Looks Like Steve Jobs Was Right: Adobe to Stop Developing Flash for Mobile

The Apple versus Adobe battle that raged back in the summer of 2010 was really more Steve Jobs, not his company, telling another company that their technology was outdated and his forward-thinking vision simply didn't see a fit for it.

Adobe and its supporters—particularly those scooping up Android devices for the sole reason of having Flash—laughed at Steve, suggesting he was rendering his company's mobile devices useless and obsolete, that Flash was an essential component of the web.

Turns out, as often the case, Steve was right.

Adobre wrote in an official blog post:

We will no longer continue to develop Flash Player in the browser to work with new mobile device configurations (chipset, browser, OS version, etc.)

Adobe won't be issuing an apology to the Apple legend—even if we was alive, I'm sure—but the fact that Adobe is now officially ceasing future development of Flash or mobile hands over the golden trophy to the iPhone maker. It also disarms a key argument on the iOS competitor side; for example, RIM won't be able to run its BlackBerry ad that plays "Flash" by Queen. (Perhaps "I'm Dead" by Choking Victim is more apt.)

The focus is shifting to HTML5, which works by default on every operating platform, while Flash will be diminish to niche areas like "advanced gaming" and "premium video."

I can hear Steve laughing in his grave over this one.