Adobe dropped the bomb that it is basically giving up on mobile Flash development, while increasing its investments in HTML5.
You may recall the big back and fourth between Adobe and Apple over Flash last year. Remember the famous letter from Steve Jobs: Thoughts on Flash?
I won’t rehash the entire thing here, but the conclusion said:
Flash was created during the PC era – for PCs and mice. Flash is a successful business for Adobe, and we can understand why they want to push it beyond PCs. But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open web standards – all areas where Flash falls short.
The avalanche of media outlets offering their content for Apple’s mobile devices demonstrates that Flash is no longer necessary to watch video or consume any kind of web content. And the 250,000 apps on Apple’s App Store proves that Flash isn’t necessary for tens of thousands of developers to create graphically rich applications, including games.
New open standards created in the mobile era, such as HTML5, will win on mobile devices (and PCs too). Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind.
It appears that they are doing just that. Adobe outlined its growth strategy, and that includes greater investment in HTML 5. Just take a look at iPhone and iPad sales, and it’s not hard to understand why.
ZDNet shares the following announcement from the company:
Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates.
Here’s what some people have been saying about it on Twitter.
@AisleOne
Antonio CarusoneThe end of Flash has finally begun. Good riddance. http://t.co/hxkFAiOm
22 minutes ago via Twitterrific · powered by @socialditto
@gruber
John GruberWe’re losing a great bozo filter. Anyone who endorsed Flash player for mobile was someone you knew, immediately, was stupid. 6 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
@gassee
Jean-Louis GasséeAdobe Flash Evangelist in 2010: GoScrew Yourself Apple http://t.co/iUvoVT42
November 2011: Oops, no more Mobile Flash http://t.co/YMACMJ4t 7 hours ago via Twitter for Mac · powered by @socialditto
@chartier
David ChartierLet’s take a break from stomping on mobile Flash’s grave to remember Adobe just announced 750 layoffs. Losing a job ain’t fun. 7 hours ago via Twittelator Neue · powered by @socialditto
That last one is a story on its own. In a statement, Adobe said:
In order to better align resources around Digital Media and Digital Marketing, Adobe is restructuring its business. This will result in the elimination of approximately 750 full-time positions primarily in North America and Europe.
The company will report its Q4 earnings on December 15.