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I read something a while ago why the iPhone and Blackberry don't have flash.

The iPhone dev contract states that you can not develop an app that allows other apps to run. Flash would be an app that allows other apps to run. Apple would need to change their contract to either remove that restriction or make an exception. If they make an exception for Adobe what about for Valve and all the other program/app providers out there with their own distrubution systems.

For the Blackberry Adobe said in an interview they they don't want to layer programing languages on top of one another (Blackberry: ActionScript 3->Flash->Java->"Internal Native RIM Code"->Hardware, PC: ActionScript 3->Flash->Native Code->Hardware), it would slow down flash. I am a Balckberry programmer so I can understand this but they can just talk with RIM and and get access to the internal code to speed it up.

I guess my next smart phone wont be an iphone or a blackberry. Both are overrated anyways. Sucks though, I dont know why they wouldnt support it. And to those saying performance, how is it all the other phone OS's can handle it. It looks like it's the poor performance of the iPhone and Blackberry OS's that seems to be holding back.

As for the iPhone App Store. There is so much crap on there. What are they really controlling?? Even if you dont put flash apps in the iphone app store or blackberrys app service, make it available for the web and local files. My damn PS3 can display flash yet these stupid phones that cost more than a PS3 (if you dont enter a contract) yet don't have one of the most widely used technologies of modern computing. Pathetic.

I think that HTML5 is another factor in these decisions. A lot of companies understandably want Flash (and Silverlight, etc) to go away. From the Safari browser features page:

http://www.apple.com/safari/features.html

"HTML 5 Media Support
Websites can now deliver rich, interactive media as easily as they deliver images. The first browser to support HTML 5 audio and video tags, Safari helps developers create media-rich sites that don’t require additional plug-ins. The media tags also offer a rich scripting API, allowing developers to create powerful new controls as well as controls that match the style of the page."

Flash consumes a great deal processing power which also consumes battery life. Large screen phones especially ones with sealed batteries (there is only one like that) would be dead in an hour of use.

Hi Jeremy,

Its very frustrating when I can't watch certain Flash enabled websites and videos on my iPod. I think its about time that Apple made a deal with Adobe and provided Flash support on iPhones and iPods.

Hope that day comes soon. Thanks for the post.

Mani Raj
Havoc Marketing

I'm guessing RIM isn't adopting flash due to security issues. Flash opens up loads of potential vurnerabilities.

I would bet it's price and performance that hold those 2 phone makers back from adding a Flash plug-in to their browsers and even the system. Adobe likely charges too much for this inclusion. Flash can also struggle with higher end animations and video, so putting it on slower devices might show their lack of horsepower. Apple also has a stake in QuickTime video and the interoperability of Flash swfs and flvs (video) with iTunes for transferring between computer and phone.

It is sad but it's going to be a while I bet before they add this.

Why should we care if the iphone isn't getting flash? Isn't there enough pointless apps for the iphone without having the app store flooded with garbage.

iPhone & blackberry need to get with the program.