Feds to look at Apple's policy on programming tools

By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY

Does Apple have the right to tell developers what kind of software they must use to create applications for its mobile devices?

That question is about to be pondered by federal regulators, who plan to examine whether Apple's (AAPL) new rules for developers violate antitrust rules, according to the Associated Press, citing a person with knowledge of the inquiry who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Apple has declined to allow Adobe's Flash software on its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices, saying Flash is susceptible to crashes and battery drain.

In response, Adobe tried a workaround, introducing a new version of Flash that would let software developers create programs in Flash but save them in the format that plays on Apple mobile devices. Apple put the brakes on that with the rules it introduced in April...

Apple said this week that it sold 1 million iPads in 28 days, half of the time it took it to sell 1 million iPhones. Apple has sold more than 50 million iPhones and iPod Touches, which is why this battle is worrisome for Adobe.

check out USA Today's article: http://bit.ly/bNX6uA