iSwifter Brings Flash Games To the iPad — Sort Of

itwbennett writes "Peter Smith is blogging about the free iSwifter app, which aims to solve the 'no Flash games on iPads' problem. The app, which is currently available for the iPad and planned for the iPhone and other devices, 'streams Flash games to your iPad. You run the app, which contacts iSwifter servers, which are actually running the Flash. Ideally, the effect is identical to running the app directly from a web page.' Smith tested the app and calls it an 'interesting idea,' but an imperfect solution — at least right now."

Comments

You want the real solution?

[Sycraft-fu]

If Flash matters to you, don't buy the iPad, and send Apple a respectful e-mail saying that you require Flash support in a tablet device if you are to buy it. That is the real solution. If sales suffer because of the lack of Flash, and they are aware of it, then it is likely they'll rectify the problem. If not, someone else will.

However if you get all caught up in Shiny New Toy Syndrome and rush out to buy it, no matter how bad a fit for your use it is, don't go and cry about it later. All that tells companies is that you don't really care about what you say you do, they can produce whatever they like with whatever restrictions they like and you'll buy it so long as it is cool.

I just don't understand all the crying about Flash on Apple devices. If it doesn't matter to you, then great, buy their device, be happy and so on. If it does matter, then do not buy their device, let them know that this is a requirement before you make a purchase, and go on with your life.

However don't buy the device because it is cool, without researching it, and then cry because it won't do what you want.

Re:You want the real solution?

[farnsworth]

If Flash matters to you, don't buy the iPad

I don't know anyone who has an iOS device that complains about lack of Flash. I know dozens upon dozens of people with iOS devices, some for years now.

It seems like most of the bitching about Flash comes from Flash developers who won't or can't port to Cocoa Touch or HTML 5. Which is fine by me, they are complaining about a vendor making a somewhat arbitrary technical decision that impacts their careers. I'd be pissed too if a large portion of my market was obviated practically overnight.

I see a trend here...

[Deathnerd]

First came OnLive and now this. I see thin clients becoming a common solution to many graphical/computational intensive applications in the future.

Re:I see a trend here...

[tepples]

I see thin clients becoming a common solution to many graphical/computational intensive applications in the future.

I see the future not coming any time soon, at least until mobile Internet access plans in the United States become much cheaper. At least thick clients can work in environments that connect to the Internet only intermittently.

Is it necessary?

[grub]

I may be in the minority, but I really don't notice the lack of flash on our iPad (or iPhones). It seems like this stuff is a solution in search of a real problem.

Why not the other way?

[SuperKendall]

If Flash matters to you, don't buy the iPad, and send Apple a respectful e-mail saying that you require Flash support in a tablet device if you are to buy it.

I hated Flash before it was seemingly cool to like it again.

So I'll advise anyone who has had a multi-year dislike of Flash, from the CPU-sucking browser crashing video playback, to the headache inducing animated ads, to the flash overlays that perch atop the real content - to those people, email other device makers and ask them why on earth they are even considering making a device that supports Flash.

The more device makers that don't support Flash, the sooner it will go away. Don't add it just to have one more item on the checklist than the other guy, is what I would say to these device makers...