One of the largest complaints about the iPhone is the lack of Flash. With over six million download requests in December 2009 alone, it is clear the users expect flash to be present on a mobile device at this point. Many expect that Windows Mobile 7 will be compatible with Flash, given Microsoft's close relationship with Adobe. The introduction of flash on Windows Mobile will finally allow Microsoft to one-up Apple... but can they do it?
The simple answer is no. Steve Ballmer recently announced that Windows Mobile 7 will not have Flash capability at initial release. Many may say that the capability will eventually be integrated into the OS, but Microsoft has a dirty history of keeping the status-quo with many of its products. Windows Vista, for example, was supposed to come with a new file system that would speed up data access rates and allow for superior organization, but Microsoft simply never got around to it.
Flash requires processing power that is capable with current technology, but the battery life of any device using it would be the equivalent to those which are currently using GPS. The number of flash applications is begging to dwindle and HTML 5 is supposed to remove the necessity of the Flash format, which may actually make this entire post into a moot point.
