We all know the issue, during a presentation by Ryan Stewart of Flash on the Google Nexus One Android smart phone, the device failed to load the Flash heavy Eco Zoo website.
Seriously, what was he thinking? Even some netbooks have problems running that site. He could have had a better shot at demonstrating the power of Flash by loading some impressive animations or games from Newgrounds or other Flash content websites. It also did not help that somebody requested that Hulu be tried. The suggestion was a trap, since Hulu, by default, does not support access (an issue completely unrelated to Flash). Ryan’s reply to the request was a somber “Hulu is not supported” but failed to explain that the issue was not with Flash.
So, the question still remains, was the presentation a failure? Considering that Flash Evangelist Ryan was out to woo the crowds then it would be just proper to say that it did not turn out quite how it was supposed to be. But if this was simply a matter of proving that Flash works well on the Android operating system, then we can also say that it has been a resounding success.
The Nexus One is one of the best phones available today. It has 1GHz Snapdragon processor which means that even Flash should be loading fast. Still, there are some sites that are clearly meant to be accessed with more powerful desktop computers.
The bad thing is that many Apple fans are having a field day with the presentation. Many are claiming that Steve Jobs was right all along about Flash being unstable which would apply if only the demonstration was constantly crashing due to Flash on all websites instead of just one.
Any software issue can be worked on and fixed, something that Google and Adobe are certainly working on –and this could have been a situation that Apple could have enjoyed with Adobe if they only chose to be more cooperative.
Posts Tagged ‘AppleiPhone’
Apple Feeding on Adobe’s Little Mishap
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010Apple iPad Coming This May
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
The long wait is about to finally end as the official launch date of the iPad is now upon us. This much delayed launch of the touch screen tablet has caused much grief among those who have been looking forward to getting the device as early as late last April. According to the folks at Apple, the reason for the delayed launch was due to stock unavailability as most of the devices have been set aside to be distributed in the US in order to meet with market demands.
Below is the official statement from the Apple Press Releases:
“Apple (today) announced that iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK on Friday, May 28. Customers can pre-order all iPad models from Apple’s online store in all nine countries beginning on Monday, May 10. In the US, Apple has already sold over one million iPads and customers have downloaded over 12 million apps from the App Store, as well as over 1.5 million eBooks from the new iBookstore.”
“iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. Users can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read eBooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPad is 0.5 inches thin and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook—and delivers up to 10 hours of battery life.”
“The App Store on iPad lets you wirelessly browse, buy and download new apps from the world’s largest app store. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for iPad and will run almost all of the more than 200,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone or iPod touch. Developers have created more than 5,000 exciting new apps designed for iPad that take advantage of its Multi-Touch interface, large screen and high-quality graphics.”
Nokia: Apple’s iPad Infringed Our Patents
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
A new lawsuit from Nokia has been brought to the public eye after it was filed in Wisconsin. It is no longer surprising to see Apple embroiled in yet another legal case regarding patent infringement, thought it is interesting to see the Cupertino based company to be once again on the defending side.
This year, the first case filed against Apple was the done by Elan Microelectronics. So far, it is known that Elan has already filed their case with the FTC in order to put a stop to the shipments of the Apple iPad outside of the US. The Taiwan based company has already won their lawsuit against Synaptics and it is believed that their case against Apple is also very strong.
Earlier this year, Apple was also on the filing side of things as they filed a case against mobile phone manufacturer HTC for infringing over 20 patents of hardware and software technologies. HTC has announced that it will be defending itself from the lawsuit and Google has declared their support for HTC (it is known that the company is a prime supporter and developer of the Android operating system).
Now, Nokia is filing a new case against Apple and this is not the first time the Finnish company faced off against the legal wing of the boy in Cupertino. Last year, the legal forces of the two companies have already clashed (both have had a chance to sue each other).
Nokia is targeting the iPad, which may seem like an odd choice since the touch screen tablet is not a direct competitor to the smart phone market, but it certainly helps to show the world that Apple is still vulnerable, and if Nokia intends to use their own patents for their own tablet device, then this would be a good time to make sure that they are clear of competitors before they release a new product.
Smart Phones Taking Over the Casual Game Market
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Nintendo has been pretty much the undisputed king of portable gaming since the day that the Gameboy first came out. It was simple, could be carried around and had plenty of games that people did not need to addictively play all day (though plenty of players did). The success of the Gameboy would later be matched and surpassed by the GBA and later, the NDS.
