What really amazes me is the fact that even on this site, the discussion barely touches the app store issue.
It might be true that the tablet will have a significant impact on tomorrow's computing platforms. But what really scares me is the prospect that it might become more and more accepted that the user will loose the freedom to decide what software he can install and thus what to do with the machine.
This is something that goes against anything we learned from the open web and, of course, from "hacking" (jailbreaking does not count here). It goes against the central things I value at computing.
By comparison, _I_ could not care less whether this thing comes with Flash or not.
Well said. The sort of control that Apple is trying to exert is terrible for both freedom and innovation; if Microsoft had it 15 years ago they never would have allowed the web to develop as it did. Yet Apple's fanboys are cheering them on as they position themselves to block any development that might interfere with their business model.
This is a major reason why I ordered a Nexus One today to replace "my" iPhone, which Steve has made clear is only mine in the sense that I paid for it.
For some reason I was under the impression that web apps would replace the app store apps. However like you I'm concerned that Apple will try to squash this in favor of controlling the entire app 'chain'.
Our only hope is that web apps can be accepted before the idea of a 'pc app store' really takes hold.
I really hope he's wrong about several of these things (no flash, only apps from an app store, full Apple lockdown of everything). Why would I want another iPhone, just with a bigger screen? Especially when it's not clear when I'd use it over an iPhone or my Macbook? I can only handle so much of the Apple totalitarianism, especially if the damn thing costs $1500 or something.
> "Why would I want another iPhone, just with a bigger screen?"
Maybe you wouldn't.
But I would. Because when I need mobile computing, I generally don't have a desk, or even a chair. Sometimes I'm actively walking around. And I don't need to use it for sessions of length or complexity that justify the overhead of the desktop computing model. And I don't need arbitrary pre-existing desktop apps.
I just need awesome core apps that I can get at in a couple seconds, use (literally) on the go and be able to get through a day without recharging or hassle (lock-ups). It doesn't have to replace my laptop. Just my dead-tree notebooks.
The iPhone has come far, far closer to working for me than conventional laptops, netbooks, or windows tablets. It just doesn't have quite enough screen real-estate for some tasks and the ergonomics aren't right for others.
Not including flash on a tablet seems like a mistake to me. It's one thing on a cell phone, but quite another on a device that will probably be positioned as a casual use computer.
One of the things you have to consider is Apple's strategic goals beyond the Tablet or even the iPhone.
There's a larger strategic issue here. HTML 5 is going to reduce a lot of the need for Flash and Flash in turn is going to be forced back into it's traditional market of providing streaming media solutions. In that role they are Apple biggest competitor both in format (Quicktime) and content (streaming media competing with iTunes)
By keeping Flash off the iPhone and the tablet Apple is taking their very high income audience and telling web site developers "Support us or risk losses in advertising". In doing that they're using the iPhone and the tablet to further the company as a whole. Something that might be worth losing a few sales in the short run
Non-windows versions of flash have turned out to be incredibly inefficient: relatively simple flash banner ads make my otherwise near idle mac go wild. From what I've seen, it's even less efficient on Linux. Battery life is still going to be a huge concern for the apple tablet. If adobe gets its sh*t together, it may yet come to the tablet/iPhone OS. Until that time, it would be ridiculous for apple to allow that poorly designed of a virtual machine onto its otherwise energy efficient hardware.
My guess is Apple's tablet is primarily designed as a competitor to PC net books. People have speculated about it being a MacBook replacement but there's a huge difference in the type of consumer buying a $350 net book and a $999+ MacBook. I think Apple has insulated their computer business from being cannibalized from lower end devices. Lots of people say "if I already have an iPhone and a MacBook why would I want a tablet?" and the answer probably is you don't. This product is not aimed at you. It's for the people who don't want a $999+ MacBook and are currently buying PC net books instead. As such I think the price will be <$499 (maybe a bit higher on launch just to cover supply & demand)
Take a traditional laptop and swap the position of the keyboard and the screen. Then, make the keyboard detachable and turn the screen into a touch screen. Voila, tablet PC.
With a good industrial design house, someone could give it sex appeal, and between the iMac and the Macbook Air, thats the something different I'm dreaming of from Apple.
The browsing experience will be more of a core thing for the Tablet than for the iPhone. One reason for this is that I expect the Tablet will replace the low-end MacBooks and will need to offer great e-mail and browsing experience.
