Platform control or platform options?

John Gruber of Darling Fireball calls this article by Mark Bernstein about platform control “exactly right ” (unsurprisingly perhaps, the article he links to in turn calls John Gruber “almost exactly correct” – is this commentary or mutual admiration?)

Bernstein argues that Apple is only protecting itself, in memory of its near-death experiences in the ’90s, by rejecting Flash – but its utter hooey.  He likens the flash iPad ban to Apple making iWork so they have a backup if Microsoft ever stop making Office.

But the App store is not a backup to protect Apple from Adobe withdrawing flash.  Apple are trying to kill flash for competitive advantage and profit, and they are having a calculated knock on effect by undermining the viability of flash for the whole internet, in a fight for developers.

Flash could co-exist with the App store, or publish to the app store without Apple being dependent on Adobe.  Apple’s flash jihad is about killing options and controlling user choice, not saving Apple from dependency on Adobe!

Jon Stewart analysed it more accurately in my book when he said “apple, you became ‘the man’”.

Update: Gruber must have realised he looked like a goober and edited his “exactly right” comment to “yup”!

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