Microsoft Weighs In on Flash Debate
By Jennifer Valentino-DeVries
WSJ, April 30, 2010
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/04/30/microsoft-weighs-in-on-flash-debate/?KEYWORDS=Adobe+and+apple+april+30

In an earlier posting (http://marketdrivengrowth.blogspot.com/2010/05/steve-jobs-escalates-fight-with-adobe.html) we discussed the “battle” between Apple and Adobe on the deployment of Flash, Adobe’s video system. Although Apple claims technical issues are the driving force behind their concerns, one has to believe it is a power play between these two giants. Well now Microsoft is getting into the fray and I am sure we’ll see Google some time soon.

"Not to be left out, Microsoft has weighed in on the latest big tech debate — whether Flash should be the dominant player for video on the Web.
Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs came out with a striking critique of Flash in an essay on Thursday, saying that Flash causes problems with security and battery life and is responsible for crashes on Macs. CEO Shantanu Narayen of Adobe, which makes Flash, responded in an interview with the Journal, calling some of the accusations untrue and blaming other problems on Apple’s policies.......

.......Whatever decisions Microsoft makes in this area are important because the vast majority of Internet surfers use some version of Internet Explorer.

Microsoft backed some of Apple’s argument, saying that “Flash does have some issues, particularly around reliability, security, and performance.” But it isn’t abandoning Flash altogether, the way Apple has done on its mobile devices. “Today, video on the web is predominantly Flash-based,” Mr. Hachamovitch, GM of Micrsosoft’s internet explorer, wrote in the post, adding that “Flash remains an important part of delivering a good consumer experience on today’s web.”

But note the repeated use of the word “today.” It’s clear that the Web is moving in a direction that could spell trouble for Flash. In the post, Microsoft reiterated its support of HTML5 as the standard for the coding that makes up Web pages. Apple also backs HTML5, a standard that supports video within the browser without requiring plug-ins like Flash. (Microsoft’s own video plug-in, Sliverlight, also would likely be hurt by the adoption of HTML5.)"