Thoughts on Flash: Steve Jobs' Letter and the Catalyst for Open Web Standards

The Shot Heard Round the Web

On April 29, 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs published a rare 1,700-word open letter titled "Thoughts on Flash." The letter outlines why Apple does not allow Adobe Flash on the iPhone, iPod touch, and the newly launched iPad.

This document has sent shockwaves through the tech community, forcing web designers and publishers to re-evaluate their reliance on proprietary plugins.

Jobs' Six Arguments Against Flash

Jobs outlined critical concerns regarding Adobe's platform:

1. 1.Openness: Flash is a proprietary product owned entirely by Adobe. Apple prefers open web standards like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript.
2. 2.The Full Web: Adobe argued that Apple devices block access to 75% of web video. Jobs countered that almost all major video portals are converting their media to H.264 formats playable natively via HTML5.
3. 3.Security and Reliability: Symantec noted that Flash had one of the worst security records in 2009. Flash is also the number one cause of Mac crashes.
4. 4.Battery Life: Decoding Flash files on mobile devices drains battery power quickly because it lacks hardware-accelerated decoding.
5. 5.Touch Interfaces: Flash was designed for desktop mouse pointers. Most Flash interfaces rely on hover actions (like menus) that do not translate to touch viewports.
6. 6.Platform Control: Jobs argued that a third-party framework layer between developer and operating system slows down feature adoption and app store quality.

The Immediate Fallouts

The impact of this letter has been immediate:

• ◆HTML5 Player Conversions: Major publishers like Vimeo, YouTube, and news sites are rolling out HTML5-compatible players.
• ◆Mobile Browsing Standards: Android browsers still support Flash, but the writing is on the wall. Touch-optimized, open web markup is becoming the priority.
• ◆Web Development Tools: A sudden demand for SVG, CSS3 transition effects, and canvas animation skills has emerged.