[Merged] No Flash?

[mkrishnan]

Don't tell us that. Tell the web designers...

This is the problem -- this is just like the "freetard" arguments arguing that Linux is better than OS X because it's open source, without any real consideration of what people do.

Do most of my web activities need Flash? No.

Would I like to watch Hulu (Flash) and Netflix (Silverlight) on my iPad, as I watch them now on my netbook? Yes.

Are Hulu and Netflix available in HTML5, with streaming open source codec video? No.

 

[bossxii]

I had hoped for flash for Hulu, but I'm sure there will be a hack soon after launch that allows people to use jailbroken flash apps just like the iPhone. I don't have my iPhone JB as I don't find the need to watch a ton of video on such a small screen, but the iPad's size would make it very nice for watching Hulu and Netflix.

 

[littlekidjon]

Gone

 

[aaquib]

Because Steve Jobs said so, right?

If you've used flash on a rev.a MacBook Air, you know how truly repulsive it is. The second I began watching even a SD video on Youtube via Safari, the fans would jump to 6200RPM, the computer would slow down significantly and it was just an experience I would not want to relive.

The iPad has a 1GHz processor and it is logical to assume that the iPad is not nearly as capable as even the Rev. A MacBook Air. If flash was crippled on that, I don't want to imagine it on the iPad.

There's Youtube (+Youtube HD), with many sites supporting iPhone optimized videos, and apps like the NyTimes app (with integrated, in-line video) eliminate the need for Flash on their sites. For the rest of the internet...We can either wait till Adobe releases a version of flash for OS X that doesn't suck, or we can hope that the rest of the internet does a, like marksman said, "upgrade".

 

[yamabushi]

Apple just would rather not support Flash

Flash causes a great deal of instability and bugs. Apple wants to save some money in support and development costs and provide a stable and predictable user experience. This is likely the reason for not including Flash support on the iPhone OS devices.

 

[marksman]

Im a web designer and I'm sorry all you mac fans, but flash is here forever.

People who are saying that flash is only good for youtube and that there's already a app for it are missing the point of flash. It is there for the wow! factor, for those presentations and experiences.

Apple are never going to get rid of flash, especially with the ratio of apps to flash games.They aren't going to be able to stop flash games, this are created mostly by people who actually understand what the internet is for, freedom. They aren't going to be told that they shouldn't use it because Steve Jobs doesn't like it. He doesn't like many things which is Apples biggest flaw. Apple is trying to shovel snow in a blizzard.

You don't understand that if people can't see your little flash games you might as well not make them.

That is why you have failed as a web developer?

The goal should be to extend yourself to be accessible as possible.

You really think someone with an iphone or ipad and access to the app store is going to play some flash based game on a website?

 

[D A]

Adobe needs to fix Flash on OS X first before they bring it over to the closely related iPhone OS. At the moment Flash sucks big time.

Microsoft has done a great job with Silverlight on OS X. Video playback is very smooth, way better than Flash. If Microsoft can do it, so can Adobe. That is when they get rid of the monkeys that are doing the programming right now.

 

[yamabushi]

Flash malware

Flash is also a popular vector for distributing malicious software.

 

[dmr727]

I for one, LOVE the fact that the iPhone does not support Flash. What a horrible, horrible piece of software. If this forces lazy web developers to consider some other media development too, everyone benefits.

 

[HelloImaMac]

You really think someone with an iphone or ipad and access to the app store is going to play some flash based game on a website?

Do you have kids?

My daughter is 9 and she can grab my phone to play whatever games I have, but she would rather play on any number of her favourite websites that are flash based for kids.

Just my $0.02

 

[JonboyDC]

Might be news to you, but the iPhone doesn't either.

On my iPhone, I don't mind so much if a site doesn't fully function because of lack of Flash support. But if I'm browsing on a big screen device like the iPad, it would suck to run into pages that were non-functional. But it's not necessarily a deal-breaker for me.

 

[dwenaus]

it's purely a business decision

as one other person here has said, the MAIN reason apple does not support flash on the iphone, ipod touch or the iPad is that it would directly compete with the App store. If apple allowed flash on these devices then developers could just write flash apps that work everywhere, but they would get minimal income. Forcing them to the app store ecosystem is the whole point behind not allowing flash.
Secondarily, flash sucks. I have a 2.4 mhz mac book pro, and my fans rev up any time I watch flash video, even the video on apples own website (the ipad video).
yes flash is here to stay, no doubt, but apply wants to minimize it's dominance as a web programming language.
I would LOVE to have flash enabled on these devices, but i'm happy apply is not including it, because then the transition to HTML5 will happen a bit quicker, and finally flash video will be dead. Flash is great for many other things, but video is not one of them, it just happened to be the most installed plugin.

