Apple chief makes case against Adobe Flash software

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs took his case against "Flash" software public on Thursday, arguing that the Adobe product is a flop on touchscreen mobile gadgets such as iPad and iPhone.

"Flash was created during the PC (personal computer) era for PCs and mice," Jobs said in a long message posted at the Cupertino, California-based firm's website.

"But the mobile era is about low power devices, touch interfaces and open Web standards - all areas where Flash falls short," Jobs said.

Online videos and games are commonly based on Flash, and Apple's adamant refusal to allow Flash on its iPod, iPhone and iPad devices has been a sore point with Adobe.

Lack of Adobe support has also been among top criticisms of Apple gadgets, which have been global hits nonetheless.

Jobs contended that most online video is available in formats other than Flash and therefore "iPhone, iPod, and iPad users aren't missing much video."

He conceded that Apple mobile gadgets don't play Flash-based online games but noted that thousands of games, many of them free, are available at the firm's App Store on the Internet.

"We have routinely asked Adobe to show us Flash performing well on a mobile device, any mobile device, for a few years now," Jobs said. "We have never seen it."