Apple responds to Adobe’s claims that iPhone is a closed platform

Wed, Apr 21, 2010

News

Apple’s recently updated iPhone developer agreement explicitly states that apps for the platform must be originally written in C, C++, and Objective C. This new rule, which naturally created a firestorm of controversy, put a damper on Adobe’s plans to get apps developed in Flash onto the iPhone via its new Flash-to-iPhone compiler.

In response to Apple’s new developer agreement, Adobe Flash project manager Mike Chambers wrote in a blog post yesterday that Adobe would cease development on their Flash to iPhone compiler and would instead focus on other mobile platforms, like Google’s Android.

Chambers went on to call out Apple for attempting to keep the iPhone platform closed and locked down:

The primary goal of Flash has always been to enable cross browser, platform and device development. The cool web game that you build can easily be targeted and deployed to multiple platforms and devices. However, this is the exact opposite of what Apple wants. They want to tie developers down to their platform, and restrict their options to make it difficult for developers to target other platforms…

As I wrote previously, I think that the closed system that Apple is trying to create is bad for the industry, developers and ultimately consumers, and that is not something that I want to actively promote.

And as luck would have it, Apple actually responded to Chambers comments via spokeswoman Trudy Miller.

“Someone has it backwards–it is HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and H.264 (all supported by the iPhone and iPad) that are open and standard, while Adobe’s Flash is closed and proprietary.”

Check and Mate.

via CNET

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10 Comments For This Post

  1. worm Says:

    Let me know when I can launch an iPod app in my browser

  2. josh Says:

    Let me know when the iPhone and IPad themselves are actually open. Check and Mate indeed.

  3. sirnoobsalot Says:

    The Adobe Flash specification is open.

  4. contextfree Says:

    in other words, “Look over there!”

  5. Robert Says:

    What? Apple complaining about proprietary formats? How ironic.

    You either have to be a complete Apple fanboy or someone who knows nothing about development to even begin justifying this kind of crap.

    Quit drinking the koolaid for a week and open your eyes.

  6. Steve B Says:

    WOW, Who the Hell let the TROLL’S out.

    FACT: Adobe Charges for Flash Tools and Development Kits.

    FACT: Adobe Flash is Old Outdated and SLOW Causes Problems with Allot More then Mobile Devices.

    FACT: HTML5 TOOLS Are OPEN SOURCE and Free to Anyone who would like to use them.

    Truth is, Idiots Apologists and Adobe Paid Trolls and Employees are making the rounds on the Internet using the Talking Points to try and Muddy the Truth about HTML5, Flash is NOT Free Folks, HTML5 is.

    1. Robert you’re a Troll or a 10 year old without any knowledge of facts, did you even read the article.

    2.sirnoobsalot you’re a fool if you believe the Adobe Flash Spec is open it is Copyrighted and Owned by Adobe Bought By Adobe from Macromedia, Get your fact Correct, It is Closed Source and A Paid Closed System for Profit, Why do you think Adobe is Going Nuts they have been called out in support of a New Open Source Platform HTML5.

    3.Josh WTF are you talking about, Let me know when Microsoft is open with Xbox360, Sony is open with PS3, How about Zune, how about Motorola, See you fail to realize that All Platforms are closed and controlled by the copyright holders and Not By Apple.
    If Anything needs to be opened up it your Eyes and Closed Mind haltered for Apple.

    4. Worm, Just stay where you are, Not seeing the light of day and facts, Your name suits you just Fine.

    FACTS: To each Apple Hater,
    “Apple Does NOT Own HTML5, It is Again Open to Everyone”

    Educate Yourself.

  7. Chris Says:

    LOL at “Check and Mate.” Apple (and you and other publications) are not being honest because you don’t tell the full story to the consumer that doesn’t know better. Android follows the same standards. I don’t know feature-complete the i is, nor do I know how feature-complete Android is. But one thing for sure is that Apple is stating they will not support Flash. The Android camp has not, to my knowledge, stated they will not support web standards.

    In a year’s time you’ll have Apple with a level of web standards support. In that same time you’ll have Android with Flash/AIR support AND worse/better web standards support.

    Not only that but the biggest fault in Apple’s claim (and yours) that they are open is that Android doesn’t state which technologies you can use to develop apps. Apple does.

    Which platform is open again?

  8. Paul Says:

    H.264 is not open. Ogg/Theora is. Wake me when Apple support that.

  9. Dug Says:

    Adobe should submit FLASH to the public domain.

  10. What? Says:

    Steve B. – H264 has been subject to patent litigation in US District court for the last 5 years. Broadcomm and Qualcomm both make claims to the codec. Ogg/Theora is open source. Also, only parts of Flash are closed source, parts NOT developed by Adobe. They have opened EVERYTHING they created for the flash platform. You look like an idiot for talking down to people about something you have no clue about. Apple fanboy or Apple hater, should do some BASIC research before you open your foolish mouth.

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