Adobe plans to add HTTP Live Streaming to Flash Media Server to support iOS

Adobe showcased several new and upcoming features of its Flash Media Server during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show last week. One interesting feature for media producers who plan to target iOS users is the eventual addition of the iPhone-friendly HTTP Live Streaming to the Media Server's supported protocol list. Adobe blogger Kevin Towes noted this change in a "sneak peak [sic]" of developments on the streaming and encoding front, but no specific time frame was given for delivery of the new feature.

HTTP Live Streaming is an HTTP-based media streaming protocol developed by Apple. It uses H.264 video and AAC or MP3 audio to deliver its media stream. The protocol is supported by QuickTime on Mac OS X and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

This move by Adobe to support a non-Flash streaming format could be framed as a win for Apple in the Flash versus HTML 5 streaming wars. Since Apple shows no signs of moving towards Flash support on iOS, Adobe is modifying its services to support mobile streaming on Apple's platforms; this makes Adobe's solution more universally useful and compatible, while handing Apple a small but significant win.

[via Ars Technica]