The biggest Apple - link proclamation at the 2011 National Association of Broadcasters trade show wasthe society ’s revelation of Final Cut Pro X. But the secondly biggest Apple announcement at the consequence did n’t even come from Apple . Rather , it was Adobe ’s declaration that it willadd sustenance for HTTP Live Streamingto its Flash Media Server .
HTTP Live Streaming(HLS ) is an Apple - developed technology for sending bouncy or pre - recorded video recording ( and sound recording ) to iOS devices and Macs alike , using a traditional Web host ; the ship’s company has also pass on it for consideration as an net criterion . Adobe ’s announcement means that publishers who already make Flash video as part of their work flow ( as in , the absolute majority of on-line video publishing house ) will be able to pour that video to iPads , iPod touches , and iPhones without first needing to re - encode it . In other words , in the not too distant futurity , you should be able-bodied to keep an eye on a lot more Web video on your iOS twist or Flash - detached Mac .
About a year ago , Steve Jobs famously apportion his thinking on Flash , in which he defend Apple ’s choice not to support the engineering on iOS devices . Flash , Jobs indite , was a electric battery drain , and a miserable mobile performing artist to boot : “ We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash execute well on a roving gadget , any wandering gadget , for a few year now . We have never seen it . ”
Unsurprisingly , Adobe did n’t share that appraisal . Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen answer to Jobs ’s alphabetic character , cry it “ apparently untrue ” and adding that “ for every one of these accusations made , there is proprietary lock - in ” prevent Adobe from addressing any issues .
Adobe ’s embrace of HLS , then , strike off a significant shift in the landscape painting for both companies . Adobe , for its part , has publically and loudly bemoan iOS ’s lack of Flash support since before it was even squall iOS . By herald backup for HLS , Adobe seems to nullify some of its own retiring complaints — mainly , that Adobe needed further financial support from Apple to make Flash video recording body of work better on its machine .
It ’s worth noting that Adobe already implements a server - side streaming applied science of its own creation , HTTP Dynamic Streaming ( HDS ) . HDS , however , works only with devices that — you opine it — hightail it Flash . HLS seems to have more buy - in than HDS to date : for example , Microsoft has process Silverlight - encoded video to iOS devices using HLS since 2009 .
While Adobe certainly benefits a bit — its customers will no doubt root on the easier access to iOS devices — it ’s clear that Apple ’s the big winner here . Apple has of course rest unwavering in its refusal to corroborate Flash on iOS , and once keep a page on its internet site devoted to celebratingtop - tier website with iPad - friendly HTML5 video . The list included sites like YouTube , CNN , and ESPN , which indeed serve up iOS - friendly Flash video alternatives via HTML5 .
There are still plenty of Web video recording provider that rely exclusively on Flash , though . Adobe ’s announcement signify that iOS gadget will presently be able to rain buckets such TV without any updates on Apple ’s last , taking the wind out of some critic ’ sail . And Flash - hold up tablet ( heavy hampered though their functioning may be ) will no longer have that leg up on Apple ’s gimmick , either — if they ever truly had it in the first place .
Mac user unhappy with Flash functioning base to gain as well . Daring Fireball savant andMacworldSenior Contributor John Gruber has long advise thatMac user uninstall Flashfor better operation , advice I myself followed untilreluctantly give way up very recently . Once Websites begin follow through Flash ’s HLS support , Mac surfboarder should also be able to ware Flash video without really having Flash installed .
deficiency of Flash support has n’t seemed to affect iOS gadget cut-rate sale negatively , and Adobe seems to be tacitly conceding that if it wants to reach that large swath of user , it ’s move to have to do so on Apple ’s terms . Adobe ’s implementation of HLS is sure enough a welcome change , but the move seems to be less about benefiting consumers and customers , and more about realizing that the piece of writing is on the wall for the future of the vane video .
