Google recently announced that it will begin bundling it’s Chrome web browser with Flash. The announcement comes right around the release of the iPad which does not support Flash at all. What does this mean for web users and the future of Adobe Flash? Probably not much.
Google’s announcement certainly won’t sway Steve Jobs into thinking Flash is great and wonderful. It won’t change the fact that the iPad and iPhone do not support Flash. The only way Google could even have a chance at affecting anything at Apple is if Android supports Flash and actually starts to get a better market share. But even if that happens, its probably not going to affect the Apple devices. In order for Apple to change its opinion, Android would have to get a pretty significant share of the smart phone market, and Adobe would have to optimize Flash to meet Apple’s needs, and even then there is no guarantee.
When it comes to regular PC (or laptop) web browsing this announcement probably won’t change much. Typically Chrome users are more computer savvy than IE users, so most Chrome users probably know how to download Flash themselves if they really want to. Even if a less than savvy computer user access a Flash web site they will be given the option to download the program.
So what’s the point in bundling Adobe Flash with Chrome? Well that’s a good question. It could be seen as a jab against Steve Jobs and Apple. It could be Google’s way of setting itself apart and being different from Apple. A lot of money could be involved.
Whatever it is, I don’t see this announcement making any significant changes to web browsing, but I am very open to someone trying to prove me wrong. So go ahead… prove me wrong.