iPad without Adobe Flash: Is it Necessary?

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iPad/iPhone without Adobe Flash: Necessary?

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Finally, we have a war that doesn't involve oil! But it's a war nonetheless, between Apple and Adobe, and the former's termination of all things Flash-based from it's mobile devices. With the introduction of the iPad, Apple is continuing its Flash ban, which has many Apple fans fuming. And everyone wants to know why? Not that this has stopped sales of the iPhone and iPod Touch from reaching the millions. But still, where's Flash?

Flash, as fun as it can be, is not perfect. Videos compressed with Flash don't look as pretty as they could. And one of the biggest problem with Flash is that it's a CPU-sucker, which in turn makes it a battery life-sucker. Not a very good look for Apple's i-line of mobile devices (also a reason why they don't multitask). And no one has talked about how all the other mobile phones that DO accept Flash have been fairing in these areas. Flash tends to clog up the most powerful of desktop machines-- that can't be too good for a little mobile device.

Apple devices do love HTML5, which seems to be where a lot of web/mobile based video is headed. It's a lot lighter, and more compatible with H264 video playback, so you are actually getting much nicer-looking video, without all the problems that Flash video can't seem to avoid. Granted, HTML5 won't be storming the market until 2012 (but is used by YouTube and Vimeo), but with Apple on board at this point, they could possibly corner the market before it becomes relevant. Ahead of the curve? Maybe...

But this, all of this, is irrelevant at this point. Many people hate the iPad already. Since I don't have an iPhone/iPod Touch or a MacBook Pro, I have decided to buy one. I had no illusions about what it would be, and I was not disappointed by it. And every time I've told people I am getting one, I get attacked. But there is no argument that has been made to me yet that has detracted me. I've heard them all-- no camera, no multitasking, no Flash...BFD, that's what I say. If you don't like it, it ain't for you. The detractors, more than anyone, were expecting Steve Jobs to change the world. And when did "did not", they pissed on him. What else is new? These are the same goof-balls that are trying to tell me how great the iPhone is. It's a phone. And an overrated and overpriced phone, at that. Tablet computing is the way of the future. And yes, five years from now will introduce newer tablets that do more than this one does. That's the way technology has worked for years now...stuff progressively gets better. So don't buy one. Or find reasons to bitch about it. But the "no Flash" argument is not enough. If I want to look at Flash-based sites, I'll do it at home or at work. Don't need it on-the-go. And I'm saying this as someone that actually uses Flash to build things on a daily basis (and have used it for the last 10 years). Hell, Adobe's next version of Flash will even include an iPhone app exporting option. So for all of their complaining, Adobe is still cashing in.

So, Adobe v. Apple...we shall see, won't we?