As someone who is a (almost) lifelong uninterrupted fan of both Apple and Adobe, I have eagerly been waiting for the news that Flash would be integrated into the next iPhone since the days of 1.0. Instead, we are treated to an open email from Steve Jobs posted on the Apple.com site that basically not only says "don't hold your breath" but goes on to attack Adobe's products (and Flash in particular) as not Open source enough, or not in accordance with Apple's vision of what next generation of browsing should be. I know Adobe has gotten their jabs in previously too, but in general it seems to me obvious that Flash does offer some options as far as interactivity on the Web that YouTube just doesn't. YouTube is great for video, but it really is just that - a platform for video.
Being from a generation of DIY web designers/animators/developers from the Gold Rush days, I can't help but feel that there should be room for some exploration as far as narrative storytelling (or just information exchange) on the web, and Flash to me has always seemed as a good (but not only!) tool for this as any other out there. I think that in the era of user-generated content of higher and higher quality we forget that there could and should be experimentation with the User Interface Design, combining different media, video, gaming, mouse/keyboard interaction to create content that encourages user participation. One of the most appealing aspects of Flash in my opinion is that it's fairly inclusive of other kinds of content, and unusual/weird navigation and UI structures.
And don't tell me I can't have buttons! Jobs talks about how next generation browsing includes a different set of actions that isn't button-friendly, and obviously he can ultimately have his OS do what he wants it to do. But as a visionary, someone who has helped expand our horizons so many times, perhaps he would serve his own vision better by being a little more inclusive.
Let's make it happen!