(Alas) too many sites currently rely on Flash to not include it in the Tablet OS.
Probably Steve and friends think something like: why have I to complicate my life (and the user experience ov my customers) with some 3rd party technology?
In what world is Flash 'dwindling in relevance'? Maybe the hyper progressive iphone-toting geek world but down here on planet earth, where we still browse the web with things called computers, Flash has massive leverage and I don't see it going anywhere for years.
Maybe on mobile, but certainly not the desktop. While I would certainly prefer to build everything in HTML/JS/CSS, if I want a media player or gallery that works predictably and consistently Flash is certainly the best way to go. Ditto online advertising.
Since Adobe rolled out AS3 I would say the Flash platform is as vibrant as ever.
no, it hasn't. for video, maybe, but there are still a lot of websites that are useless on mobile safari without flash just for stupid things like animated menus.
[+] [-] patrik|16 years ago|reply
It might be true that the tablet will have a significant impact on tomorrow's computing platforms. But what really scares me is the prospect that it might become more and more accepted that the user will loose the freedom to decide what software he can install and thus what to do with the machine.
This is something that goes against anything we learned from the open web and, of course, from "hacking" (jailbreaking does not count here). It goes against the central things I value at computing.
By comparison, _I_ could not care less whether this thing comes with Flash or not.
[+] [-] orangecat|16 years ago|reply
This is a major reason why I ordered a Nexus One today to replace "my" iPhone, which Steve has made clear is only mine in the sense that I paid for it.
[+] [-] josefresco|16 years ago|reply
Our only hope is that web apps can be accepted before the idea of a 'pc app store' really takes hold.
[+] [-] buckwilson|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ryanwaggoner|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] csuper|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] roc|16 years ago|reply
Maybe you wouldn't.
But I would. Because when I need mobile computing, I generally don't have a desk, or even a chair. Sometimes I'm actively walking around. And I don't need to use it for sessions of length or complexity that justify the overhead of the desktop computing model. And I don't need arbitrary pre-existing desktop apps.
I just need awesome core apps that I can get at in a couple seconds, use (literally) on the go and be able to get through a day without recharging or hassle (lock-ups). It doesn't have to replace my laptop. Just my dead-tree notebooks.
The iPhone has come far, far closer to working for me than conventional laptops, netbooks, or windows tablets. It just doesn't have quite enough screen real-estate for some tasks and the ergonomics aren't right for others.
[+] [-] jcnnghm|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] SamAtt|16 years ago|reply
There's a larger strategic issue here. HTML 5 is going to reduce a lot of the need for Flash and Flash in turn is going to be forced back into it's traditional market of providing streaming media solutions. In that role they are Apple biggest competitor both in format (Quicktime) and content (streaming media competing with iTunes)
By keeping Flash off the iPhone and the tablet Apple is taking their very high income audience and telling web site developers "Support us or risk losses in advertising". In doing that they're using the iPhone and the tablet to further the company as a whole. Something that might be worth losing a few sales in the short run
[+] [-] tentonova2|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] axod|16 years ago|reply
It also makes commercial sense - they don't want people playing flash games on the web, they want them buying games from the appstore.
[+] [-] rauljara|16 years ago|reply
Non-windows versions of flash have turned out to be incredibly inefficient: relatively simple flash banner ads make my otherwise near idle mac go wild. From what I've seen, it's even less efficient on Linux. Battery life is still going to be a huge concern for the apple tablet. If adobe gets its sh*t together, it may yet come to the tablet/iPhone OS. Until that time, it would be ridiculous for apple to allow that poorly designed of a virtual machine onto its otherwise energy efficient hardware.
[+] [-] netcan|16 years ago|reply
I imagine Apple has it's own ideas for how media on the tablet should work.
[+] [-] chollida1|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jsz0|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fohlin|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fragmede|16 years ago|reply
With a good industrial design house, someone could give it sex appeal, and between the iMac and the Macbook Air, thats the something different I'm dreaming of from Apple.
[+] [-] spazmaster|16 years ago|reply
(Alas) too many sites currently rely on Flash to not include it in the Tablet OS.
[+] [-] csuper|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] _funkyboy|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] zer0ne|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tvon|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] GHFigs|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] josefresco|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thechangelog|16 years ago|reply
Since Adobe rolled out AS3 I would say the Flash platform is as vibrant as ever.
[+] [-] there|16 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ori_b|16 years ago|reply