2:45 PM -- I was good and ready to get fired up about Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) CEO Steve Job’s open letter about Adobe Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: ADBE) Flash, which could have just as easily been called “1,675 words on why Adobe sucks.” But, having read the piece, I have to admit, the man makes a valid point (well, six of them).

To summarize: it’s closed; it’s outdated; it’s not reliable, secure, nor consistent; it’s a battery suck; it doesn’t play nice with touch; most important, it’s not owned by Apple. He also threw in there that Apple is as open as they come, but I’ll let that one slide.

“New open standards created in the mobile era, such as HTML5, will win on mobile devices (and PCs too),” Jobs writes. “Perhaps Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind.”

Adobe isn’t the only one that’s criticized Apple for its exclusion of Flash from the iPhone and iPad. Users have also bemoaned their inability to play certain games or watch select videos, but the complaints are getting quieter. The Apple-supported HTML5 is gaining acceptance in the industry, although it’s still too early to declare it a viable Flash replacement. (See The iPad: a Threat to Flash's Video Dominance? and Ixia Takes Adobe Flash to the Test .)

An Adobe spokeswoman said the company had no response to Jobs's post at this time. His six-pronged attack was pretty thorough, though. When Adobe is able to collect its thoughts, I’ll be anxious to hear them.

Adobe, we await your rebuttal.

— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile