Posted: January 27th, 2010    By: Devin Walker   

Apple’s largely hyped iPad will not support the Flash plugin on it’s built-in Safari browser.  This means there will be no free Flash games, videos or music on the Apple iPad.  Instead, the Safari browser will show the missing plugin icon when an iPad user attempts to access a website that is Flash enabled.

Apple iPad No Flash Compatibility

The topic has been widely since the iPad, then dubbed ‘apple tablet’, rumors first began to swirl.  During Apple’s “Latest Creation” unveiling Steve Jobs demonstrated browsing the Internet on the iPad.  When he encountered Flash on the New York Times’ website he quickly stated:

No flash here… the missing plugin icon is on screen.” – Steve Jobs

Update: Adobe Announces Flash Apps Will Run On The iPad, Even Full Screen At Some Point

The iPad and Flash debate has been a widely debated topic between tech bloggers. Some Apple fans think they are doing the right thing by snubbing Adobe’s Flash. Others think that Apple is doing the right thing. Myself, I <3 Flash but understand where Apple is coming from Flash exclusion.

iPad: No Flash? No Surprise

No Flash on Apple's iPadApple’s iPhone never supported Flash and they have never indicated that this would change in the near future. To add to this, Apple seems to be placing more distance (if possible) between themselves and Adobe Flash. So why are some surprised? The iPad is a device that features browsing as a key element; there will be plenty of people wanting access their Flash games, video sites, music and more. Instead, they will only to be met with this frustrating (and widely-hated) icon:
Missing Plug-In Icon on Apple iPad

Which situation do you think Apple is happier with? An iPad OS without Flash plugin support, where they control the source code to every single component, and can do whatever they want, when they want… OR… an OS with proprietary web content plugin support – Flash primarily – that brings users a much more complete Internet viewing experience but takes control away from Apple. Looks like they’ve made the decision.

iPad Shrugs Off Flash

With the majority of video on the Internet based on Flash technology, this latest revelation from Apple may limit the iPad’s richness. On the other hand, Apple may be attempting loosen the grip of this closed-door plugin has on the Internet. Will Apple be successful?

DO NOT expert to see on an iPad near you:

  • Flash Audio Players/Widgets
  • Flash Video Players/Widgets
  • Flash Photo Galleries/Editors
  • Flash Ads (no biggie)
  • Flash Site Navigation
  • Flash product demos
  • Flash Full-Websites
  • Flash Games
  • Flash Animations

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  • mark fuqua

    I could deal with it on the iphone, but if Apple doesn’t support flash on ipad, I’m done with Apple. I can understand not putting it on iphone, but the specs for the ipad are more than enough for flash to run well. It’s just a slap in the face to those of us who love flash.

  • http://ipadapplereview.com/ Apple ipad

    hope there is more to come. tks

  • Berklia Verde

    Not supporting Flash is kind of stupid and evil – also showing unhealthy “monopolization” of the web by apple. I agree with Mark Fuqua, I’m done with apple too. It’s too bad for them, because I used to love apple and their hardware design is beautiful. However, if the functionality we need isn’t there, everything we want to see is missing. I hope other “tablet makers” will come out with something better than the ipad- and soon ! – with flash compatibility!

  • http://www.getshawty.com Birgit Paytes

    [...] Apple iPad: No Flash Plugin Support | Articles and Tutorials – http://www.dlocc.com/articles/apple-ipad-no-flash-plugin-support/ – http://www.GetShawty.com [...]

  • Rob

    I have a 64 GB iPad with 3G on order (for about 2 weeks now). I think a Windows driven notebook, or a notebook running ubuntu is probably a better choice, at 1/2 the price. More functions, lower cost — what sort of a decision is that. I like my iPhone, but the iPad is looking like crippled hardware, and Jobs is more concerned about Jobs than about iPad owners. So be it, Jobs can sell my iPad to some other sucker.

  • New iPad a dissapointment

    Byers beware! If your anything like me and want the ability to do the following, you will be be pissed off, when you see yon can’t

    1. Watch any video that has any flash, and many more media file types
    2. Build and price vehicles from sites like ford or gm
    3. Use live.ca or .com mail using the built in email client. Any if it is Possible, why can I not get it to work, a real struggle :(
    4. Use dating sites that use webcam streaming
    5. Use things like excel, word, ppt unless your prepared to spend as much for them as you paid for the iPad

    I should have seen this coming. I bought my wife the itouch thinking that would score points and she would get lots of use out of it. She played with it for 2 weeks and then got bored with it, I now see why.

    In summary, the iPad is like a stripper, nice to look at, but because it’s intellect is limited, you get bored quickly and leave the experience feeling like you spent a lot of money and walked away feeling less than satisfied.

    I would like to thank the very rich leaders of apple for taking my hard earned money and not giving me what they led me to believe was going to be a media rich experience.

    Oh ya, almost forgot, don’t worry about the wife, I bought her a blackberry for her birthday and she can’t put it down. At least I was able to waste my valuable time typing this post with my crapPad!

  • Anneli

    I was given this Ipad for my birthday ……. I was so happy …. Until I realised I am NOT able to look at my swedish tv and news programmes as I need to have a flash plugin / player…… I am so, so disappointed with apple NOT to allow it. :-(

  • http:/www.dlocc.com Devin Walker

    Major bummer, I still love iPads though…

  • Helene troisi

    I too agree with all of the above. I really like my iPad, but I like to make musical slideshows with windows movie maker and though I can publish and view them on Facebook, I cannot transfer them to view on my iPad. It may sound silly, but I take this thing with me everywhere and would love to be able to show family and friends my pics as a musical slideshow . I also miss playing backgammon on yahoo. If someone comes out with a tablet that let’s me do all the things my pc giant does, I will pay top dollar!!!