adobe-flash posts

Flash Player 10.1 to support smartphones, NVIDIA powered netbooks... next year

by Brad Linder Oct 5th 2009

Adobe Flash has become the standard protocol for web video over the last few years. And while Flash is capable of some pretty excellent video quality, it's not exactly light on system resources. In fact, it's kind of a CPU-hog, which is why some computers with slower processors (and most netbooks) struggle to play high quality of high definition video from YouTube, Hulu, and other online video sites.

But that's about toe change. Kind of. Adobe has announced that Flash 10.1 will support GPU acceleration for NVIDIA graphics, which means that if you've got a computer with NVIDIA GeForce, ION, or Tegra graphics in it, you should be able to watch high definition Flash video in fullscreen mode even if you have a slow processor like an Intel Atom or ARM-based chip.

What's more, Adobe is going to bring Flash 10.1 to Smartphones, ending the separate but unequal era of Flash Lite. Flash 10.1 will be available for Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Google Android, Palm WebOS, and Symbian phones. The iPhone's not on that list because Adobe still hasn't worked out an arrangement with Apple to add support for Flash 10.1 to the iPhone's Safari web browser, but that could still happen.

Flash 10.1 is due to hit the streets in the first half of 2010. But there should be beta versions available before the end of 2009.

You can check out videos of Flash Player 10.1 on the Palm Pre and Toshiba TG01 at Adobe Labs.

Tags: adobe-flash, flash-player-10.1, gpu-acceleration, nvidia, smartphones

Filed under: Design, Developer, Adobe, Open Source

Adobe open sources Media Framework, text engine behind TimesReader 2.0

by Lee Mathews Jul 21st 2009

This morning, Adobe announced the release of two major pieces of software as open source- the OSMF (Open Source Media Framework) and TLF (Text Layout Framework) - under the Mozilla Public License.

TLF is the new text-rendering engine in Air 1.5, where it handles things like the typographical wizardry in TimesReader 2.0. A major goal with TLF was to provide web application developers a set of features more like those provided by desktop publishing suites.

Other sites utilizing TLF include Adobe's own Acrobat.com Presentations and Makebook, a slick web service which allows independent authors to self-publish. It's also powering the Boston Globe's GlobeReader, which is currently available for preview.

Adobe and Akamai have also teamed up to continue work on the Open Video Player initiative, which is aimed at providing a consistent platform for delivering Flash multimedia content. As they put forth on the project web site, "Open Source Media Framework enables developers to easily assemble pluggable components to create high-quality, full-featured playback experiences."

Adobe believes the frameworks will provide reduced development time, allowing traditional media outlets (like the Times and Globe) to focus on monetization - a problem few have yet to solve.

Tags: adobe-air, adobe-flash, new-york-times, nyt, open-video-player, osmf, timesreader, tlf, video

Filed under: Fun, Games, Internet, Hardware, Adobe

Adobe, NVidia working to improve Flash Player performance

by Lee Mathews Jun 2nd 2009

I enjoyed my MSI Wind netbook while I had it, but there was one task that always gave it fits: running Flash-based anything. Games stuttered, YouTube clips were choppy, and the system's tiny fan spun like a tin can in a tornado.

Owners of newer netbooks featuring NVidia's upcoming Tegra system-on-a-chip or Broadcom's Crystal HD will be glad to hear that Adobe is teaming up with NVidia to produce a version of the Flash player tuned for netbooks and MIDs. The goal is to provide full h.264-powered HD video to more mobile devices.

Another result of the partnership: Flash will likely see significant performance gains on other NVidia chipsets as well. At last you'll be able to put your multi-GPU SLI configuration to good use while enjoying your favorite Time Wasters!

[ via ZDNet ]

Tags: adobe-flash, broadcom, flash-player, netbook, nvidia, performance

Filed under: Internet, Video, News, Adobe, Web

Adobe brings Flash platform to TV and set top boxes

by Brad Linder Apr 20th 2009

Adobe Flash is the dominant platform for rich media content on the web. If you've watched an online video, viewed an interactive ad, or played music through a web site in the last few years, you've seen Flash in action. While Microsoft is trying to push Silverlight as an alternative, Flash pretty much owns this space -- on computers.

But HDTV and broadband internet are blurring the lines between web video and television. And Adobe wants to help bring the walls down by pushing Flash for TV and set top boxes including Blu-Ray players and cable boxes. Adobe has already partnered with companies including Intel, Broadcom, Comcast, Netflix, and Disney on the project.

In other words, you can imagine a future where you turn on your TV and in addition to video, on-demand programming, and a program guide, you can pull up weather, news, and other information provided through an internet connection, as well as quick and easy access to web video from any site like ABC.com or Netflix that makes content available for the platform.

Of course, if this all happens, it means you're going to need to get a new TV, set top box, or other hardware in order to enable the new features. Or you can just stick an old computer next to your TV and use Flash the old fashioned way.

[via NewTeeVee]

Tags: adobe-flash, flash, online-video, tv

Filed under: Fun, Internet, Adobe, Freeware, Web

Sprint's Plug Into Now dashboard

by Jason Clarke Nov 17th 2008

If you're not a fan of Flash, you definitely don't want to check out Sprint's new Plug Into Now dashboard. If you dare to click through, you'll be treated with sensory overload, internet style. The page is a cornucopia of snippets of information, with one theme: Now. A computerized female voice periodically speaks, saying things like "13,628 letters are being mailed right now", or "8,971,000 workers are out sick right now".

The voice also invites you to click on the page, where you will find such treasures as a button that says Push Me, then when you push it, gleefully displays a message that the button doesn't do anything. The page has all sorts of running tallies, such as how many coffee cups are being manufactured at this instant, or the current population of the world.

As much as I feel like this dashboard is an abomination, it's hard not to explore it.

[via Daring Fireball]

Tags: adobe-flash, dashboard, flash-dashboard, now, plug-into-now, Sprint

Filed under: Internet, Windows Mobile, Adobe

News Flash: Adobe Flash coming to Windows Mobile, AIR hits 1.5

by Brad Linder Nov 17th 2008

Adobe is holding a developer conference this week, where the company plans to demonstrate a number of new technologies, including a version of Flash 10 that will run on devices with ARM processors, ranging from Windows Mobile phones to televisions and mobile internet devices.

Also on the docket:

Adobe AIR 1.5 will be released, with support for WebKit and Flash Player 10
An alpha version of Flash for 64-bit Linux systems will be released
Preview versions of the latest versions of Adobe Flash Catalyst and Adobe Flex Builder will also be made available

Conspicuously absent from the announcements? Any word on a version of Flash 10 for the iPhone.

Tags: adobe, adobe-air, adobe-flash, flash-10

Filed under: Internet, Utilities, Video, Windows Mobile, Symbian, Adobe

Adobe release updated Flash player for mobile phones

by Brad Linder Oct 1st 2007

Adobe has announced that their next generation mobile Flash player is available. Unfortunately it doesn't look like you'll be able to slap the software onto your old school cellphone yourself. Cellphone makers will be responsible for offering the upgrades for existing phones and building it into future devices. NTT DoCoMo and Nokia already plan to offer Flash Lite 3. T

he latest mobile version of Flash is apparently closer to to the desktop version. That means support for playing FLV files, and improved support for viewing Flash 8 web-based content.

Flash Lite 3 will also support mobile-only content like wallpapers, screensavers, and games.

Tags: adobe-flash, flash, flash-lite

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