Adobe, like Apple, is a smart and innovative company that has seen technology rise and fall. They have created several innovative products. Some have worked and worked for years (photoshop, illustrator). And some…not so much (remember Atmosphere 3D? GoLive? LiveMotion?) Same with Apple (G4 Cube?). I think in many ways, their current product model works well, and they will continue developing modular technologies based on consumer demand.

A few years ago, we had no idea what technologies would be brought to run in Flash, and I don't think Adobe did either. It's incredible to see what people end up doing with the tools you give them. As in this post, look at the App Store. Apple had no idea what people would make the iPhone do. Now, they have had to shift their model a bit to fit the market. Apple is trying to create the best possible customer experience for their products…and I guess Flash has some bugs that make it more unstable on these devices. Overall, I do not agree with Apple's attempt at “policing” content…since in the interim we DON'T have these better authoring environments, but the internet monster continues to churn, and Adobe is already planning its next move. Could be something even more incredible than we imagine (Dreamweaver supports HTML6! AND, everytime you successfully complete a project, the software calls your mom, gives her the ingredients to the most fantastic cupcake ever, and she bakes it for you. Come to think of it, I think a baked good project model is better for everyone.)

Actually, strike all that. Google is going to become self-aware in about a year anyway…then, none of this will matter because we'll just be building what google wants to see….or are we doing that already?

Can html5 do any of e.g
http://www.splashup.com/splashup/
http://aviary.com/tools
http://www.soundation.com/studio

Anybody that says Flash is obsolete has proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are a cretin. It does, and will continue to provide, advanced functionality that otherwise would be unavilable on the web. Sure, there are lowball, small minded developers who can't see beyond their cosy and safe little world of html, as there are ignorant blog opinionists that will continue to spread FUD as fact, and haul down the free spirits and adventurers who look past the edges of their flat earth.

Here's a list of html5 'features' and how it equates to when flash implemented them (makes HTML5 seem to be 'obsolete' before it ever gets ratified in however many years time)

Audio Playback – Flash 4 in 1999
Video Playback – Flash MX in 2002
Canvas (2D Drawing) – Flash 1 in 1996
Offline Storage – Flash MX in 2002

You say that you have 'several years of Flash development', seems to me that if you're not aware of the stuff HTML5 cannot do that Flash can, then you're a bullshitter or beginner that is dubiously trying to qualify their opinion with the claim. I bet most of the bugs you claim were just down to this too.

So the truly talented and cutting edge innovators pushing the boundaries of what can be done on the web, are supposed to step back 10 years because design bigots are drunk on apple koolaid and think the glacial pace of web standards reform will solve everything. When HTML5 is ratified in another few years, flash will have moved even further ahead. Some will use it, some won't. But you want to deprive them of their vote.

Whatever happened to freedom of choice, letting developers pick and choose what ever technology they wanted to?

People like yourself have become the brown shirts of the web, burning books, chanting hate, everybody must be conform to their narrow minded utilitarian web standards master race. Another blog bigot says burn the Flash witch!