Adobe software quietly removed from all new Mac machines
Adobe’s Flash player and browser plugin has been removed from all new Apple products, effective as of this past Saturday.
As noted by The Guardian, Adobe software will now require user downloads with each new Apple machine, without the ‘click to install’ prompt that explains why video animations or games may not be working and links users directly to the Flash download site.
It has been suggested that Oracle’s Java has also suffered the same exclusion from new Apple products.
The axing of Flash will include all demonstration machines in Apple Stores worldwide, meaning that the previous iOS pre-installed Flash cut is now active across the entire Apple product range.
The latest ban became clear when testers of the new MacBook Air found that they could not play Adobe Flash content, including YouTube videos.
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“We're happy to continue to support Flash on the Mac, and the best way for users to always have the most up to date and secure version is to download it directly from Adobe,” an Apple spokesperson said.
Apple’s pre-installed Flash cuts mark the latest chapter in ongoing troubles between the two companies that has continued throughout 2010.
Axed seems to imply that it's been gotten rid of entirely. But it still exists and possible to run on a Mac, it's just not preinstalled...which isn't too bad and hardly 'axed'
It's not just this site. Lots of sites are making up extreme headlines for this story.
Apple have chosen not to preinstall Flash. Rather than waiting for Adobe to update it, then wait to push it out as part of their own update, they are relying on Adobe to distribute it directly. More efficient, and results in more up-to-date software. They are doing the same with Java.
There is friction between Apple and Adobe, but I don't think this is part of it.
Stop and think for one second what both these technologies (Java and Flash) have in common.
GAMES.
Look at the games on the Apples store and they are recompiled Flash games for the most part. Allowing them on the iPad/iPhone/iPod/iMac would mean less games on the app store and less of a cut for apple.