I for one, will be buying the iPad. I'll sell my macbook pro and buy a new 27" iMac. Then I have a great desktop computer for work, and an iPad for reading, movies, etc. I'll probably sell my wife's little hackintosh netbook and buy her an iPad as well. Its perfect for her and millions of others out there. We tech people are so critical, but for the average user, the iPad is amazing.
When Rev B comes around, yes it will have a front facing camera, and yes, many of us will upgrade. oh well, I should have kept those apple shares I owned long ago

 

[littlekidjon]

Gone

 

[GorillaPaws]

I hope the iPad never gets flash support and its (as well as the iPhone) popularity forces web designers to use open standards instead of proprietary crapware. Flash is responsible for a huge percent of the crashes on OS X.

Here's an excellent Daring Fireball article from John Gruber.

 

[Moi un Mouton]

OK Apple hates Flash, and has apparently done a poor job of implementing it on the Mac. (My Windows laptops don't go into leaf-blower mode if I get some Flash on the screen.)

However, it won't go away, despite Apple's wishes. I don't want flash for video especially. But I do need it if I want to check in online with British Airways, I did need it if I wanted to watch on CNN how the US election was panning out, I do need it if I want to book/buy online on numerous websites, etc etc. Now you can bang away all you want about html5, but iPhone/iPad are not going to change these things.

So I agree - no Flash = Fail (for me). Apple, please move into the real internet and give us Flash.

(For me, showing a message that a page has a flash object and do I want to allow it seems like a reasonable middle ground......)

 

[GorillaPaws]

But I do need it if I want to check in online with British Airways, I did need it if I wanted to watch on CNN how the US election was panning out, I do need it if I want to book/buy online on numerous websites, etc etc. Now you can bang away all you want about html5, but iPhone/iPad are not going to change these things.

All the more reason to contact the site admin and tell them that you'd like them to offer access to these features using non-proprietary web standards. It's the digital equivalent of not having wheelchair access, or handicap parking spaces. People should design their sites so everyone can access them using open and available technologies--those that don't should be criticized and embarrassed until they change.

 

[marksman]

I'm sorry, why should I support backward technology? Surely, if a company wants to succeed then obviously it is going to become compilable with everything it is going to encounter on the web, especially as the Ipad is for the internet.

Obviously I have to be to be user friendly, but I'm not going to go out my way just because Apple doesn't like it. 99% of desktops have flash and i'm going to cater to them!

was your grandfather a buggy whip salesman?

 

[D A]

OK Apple hates Flash, and has apparently done a poor job of implementing it on the Mac. (My Windows laptops don't go into leaf-blower mode if I get some Flash on the screen.)

However, it won't go away, despite Apple's wishes. I don't want flash for video especially. But I do need it if I want to check in online with British Airways, I did need it if I wanted to watch on CNN how the US election was panning out, I do need it if I want to book/buy online on numerous websites, etc etc. Now you can bang away all you want about html5, but iPhone/iPad are not going to change these things.

So I agree - no Flash = Fail (for me). Apple, please move into the real internet and give us Flash.

(For me, showing a message that a page has a flash object and do I want to allow it seems like a reasonable middle ground......)

Apple doesn't make Flash, Adobe does. That Flash sucks in entirely up to them, not Apple. Also Flash isn't the only Adobe product that sucks. Have a look at their Creative Suite apps, very powerful but my god are they buggy. Let's not even talk about the abomination that is Adobe Reader.

 

[mykoljay]

Anyone know whether Hulu has any plans to release a non-Flash version of their site?

Hulu is the only site where I actually need Flash.

 

[D A]

Here's a fun website relating to Adobe's applications: http://adobegripes.tumblr.com/

 

[partyBoy]

The only thing flash is good for is YouTube, and there is already a dedicated app for that....

Good point, I agree flash is just for vanity purposes and it hogs to much power,flash could be gone in the future.

 

[Hankster]

No Flash means the browser isn't a TRUE browser. It would be nice to watch Hulu.com on the iPad. Honestly, I would have considered buying it if it had a true browser as I watch Hulu.com a lot.

 

[MRU]

A lot (sorry correction ALL) of the review sites I visit use flash for their videos. If the majority of sites I would visit are incompatible its not really going to be the ideal web-browser for me. If it means I have to use my laptop instead it kills the point of the ipad for quick media consumption.

 

[D A]

Perhaps Hulu could make an App for watching their videos? But of course Apple might block it as it would compete with the iTunes Store.

 

[bmcgrath]

HTML5 people.

And even if flash is to come to Apples mobile platform, don't you think they will want to fix it on Mac OS first seeing as it's a dog at performing!?