Adobe ends mobile Flash development, will focus on HTML5
Adobe will no longer update its Flash plugin for mobile browsers, though it will continue to issue security updates and bug fixes. The company issued a statement to developers conceding that "HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively," adding "that makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms." This is a stark about-face for the company, which has heretofore vehemently defended Flash for mobile devices, and spent years attempting to optimize the software for better performance on lower powered systems. We're following the news as it happens, so read along in the stories below.
Flash for Android dies today, long live the 'full web experience'
In November of last year, Adobe made a surprising about-face on its popular Flash plugin, announcing that it would stop development of Flash for mobile devices. Today, Adobe will disable new installs of Flash on Android, effectively cutting it off from the future of the mobile web — despite the company's historical assertion that Flash would enable the "full web experience" on mobile devices. Instead, Adobe surrendered the major mobile battlegrounds and pledged allegiance to HTML5.
Adobe,...
Android
Flash won't be supported in Android 4.1, new installs to be disabled on August 15th
In the wake of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean's announcement this week, Adobe has issued a note saying that it hasn't been developing and testing Flash against it and there won't be any "certified implementations" offered — in other words, the age of Flash on smartphones is effectively drawing to a close. The company had previously opted out of supporting Chrome for Android — the heir apparent to Android's built-in browser — so this announcement comes as little surprise now that Chrome has come...
Adobe releases Flash roadmap, narrows focus to gaming and 'premium' video
Adobe swallowed a lot of pride in conceding defeat and abandoning development of Flash Player on mobile devices last year, but that doesn't mean the company is ready to completely give up on its still ubiquitous rich media web format. Today sees the first publication of a new roadmap document for the development of Adobe Flash runtimes, setting out where Adobe's priorities lie and how it intends to continue supporting Flash.
Future bug fixes and developments will be prioritized around two key...
Mobile
Chrome for Android won't support Flash, Adobe confirms
When we took a look at the Chrome for Android beta, we mentioned that Flash wasn't supported on the software. Now, Adobe has reiterated that decision, stating that the lack of Flash support is consistent with its position to stop developing Flash Player for mobile devices. Instead, Adobe stressed its partnership with Google to advance HTML5 and noted a couple of Adobe technologies, like CSS Regions, that did make it into the browser.
While Flash is still supported on Android's current default...
Adobe updates Flash for Android 4, Galaxy Nexus owners can use it now
Flash is now playing on Ice Cream Sandwich. Adobe just released an updated version of the soon to be abandoned app on Android Market that offers compatibility with Google's latest OS. It arrives just in time for those new Galaxy Nexus owners on Verizon Wireless here in the US — though those carrying the GSM device have had to endure a bit of a wait. A couple nagging issues remain: the on-screen preview will not change when scrubbing through a video, and some videos are experiencing...
Apps & Software
Ice Cream Sandwich lacks Flash support, will have it eventually
We're not sure you'd necessarily consider this a bad thing, but Google's new world-beating Android phone, the Galaxy Nexus, comes without a preinstalled Flash Player and offers no option to download or install it from the Market. This is because, says Google, Adobe needs to update the software for Ice Cream Sandwich, which has yet to happen.
That puts us in rather a tricky situation since Adobe recently halted development of Flash for mobile platforms, although SlashGear — who first...
Occupy Flash calls on users to remove Adobe's player from their computers
Adobe may have discontinued development of its Flash Player for mobile devices and hinted at backing away from Flash on the desktop, but an anonymous group calling itself Occupy Flash wants action now. Focused primarily on desktop Flash, the group is asking the world to boldly uninstall the multimedia player from desktops and laptops. It argues that as long as Flash — a proprietary "fossil," in its words — is ubiquitous on computers it will continue to see development, despite the...
Web & Social
Adobe donates Flex SDK to Apache Software Foundation, moves further away from Flash
Adobe killed Flash on mobile last week after realizing it couldn't compete with HTML5, and now it looks like it's taking a step away from Flash on the desktop. The company has announced that it's donating the Flex SDK, which is used to develop Flash-based internet applications, to the open source Apache Software Foundation, where it will continue on as an independent project. We've also been hearing whispers that the move is part of a broader refocusing that will ultimately see Flash on the...
Mobile
Adobe explains why it killed mobile Flash: it couldn't compete with HTML5
Adobe has taken note of the big reaction to its decision to cease development of the Flash Player mobile plug-in, so product manager Mike Chambers has taken to his personal blog to provide some context and background. In short, Adobe saw the writing on the wall, with Chambers admitted that Flash "was not going to achieve the same ubiquity on mobile that it has on the desktop." One of the big reasons for that was stiff competition from HTML5, which is much more widely supported on mobile...
Mobile
Adobe releases final Flash plug-in for Android and PlayBook
Adobe has released the final feature update to its Flash Player plug-in for Android and the BlackBerry PlayBook, version 11.1. The update consists primarily of security and bugfixes, including a video streaming issue on Galaxy S II devices and support for "1080p video for Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset based devices." That last feature at least shows that Adobe was preparing for the next generation of Android devices, but somehow we don't think that Flash will feature heavily in future Android...
HD & Home
Adobe ramping down Flash for TV as well
In addition to killing the Flash browser plug-in for mobile devices, Adobe is also ramping down development of the Flash plugin for televisions. The company said as much in a statement to GigaOm, saying that it would "continue to support existing licensees who are planning on supporting Flash Player for web browsing on digital home devices." Although Adobe's statement leaves the door open for the company to continue to support Flash on TV for a short while longer, it's clear that the company...
BlackBerry
RIM to continue developing Flash browser plug-in for PlayBook
After Adobe officially killed Flash Player for mobile, the next shoe to drop was how the companies that had previously touted it would respond. The first has chimed in, as RIM told All Things D that it would continue to develop the Flash plug-in on the PlayBook, saying "RIM remains committed to delivering an uncompromised Web browsing experience." RIM's decision is possible because it licenses the entire source code for the Flash plug-in from Adobe.
Adobe strongly endorsed HTML5 as the "best...
Web & Social
Adobe officially kills Flash Player for mobile, says HTML5 is 'the best solution'
Adobe just officially announced that it's killing Flash Player for Android and the BlackBerry Playbook, following a ZDNet report of the decision late last night. The company will still develop and support Flash for the PC, but says that HTML5 is the "best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms." Adobe will also continue to support AIR on mobile so developers can package Flash content as mobile apps, and Flash Player 11.1 for Android and Playbook...
Mobile
Adobe to cease developing mobile Flash plugin for Android and PlayBook, says ZDNet
Adobe is making some big changes today, having issued an "intra-quarter update" that includes significant restructuring as the company attempts to refocus itself on "Digital Media and Digital Marketing." Part of the restructuring also apparently includes no longer updating its Flash plugin for mobile devices, which right now primarily is used on Android and RIM's PlayBook platform. In a statement given to ZDNet, Adobe instead said that it would focus on Adobe AIR apps instead:
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