Hulu Likely Not to Come to iPad as NBC and Time Warner Choose Flash over Apple

By Ryan Fleming June 1, 2010

When Steve Jobs announced that Apple would no longer support Adobe’s Flash in favor of HTML5, it was a calculated risk. Jobs laid out why he thought Flash should be excluded, citing everything from security concerns to reliability, in defense of Apple’s decision to not allow developers to use Flash on Apple’s iDevices. But despite a chorus of voices in agreement that included Microsoft, to ban the program that dominates the video playback market on the internet was a gamble. The choice was clear: side with Flash and lose Apple, or abandon Flash in favor of Apple and HTML5.

The decision did not seem to affect iPad sales, as the tablet officially crossed the 2 million sold mark, but two more media giants have decided that developing content for the iPad just isn’t worth it.

Time Warner and NBC Universal have told the NY Post that they both intend to stick with Flash, because retooling their extensive libraries would be too expensive, and not worth it because Flash dominates the market.

One media exec told the NY Post that Apple’s position was eroded by the announcement of Google TV, which will use Flash. Others claim that the iPad’s Flash friendly rival tablets that are on the way further weaken Apple’s demands to switch to HTML5.

Hulu- which is owned by NBC Universal, Fox Entertainment and ABC, recently announced that it would also remain with Flash. CBS has begun to work with Apple, but will only offer a limited number of show, while Fox and CNN offer select clips only. ABC, which is owned by Disney, has created an app to stream ABC videos, which is not surprising since Jobs is Disney’s biggest shareholder.

The battle for the future of online video content continues.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…

Mobile

Apple made an outrageous change to its new iPads

An official photo of the 2024 iPad Air.

After a year-long drought of iPads, Apple finally revealed the new iPad Air and iPad Pro models during its Let Loose event on May 7. This was a unique announcement because it broke some old traditions; the iPad Air now comes in two sizes: an 11-inch and 13-inch, just like the iPad Pro. But these new iPads are also breaking another longtime tradition: They won’t come with iconic Apple stickers. Gasp.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple Store teams received a memo where Apple explained that the iconic Apple stickers won’t be included inside the boxes of the new iPad Air and iPad Pro. The reasoning? As part of Apple’s environmental goals, it is trying to ensure that its packaging is completely free of plastic.

Mobile

There’s something Apple isn’t telling you about the new iPad Pro

A render of the front and back of the 2024 iPad Pro.

Earlier this year, I bought a new MacBook Air. It was the entry-level 13-inch trim with an eight-core graphics engine. If my budget allowed, I would’ve loved to go with the higher-end M3 version with a 10-core GPU inside.

Spending a few hundred dollars for the higher RAM and storage configuration automatically gets you the more powerful M3 variant. Conversely, you can’t just pay more for an M3 version with a beefier GPU. If you want the best performance possible, you have to pay for the higher storage/RAM models. It’s an infuriating and darn expensive situation, but that’s how Apple rolls.

Mobile

I don’t think Apple wants me to buy the new iPad Pro

Someone using the new M4 iPad Pro with a creator app.

There are days when I am proud of the things I create, and then there are days like today when I watch an Apple iPad Pro reveal event. Seeing what the new 2024 iPad Pro can do made me feel like the things I’ve creatively achieved are the equivalent of holding a piece of chalk in my clenched fist and scratching a stick figure onto a cave wall.

I simply would not get close to what it’s capable of, band there’s still a tiny, slightly mad part of me that really wants one of these spectacular new tablets, particularly as it’s still the only way I can get a personal must-have tablet feature. Except, if I also want all the kit with it, the top-spec iPad Pro model will definitely cost me more than $2,000, potentially even up to $3,000. Am I mad enough to spend that much on an iPad?
Go Pro or go home