The formula was simple; provide a decently priced handheld gaming device for casual gamers who would never shell out the money needed to buy a PS3 or an Xbox 360. This was also the same formula that worked for the Nintendo Wii (that, and the fact that the motion control gimmick really flew off the shelves). It worked for the most part, Nintendo managed to snag even hardcore players who had an affinity for all things Mario (basically the ones that have never grown up) and casual players that Sony and Microsoft never really catered to.
However, the emergence of better smart phone technology created a competition that even Nintendo could not have predicted: app based games. Of course, when it comes to apps, no brand is bigger than Apple, but with the Android also increasing its Marketplace exponentially (they just hit the first 50,000 apps), it will not be long before most smart phones offer the same gaming experience that Nintendo promises.
Right now, the iconic Japanese game company is losing sales, developers and their very own footing in the gaming market. And the company is not known for being adaptive.
Nintendo was the last company to adapt the use of disc based media and continued the use of cartridges even during the time of the first Sony Playstation. It is also quite unlikely that the company would ever team up with Google if they intend to really stop Apple in its tracks. Unless Nintendo undertakes a major change in the way they approach the industry, Nintendo could very well find itself in trouble in the next couple of years.
iPhone 4.0 Beta Version: Up and Down in Moments
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
Developers working on the new iPhone 4.0 operating system had a quick window of opportunity to try out the beta version of the OS before Apple took it down just shortly after they made it available.
No official statement has been released so at this point it is hard to determine if the OS was uploaded prematurely or was simply taken down due to problems with the beta version’s code. Developers who were able to download the new OS were quickly disappointed at the heavily bugged OS that they found.
Apparently, Apple’s Beta version is still a little too raw to be workable. Many are expecting that a second version of the Beta OS will be uploaded to address the initial concerns. There is also belief that the OS was indeed taken down because of the bugs it had –it had too many problems to be useful to developers at the current state that it is in.
For those wondering why the Beta is not being made available for bug testing, the upload was not done in order to test out the system –as Apple is apparently doing that process internally. The Beta OS was put online in order to give developers a way to test out their new apps in a working environment. With the Beta still having plenty of errors it would not be able to serve this purpose properly.
In any case, there is a general lack of disinterest in the Beta operating system. Not only because the system is buggy but also because at this point, there are plenty of developers who are not happy with the iPhone 4.0 SDK license agreement which has left many developers unable to use software of their own choosing.
This is the very same license agreement which has caused the rift between Apple and Adobe’s already shaky relations.
Apple Wages War Across All Fronts
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
The tech industry is in a bit of a whirlwind right now, and it is mostly because of all the trouble that Apple has been stirring. The industry is literally at the proverbial eye of the storm right now, with actually repercussions of the problem still not affecting anything. But as with all storms, the raging winds can be easily seen from a distance and we all know that it is only a matter of time before things start getting out of hand once again.
The first signs of trouble began when Apple claimed that HTC was infringing their patents for 20 software and hardware technologies. As much as patent infringement lawsuits are common in the industry, it is hard to deny that the attack is not just being directed at HTC (which is still a small Taiwanese based company when compared to Apple); the lawsuit is also meant to cripple a major partner of the Google Android operating system.
Google has already declared that they would be supporting HTC, and this will not be the only time Google would have to step in to help out Apple’s victims.
Many of you may have noticed that in past week, there have been plenty of Flash and AIR feature integration and support across many Google services. From Android to Chrome, Google is heavily showcasing the new Flash features. This is mostly due to the fact that Adobe has recently teamed up with the search engine company as a result of the recent fight between Adobe and Apple.
The problem started after Apple announced that the new iPhone SDK’s license agreement had a clause that prevented developers from using third party applications. This meant that Adobe’s Flash Professional CS5 software’s new features would be rendered useless as it showcased a Flash to iPhone compiler.
Steve Jobs Misses the Mark
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Considering that folks from both Adobe and Google have had plenty of chances to talk about what they felt about the recent events involving Apple’s banning of the use of third party software for the development of iPhone apps, it is only fair that Steve Jobs also gets to explain his side of the story.
The man has been tagged as the big bad villain in the story and considering how much he has contributed to the tech society, it is simply fair that he also gets to have his say (though some may argue that he gets to say what he wants a little too often already).
Anyway, there has been plenty of focus and discussion regarding the many points that Steve has talked about in his recently posted Apple blog, discussing the problems with Flash, the history between Apple and Adobe, as well as why Apple has deemed it a good decision to adapt a no third party software policy.
It sounds pretty good when you take the words at face value, but taking a close look at Steve’s words reveal a very disturbing sense of ‘reality distortion’ (as so the saying goes –if you did not get that, there is a running gag that Steve Jobs is surrounded by a reality distortion field which influences his decisions and actions).
