Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE) recorded its first billion-dollar quarter for the fourth quarter of 2010. Not bad for a company whose Flash product was maligned earlier in the year by Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) Steve Jobs.

I'm not sure that Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen saw this as vindication of sorts--he seemed to avoid the war or words with Apple over Flash--but he was clearly pleased with the results (and who wouldn't be?). "We posted our first billion dollar quarter and record annual revenue in 2010, driven by outstanding performance across all of our major business," Narvayen said.

While it's not clear which specific products lead the way, the results show Adobe is a strong, creative software company with lots still left in the tank. It couldn't have hurt that Google embraced Flash for its Android phones and tablets, giving Adobe a strong platform on which to continue to develop Adobe content.

RIM (NASDAQ: RIMM) also made a big deal out supporting Flash in its Playbook announcement.

Adobe still has to figure out what to do about HMTL5, which some (but not everyone) believe will replace Flash eventually. For now, though Adobe has to be pleased with its strong close to 2010. 

For more information:
- see the Adobe press release

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