New MacBook Airs Are Shipping Without Flash

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Well this is interesting. Apple is shipping the new MacBook Airs without Flash, but not for the reason you might think.

Apple has made its feeling towards Flash abundantly clear. So, when reports started rolling in that the new MacBook Airs were shipping without Flash pre-installed, many people assumed it was because Apple had gone from not liking Flash to REALLY not liking Flash and just not told anyone.

Well apparently that's not the case. The reason the new MacBook Airs don't ship with Flash is because Apple wants to ensure users get the most up to date version of the software. Engadget cites Apple spokesperson Bill Evans as saying this is something that users will start to see with all new Macs as time goes on.

"We're happy to continue to support Flash on the Mac, and the best way for users to always have the most up to date and secure version is to download it directly from Adobe," said Evans.

Source: Engadget

Jane McEntegart
46 Comments Comment from the forums
  • warezme
    BS, why not just ship the expensive trinket without an OS..., that way when the user gets it, they can download and install the LATEST version and be sure to have the have the BEST experience EVER!
    Reply
  • Trashit
    If I had spidy senses they'd be tingling right now. People do know that flash can and does include an auto update feature? Bill Evans's comments are definitely registering a high reading on my bullshit-ometer.
    Reply
  • cookoy
    wonder if that reason applies also to QuickTime?
    Reply
  • stingstang
    Jane. How did you get that picture of me? And what sort of camera has a shutter speed that fast?
    Reply
  • captaincharisma
    does any new computer come with flash really? i had to download and install flash for my PC laptop i got back in June
    Reply
  • dkant1n
    TrashitIf I had spidy senses they'd be tingling right now. People do know that flash can and does include an auto update feature? Bill Evans's comments are definitely registering a high reading on my bullshit-ometer.
    Most people see a warning or anything and just close it. I see you don't work providing user support lol
    Reply
  • digiex
    What? no flash? "It's because it's a laptop, it's not a digital camera."
    Reply
  • Haserath
    Maybe we should say something to Apple to get them to wake up...
    You aren't pre-installing it right...

    Well, I do hope that we get to use the best software(html5), but Apple is going about this all wrong; they are just hurting themselves while trying to kill flash.
    Who knows if HTML5 has any huge flaws anyway, since it hasn't been used that much yet.
    Reply
  • pcfxer
    Flash isn't in the default install anyway. Should we have an article saying that Windows hasn't ever shipped with Flash? Get a life and make real articles...back to anandtech...
    Reply
  • vittau
    Well, it does make sense.
    IMO they should ship it without any third-party software (if there is any other... I don't know, I've never had an Apple computer).
    Reply