Without going into so much detail about it, Steve Jobs goes out to say that Flash is not needed for games as there are already 50,000 game based applications. While that is true, it is also a worthless fact when you present it to the millions of people who play Flash games such as Farmville.
He also goes on to actually admit indirectly that developers would opt to use Adobe software instead of his own 4.0 SDK tools. If he really wanted to prove that Flash based development is not good enough, then he should have let the developers and customers learn this by experience.
If Apple is indeed offering a superior product and experience, then people would naturally shift.
Apple Still in Hot Water for Infringing Elan Owned Patents
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Elan Microelectronics owns the patent for the basis of multi touch technology –a feature that is heavily used by Apple in its touch screen products particularly the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad touch screen tablet. With these three high profile devices put on spotlight, it seems that Apple might just be facing a lawsuit that it cannot easily ignore.
The name of the Taiwan based company might not ring a bell for many, but for the rest of the tech community, Elan Microelectronics is the very same company that actually won a lawsuit against Synaptics for the use of Multitouch technology. With Synaptics being one of the most well know developers of touch pads, it goes to show that the patent owned by Elan is something that directly applies to the technology in question.
Many might think that the arrival of this lawsuit is a little too timely; after all, it was only a while ago that Apple filed a lawsuit against another Taiwan based company –HTC for over 20 software and hardware patents. Many believe that this lawsuit has its roots with the Apple-Google rivalry as HTC is one of the key partners of Google in developing the Android operating system.
In any case, Elan is going for the big prizes with this lawsuit. After all, taking on the Cupertino based Apple is a big feat, no matter how good their patent is. Apple’s army of lawyers and legal operatives has the capabilities and more importantly, the funding to bury this lawsuit under miles of red tape. This is why Elan has opted to go straight to the ITC and request that the shipments of the Apple devices affected in the lawsuit be put on hold.
Jason Chen’s Home Raided by REACT
Friday, April 30th, 2010
The United States is a scary place to be when Steve Jobs hates you. As much as the statement is intended to be a joke, there is no doubt that many in the tech blogging community felt shivers up their spine with the announcement that the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team has taken the issued Search Warrant in order to seize several computers from the home of Jason Chen, a tech blogger for Gizmodo.
Plenty of us are already familiar with the main story of how the prototype iPhone was left in some bar and was purchased by Gizmodo for 5000 USD and how Apple requested that the device be returned to their possession.
Oddly enough, Gizmodo replied directly to the letter and have indicated that they fully intend to cooperate with the Cupertino based company and have referred the representatives of Apple to Jason Chen –the man who was currently in possession of the device. This is why it is surprising to hear that cops actually raided Jason Chen’s home.
In fact, these law enforcers were part of REACT –a law enforcement wing that was supposed to be chasing after pedophiles, cyber terrorists, hackers and other mal-adjusted netizens. Apparently, Chen’s possession of the iPhone was a really big among these guys. This has led many to believe that REACT was following directives directly from Apple or, quite possibly, the iPhone was not a prototype for a commercial model, but instead, for military or government use.
The raid has also brought up many issues regarding journalism on the internet. The law in California prohibits the confiscation of equipment from journalists –a statement that is heavily quoted by both Gawker Media and the Electronic Frontier Foundation in defense of Chen. According to Apple, Chen is not a journalist but a blogger.
Adobe Finds New Hope with Android
Friday, April 30th, 2010
There is no doubt that Adobe was heavily banking on their Flash programming clients. The Adobe Flash Professional program is one of the highest selling software for the company (despite the sheer mass popularity of Adobe Photoshop, Flash Professional gets plenty of clients from individual and corporate clients). The biggest main function of the software: creating Flash applications that developers often recompile for iPhone compatibility.
In fact, Adobe has taken this function to be something that developers truly want and have created their own Flash to iPhone compiler function on the CS5 version of the software. A functions that Apple has literally run over when they released the software license agreement for the SDK of the new iPhone OS. According to Apple, developers must now code the applications from ground up using Apple-approved tools and software.
This meant that developers could no longer be using Flash converted applications –a move that could potentially push away plenty of developers and obviously, places a solid wall between Adobe and Apple.
So where does Adobe go to now?
The move has cost Adobe plenty; their stock fell down by a huge chunk after the announcement of the new SDK agreement. Google has since made its’ stand in order to re-affirm Adobe’s position in the tech industry and announcing that the Android would fully support Flash 10.
Developers will also find a very welcome new home in the Android (if they have not done so already). The open source nature of the mobile platform and its larger degree of freedom granted to developers (many developers consider Apple’s agreements to be quite chocking).
The only question now is if the mobile phone market will also making the move to Android as well.