Apple's iPhone lockdown: apps must be written in one of three languages, Adobe in the hurt locker
By Chris Ziegler 
posted April 8th 2010 10:59PM
posted April 8th 2010 10:59PM
Apple's already got a veritable novella describing things you can't do with the iPhone as a developer -- create apps that execute their own code is the biggie, obviously, blocking technologies Flash and Java in the absence of a loophole -- but it seems they've locked down the ecosystem just a little further today with the release of the iPhone OS 4 beta SDK. Check out this snippet from the developer's agreement:What does that mean, exactly? Well, it means that technologies like Adobe's iPhone compiler in Flash CS5 won't be allowed, simply because the source code of the app that you're writing isn't in a language Apple's comfortable with. The compiler had been seen as a potential boon for Flash devs that had already been blocked out of the iPhone ecosystem for lack of a true Flash player, but Apple's found a way to block even this workaround -- technically you don't need to be using Apple's own tools, but you've got be using one of three variants of a single programming language. It's hard to say why Apple cares, exactly, but we suspect that the company would have to analyze your app pretty closely to detect variances in how the compiler produced your machine code in order to determine that you'd violated the rule.Applications may only use Documented APIs in the manner prescribed by Apple and must not use or call any private APIs. Applications must be originally written in Objective-C, C, C++, or JavaScript as executed by the iPhone OS WebKit engine, and only code written in C, C++, and Objective-C may compile and directly link against the Documented APIs (e.g., Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited).
This could be a blow to publishers -- Condé Nast included -- who'd been banking on Adobe Air to lead the digital push, since those guys presumably won't be able to bring their issues to the iPhone (and, more importantly, the iPad) without violating the terms of Apple's agreement. Protectionism is a core element of the iPhone's success, in Apple's view -- but ultimately, this might come out as a decision that's difficult to defend, unnecessarily sours publishers to the platform, and turns Flash devs' heads just a little grayer than they already were.
@WenJam That would have hurt them back in like 99" when they were struggling, but now... With or without you bud. With or without you.
Apple is not letting garbage into the iPhone ecosystem. I support that. HTML5 is more suitable for video anyways, using less CPU power and system resources. Adobe sat on their asses for years without improving Flash performance.
@jckchn Have you not seen all the smut applications available for the iPhone?
@jckchn you might want to check your sources. HTML5 is great, but its not quite there yet.
@angermeans So we have two choices:
1/Wait until HTML5 becomes great (probably very long time, given that so many developers use Flash)
2/Give it a push.
I think the second option is better, even if it causes some short-term problems.
@jckchn 1. This is not to do with the iPhone running flash in browser. 2. Have you seen the apps made using Adobe Air? Have a look at the Wired app. Possibly the best looking, most fluid and most functional app on the iPad, made in Adobe Air. I am sick of this crap about being made using Adobe tools meaning that it's crap, when to the contrary, it's most often the best.
Honestly this is the last straw. I am done with Apple after this.
I was looking forward to spending the entire summer making iPhone apps using Flash (which I am experienced in) but now that's gone. I was planning on switching my iPhone to an android phone later this year but I just can't stand this BS anymore.
@Harp
Haven't you known that Flash games are... kinda on the way out... for while now?
Flash served a purpose... back in 2002, etc..
@HighestRanked2 Laziness?? Do you know how much time is it to learn a new programming language? Or that some of us have to buy a Mac to use the IPhone SDK.
@HighestRanked2 The problem isn't the laziness, it's that I don't own a Mac.
@Wesscoast This isn't about "Flash games" it's about being able to develop and iPhone application on a PC, and also makes it easier for novice developers using Adobe's new technologies such as AIR and Flash's iPhone app feature.
@Harp I am in same situation
I'm really starting to feel that Windows Mobile 7 development is the way to go. It supports multiple platforms, and is going to be loaded on several mobile devices. I really do think there will be some backlash over this. Imagine how much time Adobe spent on adding the Flash to iPhone feature in CS5. Don't get me wrong I love Apple but this is just getting ridiculous. Just wondering anyone know what language(s) that WM7 supports?
@HighestRanked2 Last time I checked there were more phones running Windows Mobile then the iPhone OS. Windows Mobile 7 is going to have a significantly larger market then the iPhone. Its not limited by carrier or manufacture.
But doesnt this mean that games built on engines are also violating this principal since they use a third party layer on top of Apples ? I dont know exactly how they work but from layman point of view this seems to be the case.
@phoenix004 so sad cuz all those 1 billion apps have to be revised to fit those 3 languages now
Unfortunately only a very small part of the user base actually take time to read and educate themselves on the working end of the world of cell phones and all is incorporates. John Q Public mostly watch TV ad or read it in a magazine or newspaper, see shiny new toy, and buy it.. Apple has good marketing and, good or bad, easy to use products. Till their methods hurt them in the bottom line of profit or loss, these type of strong arm tactics will continue.
This is ridiculous. I hope Apple realizes that they aren't only hurting Adobe, but all of those potential developers that could have brought in additional revenue for them. Ah, arrogance...
That sound you hear is all the developers flocking to Android.
Bazinga!!!
Oh wait, he's not kidding? Darn.
What's the URL to filter out this barrage of Apple articles again?
engadget just insists of splitting up into millions of posts, wtf? seriously wtf?
@tbnz http://engadget.com/exclude/apple/
There is nothing worse than when someone takes a good platform and COMPLETELY FUCKS IT UP by locking it down like this to squeeze every last penny out of the consumer. Verizon is extremely guilty of this, and so is Apple, and so are a lot of other companies. This is the reason I will not purchase these kinds of products.
Finally, making people learn a real language.. stupid adobe hacks :P
Adobe should stop working with Apple. Full Stop.
