Skip to main content

Apple Facing Antitrust Inquiry

Apple’s decision to ban Flash from its development license may have unforeseen consequences, in the form of a federal antitrust inquiry.

It is no secret that Apple doesn’t like Adobe. Last week, Steve Jobs issued an open letter that states in no uncertain terms why he considers Flash to be undesirable on the Apple mobile devices, listing six major reasons why Flash is flawed. The list includes security, reliability, and even battery drain as a result of Flash. In short, Jobs does not like Flash at all, and he seemed almost surprised when the backlash grew. He even went so far as to make it slightly personal, “Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind,” Jobs said.

Recommended Videos

When Apple tweaked its license to bar all Flash-based apps from the iDevices, they did so by requiring developers to use Apple development tools exclusively. This forces developers away from third-party software that Apple does not want, but it also makes multi-platform development nearly impossible. Apple claims that this move is simply because it is what is best for the technology, but many in Washington D.C. are disagreeing with him.

According to the NY Post both the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission are interested in launching an inquiry into Apple’s new policy. Both agencies are currently negotiating to see who will take the lead, and a decision should be made within the next few days. If the inquiry yields enough questions, a formal investigation will follow and Apple will be officially subpoenaed for details on the license.

If the investigation finds that Apple’s new license unfairly forces developers away from other sources of competition, they could be found in violation of antitrust regulations

There are more than just legal concerns over the possible antitrust violations, there are practical ones as well. Many developers prefer to use other tools because they plan to market the various apps on multiple platforms. If developers use only Apple tools, it may become cost prohibitive to the smaller developers to have to rework he same app under a different OS.

Since Apple is second in the smartphone market behind RIM, and with Google’s Android gaining more ground everyday, it might force some developers away from Apple, if they are forced to choose.

Topics
Ryan Fleming
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…
I love the Dell XPS 13, but I’ll pick the MacBook Air any day
Dell XPS 13 and M4 MacBook Air.

I am a huge fan of slim and light laptops. That preference is borne more out of my professional lifestyle than a necessity for absolute silicon firebreathers. I believe a laptop should be, well, light on your lap, or hands, unless you need all that firepower in a mobile form factor.

That’s the reason gaming laptops exist, or those thick workstations such as the HP ZBook with an Nvidia RTX A500 series graphics card. For the rest, a thin laptop can do the job just fine, with its quirky set of compromises. Finding the right slim laptop, however, is the tricky part.

Read more
Acer Swift AI 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4): large-screen laptop shootout
Acer Swift AI 16 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

If you want a large display for multitasking and getting work done, but you don't want to carry around a heavy laptop, then you have several great choices today. There's probably never been a better time to select a great 15-inch laptop or just slightly larger.

Two candidates are the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4, 2025) and Acer Swift AI 16. They both fit a large display into reasonably thin and light chassis, but one has a significant advantage over the other.
Specs and configurations

Read more
iPad is the best secondary screen I’ve used with a MacBook
You can extend your MacBook's screen by using an iPad as a secondary monitor.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time lurking in communities where people share aesthetic desktop setups. One of my friends recently set the group chat on fire with a triple monitor setup that had two vertical screens and an ultrawide curved panel at the center. An impulse swipe later, I achieved a similar makeover for my desk at home.

Here’s the problem, though. My $600 workstation overhaul did bring me visual joy, but not much utility. For reporting assignments, I spend the majority of the year away from home, working from deserted cafes or unnaturally uncomfortable bunk beds. I do miss the convenience of large secondary screens. Interestingly, that yearning is addressed by a rather unconventional device —the humble iPad. 

Read more