Smartbooks again

> **Smartbooks have failed to materialise due to delays in Flash optimisation, a lower-than-expected uptake of Linux on netbooks, and the sudden emergence of tablets, ARM’s marketing chief has said.** > > ARM dominates the mobile phone chip design market and has since 2008 been [trying to get into the subnotebook market](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/processors/2008/10/23/arm-cortex-based-netbooks-due-soon-39527261/ "ARM Cortex-based netbooks due soon") as well. The plan was to do so through Linux-based, [ARM-powered ‘smartbooks’](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/processors/2009/06/01/qualcomm-lines-up-30-snapdragon-gadgets-39657633/ "Qualcomm lines up 30 Snapdragon gadgets") that would provide an instant-on, longer-life alternative to x86-based netbooks but, according to ARM’s marketing vice president, Ian Drew, events have conspired to stall this plan. > > “We thought [smartbooks] would be launched by now, but they’re not,” Drew told ZDNet UK on Tuesday. “I think one reason is to do with software maturity. We’ve seen things like Adobe slip — we’d originally scheduled for something like 2009.” > > [ARM and Adobe signed a partnership in late 2008](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/desktop-hardware/2008/11/17/arm-takes-on-intel-with-adobe-partnership-39551922/ "ARM takes on Intel with Adobe partnership") that was [intended to see Flash Player 10](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/mobile-working/2009/10/05/adobe-takes-flash-to-smartphones-39789642/ "Adobe takes Flash to smartphones") and Air — both rich web platforms — optimised for ARM-based systems. That work is only likely to come to fruition in the second half of this year, when an optimised version of [Flash comes out for Android smartphones](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/mobile-apps/2010/04/29/google-to-add-enjoyable-flash-support-to-android-40088801/ "Google to add 'enjoyable' Flash support to Android"). As Apple’s Steve Jobs recently pointed out, [Flash was originally supposed to ship for smartphones in early 2009](http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/mobile-apps/2010/04/29/steve-jobs-launches-broadside-against-adobes-flash-40088812/ "Steve Jobs launches broadside against Adobe's Flash"). I seem to remember all the hype about smartbooks, back before the iPad was announced. Funny, it didn’t work out like people planned.

I love stories like this. Apple doesn’t need to open its mouth any more; Steve said his peace, and now he can sit back and watch Adobe lose.

Reality is on Apple’s side.

Again, people wonder why Apple wants control over the software and the hardware. The link to this story is all you need. ARM and Adobe, burning each other, while Apple flys past them both at one hundred miles an hour.