Adobe Discontinues Development of Flash Player on Mobile Devices

[RoomService]

ZDNet is reporting that Adobe has announced to its partners that the company has discontinued development on Flash Player for mobile browsers. The news comes roughly a year and a half after the publication of Steve Jobs' "Thoughts on Flash" open letter, laying out his thoughts on the use of Flash in mobile devices and explaining why Apple would not support Flash on their mobile devices.

Instead of working on mobile Flash, Adobe plans to continue developing its tools to produce applications that work on mobile app stores, including Apple's App Store.

From Adobe's announcement:
Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates.
ZDNet notes that the announcement should go public on Adobe's website in the next day.

 

[Louis Koo]

lol

 

[divine]

Everyone knew this coming right? Don't tell me Fandroids thought Flash would last..it sucks, especially on mobile devices.

 

[UltimateLurker]

Everyone knew this coming right? Don't tell me Fandroids thought Flash would last..it sucks, especially on mobile devices.

Stfu

 

[RoomService]

Everyone knew this coming right? Don't tell me Fandroids thought Flash would last..it sucks, especially on mobile devices.

 

[MadWun]

So now with flash getting killed, let the real tablet and phone wars begin.

Flash is no longer a "game changer"

 

[MurderCity]

It is not like Flash is being pulled from the market, they are just going to continue development. Which means no new features, 80% of which most websites don't use. They are still maintaining the plugin and websites will still be using it.

Until every website drops flash and they pull it completely from the Market, it is still a game changer and needed for a sizable chunk of the web.

 

[MadWun]

It is not like Flash is being pulled from the market, they are just going to continue development. Which means no new features, 80% of which most websites don't use. They are still maintaining the plugin and websites will still be using it.

Until every website drops flash and they pull it completely from the Market, it is still a game changer and needed for a sizable chunk of the web.

It will no longer be a game changer.

Web developers will adapt other alternatives (HTML5), and flash will start it's slow death.

 

[MurderCity]

It will no longer be a game changer.

Web developers will adapt other alternatives (HTML5), and flash will start it's slow death.

Key words.

Until them, Apple doesn't have it, everyone else does. Like I said, until the web designers drop it completely it will still matter to a lot of people. Most people just want the website they like to just work. If it doesn't, its a problem.

 

[jackeebleu]

So now with flash getting killed, let the real tablet and phone wars begin.

Flash is no longer a "game changer"

Was it ever?

 

[jackeebleu]

It is not like Flash is being pulled from the market, they are just going to continue development. Which means no new features, 80% of which most websites don't use. They are still maintaining the plugin and websites will still be using it.

Until every website drops flash and they pull it completely from the Market, it is still a game changer and needed for a sizable chunk of the web.

you miss the fact that mobile adoption is on the rise. As more web enabled smart phones permeate the market, more and more websites will need to change the way they do business to support mobile browsers. So yeah, look for changes NOW not in the future.

 

[blkdontrmp]

thats crazy... watching videos thru the web browsers on android is the best when not near a computer.

 

[MurderCity]

you miss the fact that mobile adoption is on the rise. As more web enabled smart phones permeate the market, more and more websites will need to change the way they do business to support mobile browsers. So yeah, look for changes NOW not in the future.

No, i get the fact that Mobile is on the rise and that Flash needs to go and HTML5 needs to get here ASAP.

Look here: http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cp-flash/all/all

26% of websites still use flash and it took a year to go from 28% to 26%. What you are not getting is it will take years before what you are talking about will become a reality...at least 2-3 even if people do ramp up development for HTML5 immediately. Until then Flash is damn near a web necessity.

You Apple fan boys are acting like it has been killed today and will be gone tomorrow. Not the case by any means.

 

[gumbottoms]

Everyone knew this coming right? Don't tell me Fandroids thought Flash would last..it sucks, especially on mobile devices.

 

[NYCg]

you miss the fact that mobile adoption is on the rise. As more web enabled smart phones permeate the market, more and more websites will need to change the way they do business to support mobile browsers. So yeah, look for changes NOW not in the future.

Or mobile devices need to be able to support the web as it is today. The wait is tiring, especially when u spend a few hundred dollars on a device.

 

[TimRock]

Everyone knew this coming right? Don't tell me Fandroids thought Flash would last..it sucks, especially on mobile devices.

how does it work on your ipad/iphone?

 

[PsyenceRawk]

 

[Studio718]

how does it work on your ipad/iphone?

Snickers

 

[Ryokurin]

Key words.

Until them, Apple doesn't have it, everyone else does. Like I said, until the web designers drop it completely it will still matter to a lot of people. Most people just want the website they like to just work. If it doesn't, its a problem.

Actually it's not slow. it dropped 2% to 47% of the top 17,000 sites in march. That drop was just over a four and a half month period.

What really shows what's happening is that the holdout of that 47% is business sites, which largely don't update all that much, and they don't really matter as they aren't completely necessary to navigate. News, entertainment, technology, health and adult sites are in the single digits.

There's not a lot that Flash can do that HTML 5, h264 and JavaScript can't. Google Analytics JS library is on 63% of the sites, and jQuery was on 43% both rising the amount Flash dropped.

