

http://zerolinesofcode.wordpress.com/2010/05/26/flash-and-runtimes-on-mobile-devices-who-is-right-steve-jobs-or-adobe/