Job's you suck, you must have a very small penis. Did you know people enjoy the web and 90% ++++ of the entire internet is created and displayed with FLASH including SITES, VIDEOS, GAMES, CONTENT and so on.
frak off
Apple has seriously gone backwards as of late.
@iPaul "90% ++++ of the entire internet is created and displayed with FLASH"
LOL. Whatever. Check those statistics again.
@iPaul
yeah, adobe should stop developing creative suite for all platforms and concentrate on just one platform??? that would be bad for adobe's profit as its products are pricey and so would need buyers from all platforms. unfortunately adobe has still yet to produce any product for linux distributions...
@Atkins actually its about 98% and if you want know where those figures its engadget read ipad review read full why cant you apple lovers just accept those numbers and even with lots of web sites moving to html you have to take in to consideration there 43 billion websites this year
@jasonfreeman27 I accept the numbers, I have no problem with that. The problem is how he reads them:
"90% ++++ of the entire internet is created and displayed with FLASH"
Here's the link to those numbers:
http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/
Read the title: "Flash content reaches 99% of Internet viewers."
It doesn't mean that "90%+ of the Internet is created and displayed with Flash", because it isn't. It just means that 99% of the Internet users see some kind of Flash content, and I am pretty sure ads are included.
@Atkins this is a stupid argument!
As stupid as Apple is for not putting flash on its mobile devices. I will never purchase "1" single Apple product. ever again . You had me with Flash and paid updates on the iPad, not forgetting $19 WSG subscriptions.
Also, while in a recession Apple pursues Adobe like a spoiled brat and is doing a good job trying to put out of work flash developers?
Adobe should pull it's licences, products, terminate apps on all Macs.
Frak Jobs.
Why are we still talking about this? Flash isn't gonna be on iPhone OS. Get over it. Some say it's a "limitation". Others don't.
Maybe Adobe should concentrate on platforms that do want it like Android where it still is either buggy and limited Flash lite.
Get fuckin 10.1 on those handsets and fuck Apple. Lazy ass bitches.
@Motlee Flash on the iPhone isn't the issue here. The issue is Apple locking down developers to specific tools. Apple needs to realize that the iPhone would not be where it is today without 3rd party developers.
@Motlee The post is about creating iPhone Apps using Adobe Flash CS5, not about the Flash Player.
@mrpixel Yes, it is about Flash CS5. What better choice to kill Flash?
@mrpixel "The compiler had been seen as a potential boon for Flash devs that had already been blocked out of the iPhone ecosystem for lack of a true Flash player"
Am I reading that incorrectly? Sounds like a backdoor to flash to me. Could be wrong.
@HighestRanked2 Ignorant troll.
But doesn't that mean that someone could sue Apple. Not that I'm a lawyer, but I don't think there is any legal backing for Apple's actions. Restricting programming languages is not necessarily Apple's legal right and might be held in a court of law as an illegal market practice by Apple. This is a classical monopoly that deters competition and that is illegal.
@Generic Monopoly on what? Their phone which is one of many on the market?
@Generic Well, Adobe could follow Opera by making some noise about this in the EU and see what happen.
@Atkins
You can sue a company for anticompetitive practices even if it doesn't have monopoly-level market share.
@Sad Sack True, but how Apple's restrictions can be seen as anti-competitive? In which category will you put them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practices
hehe :D
It is kind of funny one has to admit. For many years Adobe and their products was one of the few things that kept Apple and their overpriced hardware alive. Imagine Adobe would have just focused on Windows - their may be no Apple today.
Now Adobe is the one company that is screw'd the hardest by Apple...they know no shame :D
@dieterk Yeah, yeah, Adobe did Apple a favor - they were just selling stuff for profit. like a normal company.
It's apple's world, we all just buy their $%#$ in it! I dunno, but I'm bracing my self for an apple event to be announced sometime in the near.. "Come see islap the the &%$# outta Chuck Geschke, John Warnock (Adobe) Eric Schmitt (Google), Bill Gates, Paul Allen (Microsoft) Cher Wang (HTC) and the entire Toyota exec crew. (Just thought i'd add them in there for a slap ;) First you get the money, then you get the power, then you become a dictatorship.
@DionLynk I am all for an 'iSlap' event for the executives of Toyota.
So Apple gifts iAd to the world as a revenue stream for free apps, then locks out a huge potential source for free apps from a huge number of Flash developers.... riiiiiiight
@klydefrogg It's a pretty good idea, considering Apple doesn't want Flash.
If Adobe stops all support for Apple Mac's then shit would start to hit the fan at Cupertino.
Who do they think they are?
ADOBE stop supportin' MAC
@iPaul Read my previous comment. It would have killed Apple many years back but the truth is, Apple and their profits is to a very large extend in the mobile space...ipod, iphone, ipad and selling apps and content for it.
Also the percentage of Apple customers buying Macbooks and desktops to use Adobe products is shrinking (the percentage not the total number).
@iPaul I don't think this would help Adobe in any way.. For those who do actually use Adobe's tools on Macs, like me, could simply stick to their current versions of CreativeSuites and finally have a good reason to check out the great alternative software titles out there.
In my case (web developer):
Espresso and Coda (which both are way better!) instead of Dreamweaver.
HTML5 & CSS (don't forget: this is actually open and free stuff!) instead of Flash
Alternatives for Photoshop and Illustrator are numerous, just as well.
They would just get a huge push if Adobe really moved this way!
All in all I'd just love to see to which company the creatives' loyalty would go to.
Apple might even win this fight.
Think about it..
Apple has become a lot like communism... It was a great idea; give the user freedom to create and be original, but then a dictator emerged and declared himself god and corrupted the system. Thanks to Jobs we have the Apple of today instead of the Apple we were promised in 1984.