When Apple
It was a gutsy move for Apple. As an alternative, Apple looked to a new technology, HTML5, to display Internet videos and graphics on its iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Only about 10% of Web videos could be played with HTML5 when the iPad was first announced. Apple explained its decision by criticizing Flash's speed, battery consumption -- an especially important feature for mobile devices -- and vulnerability to malware such as viruses.
Flash Android to the rescue?
Flash was an obvious potential differentiator for wannabe competitors to the iPad. That wasn't lost on Google
The Samsung Galaxy Tab, an early iPad competitor, runs Android … and, therefore, Flash. Motorola Mobility's
Flash isn't limited to Android tablets. Research In Motion's
Outvoted, but not outmaneuvered
With tablet competition heating up and major competitors lining up behind Flash, it seems Apple was outvoted. But it wasn't outmaneuvered. By February of this year, about 63% of Web videos could be played using HTML5. That compares with 10% in January 2010. Apparently, websites see power in the Apple platform.
Even Adobe seems to be making concessions. Recently, the company released a new tool that converts Flash files to HTML5 so they can run across Apple mobile devices.
Foolish takeaway
The tablet wars are just heating up, with the second-generation iPad launching as many competitors are introducing their first-generation tablets. The rapid adoption of HTML5 suggests that one feature many tablet makers hoped would help them compete -- the ability to play Flash -- isn't going to be a differentiator. Gentlemen, start your tablets!
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