Software giant Adobe has abandoned its plans to bring Flash to the iPhone, instead opting to focus on the Google Android software after Apple changed the terms by which developers could create applications.
Prior to Adobe shipping its Creative Suite 5 software, Apple changed its developer agreement to require developers to produce apps “originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript”.
The CS5 suite contains the ability for native iPhone apps to be created using the Flash software, and more than 100 have been released with a beta tool. However, a statement now indicates the company will abandon its plans to allow developers to create Flash-based iPhone apps.
“We will still be shipping the ability to target the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5. However, we are not currently planning any additional investments in that feature,” principal product manager for developer relations for the Flash Platform, Mike Chambers said in a blog post.
The dispute between Apple and Adobe has been public for quite some time. Apple does not allow the Flash plugin to run on the phone, instead opting for the HTML5 format. However, Adobe has argued that blocking the plugin hurts the internet browsing experience, as many sites use the software for advertisements and graphics.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
