I thought that title might get your attention! However, it's true. I can now see Flash based websites and content on my iPhone via this clever App called Cloud Browse. Cloud Browse isn't doing anything revolutionary. It's a "virtual machine." I'm just glad that someone finally got around to doing this for the iPhone. The way it works is you launch the App, tap the web button and enter the URL that you want to go to. The App navigates to that site on the web via a desktop version of Firefox running the full Flash Player and you see the content on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. You can navigate the links of the site by tapping on them just as you would in mobile Safari. Also since all the processing is happening on their servers, it's really FAST even over a slow cellular connection. The reason it's so fast is that it's only having to send screen and sound to your Cloud Browse on your iPhone.
I even get Flash Video too
I was completely blown away when I played a video on thebeatles.com and not only did I see the video playing (not the best frame rate mind you, still watchable though), but I also heard the sound via the App. So no matter which side of the whole Flash debate you might be on, it's hard to argue that having a FREE App that you can "choose" to install, that doesn't actually run Flash on your iPhone and allows you to see the sites that you CAN'T see in the built in Safari browser, is a great thing to have. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. It takes a second or two to respond to your tap once you're on the Flash page. Again you have to remember that it's having to send that tap to the site and then return the results to your App. I also have security concerns. So I wouldn't be too quick to use it for logging into secure sites such as banking, because at that point you are keying in your user names and passwords on THEIR servers, however, for those times when I need to see Flash content on a site that doesn't require me to log into I'll absolutely be firing up Cloud browse!
Don't walk, but run to the App Store and get it here for FREE: 
Above is CokeUSA.com on the iPhone in Safari and of course the Flash content is missing.
Here's CokeUSA.com in Cloud Browse running and displaying the Flash Content on the iPhone.
The Bottom Line
Whether you love Flash or hate Flash, Flash is on many many many websites today and undoubtedly you've run across at least one that you couldn't access via the Mobile Safari browser. So having an App that let's me view Flash sites when i need to is a welcomed addition to my iPhone and iPad. Although this App is not perfect, it works VERY WELL and I'm amazed by the sites that I've been able to view on it that I just would have never expected to work. Then again, why wouldn't they work since it's happening on a desktop computer running the full Flash Player? Sure I would love to have Flash natively supported on the iPhone platform, and while that may never happen, I'll take this App in the meantime to see the sites that I WANT TO SEE! Let's hope that an iPad version is in the works too.
Cloud Browse
Cloud Browse allows you to view sites containing Flash content on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad
- AlwaysOnGames
- Get on App Store
- Free
All info was collected on 25th May, 2010 when the app was reviewed.
About Terry White
Terry is the co-author of The Best Selling "The iPhone Book" 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th editions. He has been active in the industry for over 25 years and is the founder and president of MacGroup-Detroit, Inc., Michigan's largest Macintosh Users Group, host of the Adobe Creative Suite Podcast and a technology writer - Terry White Tech Blog.
Fantastic find Terry; definitely the answer to alot of peoples (mine included) gripe about the lack of Flash support for the iPhone.
Unfortunately the App isn’t available in the UK App Store so I’ll just have to wait to hear the reviews.
All the best to you,
Glyn
Nor available in Sweden… Thanks for the review anyway. =)
Dude – you totally R-O-C-K! I shared your review with my hubby, he was downloading before I finished reading. We have Touches with our own wifi at the house – no cell service here – & it’s just as fast as Safari. -c-
Thanks for the heads up but not available in the UK yet either
, i’ll keep looking for it
I’d be very cautious. It may be spyware.
Very perfect! Thank you very much!!!!
It doesn’t load Hulu, the main reason Flash would be great for on iPhone/iPad!
While its cool in theory the site doesn’t stream Flash full video at full speed. Also sites requiring a true IP (non proxy) will fail, such as Hulu and most top providers of drm’d content. Not to mention the fact you are browsing the web through a public portal, so don’t register or login to any sites.
Oh and one last note of caution, these machines could easily be compromised due to their open-ability. I was able to view “about:config” on the browser and could very easily view/change configuration variables. In essence making this innocent little app be a mass phishing and identity theft catalyst.
It’s just a rehash of the skyfire idea which has been out for years on a lot of platforms. However, I don’t believe those folks have support for iPhone. Skyfire did come out with an Android version recently … not sure exactly why, since in-browser 10.1 is in public beta and will roll with 2.2. My guess is that these folks can modify the experience to suit their own needs (ads, etc). Has anyone recorded the experience in a youtube video? I’d be interested to see it working on a 3GS. Do they support iPad?
It is a good starting point.
On the iPad the video is fuzzy because you have to run in 2x.
When you try to move inside of the flash game from cafe world from facebook it moves the whole browser screen instead.
I appreciate your work and I am not complaining, just giving feedback.
I tried it on the Kelby Training sound, and while the sound was fine, the video was beyond laggy.
err…”Kelby Training site”
When I installed it it gave me a warning about age appropriate content, wonder why …
If I were a betting man, I’d say the App gets pulled from iTunes like Google Voice.
Go get the app, get it now.
It has terrible reviews on the iTunes store. Are these justified?
I tried it, but deleted it within 15 min. Didn’t find it useful or nice enough to keep. maybe if they make it for my iPad, I might try it again.
Thank you so much. Your sites are my favorite sites. Thanks for the info on the flash app. I think something is better than nothing. Now I can view dtowntv on my iPhone. This is great. Do you think they will be releasing an iPad version?
Terry sounds like a good idea for Adobe to do really surprized they didn’t do it YEARS ago.
Norway is not in:(
Hate it when this happens, what ever happened to “one world” ?
@Renee Jackson: you can subscribe to D Town through iTunes podcasts and watch on your iPhone!!
I was intrigued to hear about this, but like some of your readers above, have found that it is not yet available in Europe (Germany, in particular).
I do find it very frustrating when apps are released in the US, but are not available elsewhere.
BTW, great site, Terry. I really enjoy reading it. Many thanks!
I like it & it works great, but very frustrating to be disconnected after 15 min, while I need 30 min to watch a stock market flash video that runs 25 to 30 min
also it does not save my visited site for future use- I hope they fix that
Just need to get a subscription… they have server costs so it’s not like other apps
Traninddf
this app doesnt have a good resolution for flash films, it like video of other desktop
v4.0 has full retina display for iPhone, and it has always looked great on iPad
It’s not free. It’s &2.99
Sean, it was free on May 25, 2010 when this post was written. App prices change all the time.
Version 4.0 has full retina display for iPhone!