The proclamation from Steve Jobs that the iPhone will not support the Flash Player, either in it's full desktop player form or Flash Lite, has led many to examine the motivations behind Apple's stance.

Personally, I think this is all just saber-rattling. The most compelling argument I've seen thus far - on why Apple doesn't want Flash on the iPhone - has nothing to do with the security of the Flash player or it's robustness on a mobile platform. Apple wants to control and protect the development channels on the iPhone. They want a say in who builds applications and what those applications are. Furthermore, they have no interest in proliferating the Flash Player's reach within the mobile and devices space. That wouldn't help the advancement of Silverlight at all now would it?

For more on this topic see the links below (posted in no particular order).

CNN's coverage (w/ comment from Ryan Stewart):
http://tinyurl.com/2nxrap

Marketwatch's coverage:
http://tinyurl.com/2zhuwk

Robert Scoble on Apple/Job's declaration of no Flash on iPhone:
http://scobleizer.com/2008/03/05/apple-stabs-adobe-in-the-back/

John Gruber on this topic (more detail on Apple protecting the iPhone dev environment):
http://daringfireball.net/2008/02/flash_iphone_calculus

Ryan Stewart says the Flash Player is coming to iPhone (background info only):
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Stewart/?p=241

Larry Dignan on Apple vs. Adobe iPhone Spat (background info only):
http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8061

http://www.30onair.com/
Ted Patrick blogs the project

Adobe announces the latest version of Flash Media Server today.

Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced the Adobe Flash Media Server 3 family of products, which offers streaming media and real-time communication capabilities to the broadest possible audience. With industry standard H.264 video capabilities and High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio support, Adobe Flash Media Server 3 provides content owners with increased protection for streaming high quality video and allows for the delivery of interactive media applications that work consistently across multiple browsers and operating systems. Adobe Flash Media Server 3 provides a more efficient instant-on video experience virtually anytime, anywhere - to the Web, the desktop with Adobe Media Player and to mobile devices with Adobe Flash Lite 3. With new pricing options, customers have a wide array of choices for the broadcasting of high quality streaming media experiences.

The full press release is here. For specific product related information, visit the Flash Media Server product page.

Two developers on my team have recently taken (and passed) the ColdFusion MX 7 certification exam. Discussing the exam with them afterwords, both wished they could review their missed questions before leaving the exam. Sadly, Macromedia, nor Adobe have ever set this up. I've tried to figure out why over the past couple of years and have never been given a definitive answer. It would certainly help the developer know what they need to work on in the future.

Worse than Adobe not having a "missed questions review" are developers who don't leave comments during the last portion of the exam. If there are things during the exam you think are "iffy" - like questions that are overly ambiguous - you should leave comments indicating as much. How is Adobe supposed to make the exam better if you don't indicate what you liked and disliked? And if you think they should allow you to review your missed questions, then let them know. I guess this is akin to Tom Cruise's line in Jerry Maguire: "Help me, help you - help me, help you."

Adobe has announced the release of a beta version of Photoshop CS3. This new version will make its way onto Labs (labs.adobe.com) sometime within the next few hours (12/15/2006). Until then, you can read the press release located here.

HostMySite is offering ColdFusion User Groups free shared Web hosting accounts! I've been with HMS for a little over a year. I've certainly had my share of issues but overall HMS provides excellent hosting services for a good price. FREE sites for CF user groups is an even better deal! To get your free hosting account you must be the manager of a ColdFusion user group. Just call 1.877.215.4678 to get signed up. And please, if you call as a result of reading this post, mention my name when you speak to them!

It's been nothing short of a stellar week. So many kudos need to be given to all the folks that made this week possible. Ed Sullivan and Christine Lawson for their tireless efforts running the user group and Adobe Community Expert programs (and Ed for spearheading this entire event - I can't express the gratitude), James Talbot, for teaching two absolutely amazing days on Flex, Rob Rusher for helping out as a teaching assistant and Kevin Lynch, Ben Forta, Scott Fegette, Mike Chambers and all the other speakers, and all the UGM's and Adobe Community Experts for participating and making the socializing an event to remember.

I'm now packing up in the hotel at The Fairmont preparing for a few hours of sleep before a 6:30am flight back to Nash-vegas. I'm ultra-exhausted, so I'm going to wait until tomorrow to post a longer follow-up on the week. I hope all those that attended have safe travel back home and I can't wait to see you all again soon.

Adobe has posted the July version of the Edge newsletter complete with a new CSS design that is slick while being super simple. You can read the issue online or subscribe to have it delivered to your inbox. Featured in the current issue are Ben Forta's Top 10 Reason's to attend MAX, R Blank's How the Web is changing Hollywood, and Jason Brightman's Small Web team develops big-time magazine site among others. Check it out.

I'm sitting in the airport in Nashville waiting to depart for San Jose, CA to attend the Adobe Community Summit. The summit is a get-together between Adobe User Group Managers, Adobe Community Experts, and Adobe employees (mostly from Developer Relations). The two day event should be a lot of fun and very informative at the same time. I'm arriving a day early and staying a day late in order to participate in 2 full days of hands-on Flex training.

I've been doing a little bit of work with Flex 2 using the SDK on my Mac and compiling applications locally. I've been playing around with the sample Flex 2 applications and if I get a chance I will compile them and put them up here so people can see how they work. So, needless to say I'm excited to get the chance to dive into Flex more and get some official training from the hands that created the product.

As the week progresses, I'll report on the trip and disseminate any information I can.

Adobe has now opened registration for MAX, Las Vegas which will be taking place October 23-26, 2006. Click the link below for all the details and to register yourself early.

http://www.adobe.com/events/max/

With the release of Flex 2 today and new information regarding Flash Player 9 and ActionScript 3.0 coming out Adobe has updated the developer center with new content. There's a redesigned Flex Developer Center, redesigned Flex sample applications, new Flex Quick starts and more information on Flash 9 and AS 3.0. You can check it all out right here.