BY JIM FLINK

The clock struck midnight -- and -- poof.  Suddenly -- Flash can be converted to HTML5.
No Cinderella -- you’re not dreaming. Adobe has a new tool for that.
For a limited time -- the truly geeky at heart can use it for free.  Here’s Adobe -- with details.

“Adobe Edge is our new motion and interaction design tool.  That lets our creative professional customers build Flash-like web content, but instead of using Flash, using HTML5, css34 and Java Script.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SyrWZsOcbQ

So -- is this the beginning of the end -- for Flash?  PC Mag says -- no -- but there’s a lot left unsaid in this launch.

“The work on Edge … is something of an acknowledgement by the premier design software house that the Web is moving away from Flash. It is instead focusing on open-standard HTML5 and its many sub-standards … capable of creating the same effects in a non-proprietary manner via compliant Web browsers, without a plug-in.”

The elephant in the room -- is Adobe’s ongoing Apple feud.  Macgasm notes, developing an HTML5 product -- will work across multiple platforms -- include i-products.

“It’ll be interesting to see if Adobe is testing the waters on world wide acceptance of a Flash replacement, or if they are simply offering a solution in a space they weren’t actively competing. The majority of Apple’s discontent for Flash stems from the lack of security built into the platform which have been subject to numerous exploits.”

The International Business Times notes, this is a way to get back into Apple users’ -- good graces.

“With Adobe Edge, Adobe will get back door entry into Apple devices via support for HTML5.  Apple’s heavy-handed approach against Adobe has been cited as the Cupertino giant’s attempt to curb its developers from using cross-platform apps using a cross-platform plug-in like Adobe.”

Read Write Web talks with one analyst who says -- because of that -- this is perhaps the most important launch in Adobe history.

“....Adobe believes Flash still has a solid future here on the Web for some time. But when the Web is ready for an entirely Flash-free existence, this is surely Adobe’s plan for maintaining its relevance among the creative professionals crowd, including developers and designers alike.”