Apple allows Flash into iOS

Apple has listened to the mounting criticism of its app submission process and will, for the first time, publish the App Store Review Guidelines. It has also relaxed restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, meaning that Flash and Adobe can now get their foot in the door.

A statement by Apple explained, “We are continually trying to make the App Store even better. We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart.”

At Microsoft’s Tech.Ed event last week in Auckland, Windows Phone 7 evangelists talked up Microsoft’s app guidelines, which are available for developers to help them understand why their app might have failed. Maybe Apple was listening? 

Apple continued, “For the first time we are publishing the App Store Review Guidelines to help developers understand how we review submitted apps. We hope it will make us more transparent and help our developers create even more successful apps for the App Store.”

Based on developers input Apple has also made other changes to its iOS Developer Programme to “relax some restrictions we put in place earlier this year”.

“In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need,” the company said.

The guidelines are only to registered developers who have signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Update: Following the announcement from Apple, shares of Adobe jumped more than 8%. Under previous restrictions, Adobe's Flash software was effectively banned from Apple devices.

Update 2: Adobe has publicly said that Apple's announcement is "great news" for devs but said that restrictions on Flash content directly running in the browser on iOS devices remain in place.