The battle between Adobe and Apple continues to fester amid media coverage of a new version of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). The pending release of HTML 5 has reopened the debate. The use of Adobe’s Flash software for implementing video and interactive content on websites has historically been preferred by designers. However, HTML 5 will allow developers to incorporate video content into net browsers thereby reducing the requirement for plug-ins to run interactive web applications.
To add to the debate, H.264 is the standard being adopted by the big players for video playback – Apple, Microsoft and Sony all favour H.264 for its quality and reduced impact on resources. Steve Jobs, CEO at Apple has led the pack in publicly denouncing Flash technology: “Flash looks like a technology that has had its day” is one of the quotes from Jobs cited in the press. Some analysts believe Apple slates Adobe’s Flash purely on the basis Apple wants control of the mobile market . Who runs what applications is crucial. Jobs favours the open web standard HTML 5, as opposed to proprietary products for supporting video based web content.
Adobe is fighting back with Flash 10.1 – designed to run using less battery power, but more able to deal with touchscreen applications and more able to play videos more smoothly. With Adobe developing a more stable Flash version for Google’s Android 2.2, the battle lines are well and truly drawn. Adobe’s public advertisements in the FT and the Wall Street Journal amongst others, as well as on media websites including Wired and TechCrunch are taking the battle to Apple.
Interestingly, Bloomberg Businessweek reports that 19 out of the 20 top smartphone manufacturers are building their mobiles to support Adobe Flash – only Apple’s products do not support the technology. Adobe isn’t planning to face HTML 5 head on – rather that the technologies will co-exist. The battle will rage on – Adobe is advocating an open approach to the web and the technologies that support it – Apple does not want developers to become reliant on a set of tools which prohibits the development of its products. Or perhaps it is just one set of tools in particular – Adobe’s.
As Jonathan Gay, who created the previous generation of Flash – FutureSplash was quoted as saying:
“Adobe would like to see Flash on the iPhone so Adobe developers can deliver their content. But Apple doesn’t want to include Flash because they think it will take away from the experiences of building custom applications and building the iPhone into a video platform.”
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