 

[bham_brotha]

Too bad this wont help Apple products have real web viewing still

 

[TimRock]

Snickers

its crazy. theres two threads about this and in each of them someone mentions Android users being upset. Why would we we be? We still have flash. And while other devices have to wait for something to come along, or until website stop using flash, i fail to see how android users lose out.

Flash sucks on mobile devices? Really? Thats weird, because i have no problem with it on my tablet. No problems, playing, pausing, rewinding, forwarding or skipping thru vids.

 

[AgentCreed]

They aren't bringing it to new mobile devices because no other devices want flash... Wp7 doesn't and apple doesn't ... Android will continue to have it and android still powers many mobile devices. So exactly what is so big about their announcement? Android is the mobile leader and supports both whereas everyone else except for rim only delivers half the web maybe less than half matter fact .

I like having flash, a lot of sites I go on do not have html5 alternatives so having it on my phone without having to jump on my Mac or laptop just to view something is great... It pisses me off coming to a site on my iPad that needs flash hell even some threads with vids on bgol use flash...

Also they will continue to develop flash for the desktop so who said flash is going anywhere?

Istans sure get excited small news...

 

[Ryokurin]

And android stays on the same OS version for browser version for how long? This time next year the chances are high that the current plugin won't work anymore.

 

[Ceenote]

I dnt give a fuck until my flash is dead, what the fuck do i care! I dnt understand y guys make a big deal bout these phone against each other all the time. If u got apple phone then thats ur preference if i got microsoft or android then thats what i got. Shit they prtty much work the same to me! Fucki t!

 

[AgentCreed]

And android stays on the same OS version for browser version for how long? This time next year the chances are high that the current plugin won't work anymore.

They said they will still support it... So it's version will still change as android does. They just made it official only android and rim they'll work with others on html5 again not big news since others want html5. I still don't get why this is big news it doesn't change anything and no one who has flash is losing it. Not big news to anyone other than istans.

 

[Ryokurin]

the exact quote

Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates.

they are only updating for exploits or legit problems. Have they said anything about support for ICS? I guess we'll see with the Prime. but the true test will be when Jelly or whatever they call J comes.

 

[NewyorkRealTalk]

I expected madwun fraudulent fake out non fanboy self to be in here.


But as long as it works cool and I'm sure more developers are going to crack it open and tweak it.

Sent from a E4gT.

 

[NewyorkRealTalk]

They said they will still support it... So it's version will still change as android does. They just made it official only android and rim they'll work with others on html5 again not big news since others want html5. I still don't get why this is big news it doesn't change anything and no one who has flash is losing it. Not big news to anyone other than istans.

It's big news because these dudes been waiting for something.


Sent from a E4gT.

 

[AgentCreed]

the exact quote



they are only updating for exploits or legit problems. Have they said anything about support for ICS? I guess we'll see with the Prime. but the true test will be when Jelly or whatever they call J comes.

Google already delivers their own modified version of flash integrated into chrome and chromium browsers and chrome is coming to android. Adobe said their code will still be around for others who wat their own versions. Android/google supports everything including googles own video and imaging tech they'll have flash until the users of android say no thanks...I mean u can turn off flash in the devices anytime anyway this isn't big news.

 

[JJWALKER]

I don't see what the big deal is or why Apple fanboys are laughing at Android people. Android supports BOTH Flash and HTML 5. Plus, everyone knew the day was gonna come when the transition from flash to html 5 was going to start happening.

 

[MurderCity]

And android stays on the same OS version for browser version for how long? This time next year the chances are high that the current plugin won't work anymore.

Google is bringing Chrome to Android, Chrome comes with Flash built in. Google will continue to make sure it works, they are just not adding any new features

...from the original article "We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates." Bug Fixes = we will make it usable without new features.


Edit...just realized I got Leroy'd by AgentCreed.

 

[MurderCity]

I don't see what the big deal is or why Apple fanboys are laughing at Android people. Android supports BOTH Flash and HTML 5. Plus, everyone knew the day was gonna come when the transition from flash to html 5 was going to start happening.

Ding Ding Ding...EXACTLY.

 

[Deuterion]

When this news becomes official then it will only be time before Flash is dead on mobile. No one in their right mind will create a website that requires a non-supported/updated plugin - it'll be dumb of the developer to do so and a waste of money for the client.

 

[MadWun]

I expected madwun fraudulent fake out non fanboy self to be in here.


But as long as it works cool and I'm sure more developers are going to crack it open and tweak it.

Sent from a E4gT.

Can't keep my name out of your mouth, huh? It's okay though.

 

[Rawness]

I don't see what the big deal is or why Apple fanboys are laughing at Android people. Android supports BOTH Flash and HTML 5. Plus, everyone knew the day was gonna come when the transition from flash to html 5 was going to start happening.

Apple fanboys are a funny lot.

It's a similar take to the iPhone iexplicably being without LTE and them saying "bu...bu...but LTE isn't everywhere yet" despite the fact that it IS available where the live, work, and play.