Adobe launches Flash Player 10.1 for Mobile

Adobe Systems announced the launch of Flash Player 10.1 for Mobile, promising consumers access to millions of rich media sites inside the device browser. Available for platforms including Android, BlackBerry, webOS, the forthcoming Windows Phone 7, Symbian, MeeGo and LiMo, Flash Player 10.1 was redesigned from the ground up to incorporate new performance and mobile-specific features optimized for both smartphones and tablets--according to Adobe, it's the first Flash release to deliver a full web experience across desktops and devices, encompassing games, animations, rich Internet applications, data presentations and visualizations, multimedia and e-commerce.

Notable features of Flash Player 10.1 for Mobile include accelerometer support, enabling users to view Flash content in landscape or portrait mode; Smart Zooming, allowing users to scale content to full-screen mode; Smart Rendering that ensures Flash content is running only when visible on screen, reducing CPU and battery consumption; and automatic pausing when a phone call comes in or the user switches to other device functions, with content resuming once the consumer toggles back to the browser. Adobe notes that partners including Atlantic Records, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, HBO and Viacom have already started leveraging 10.1 to reformat their content for smaller device screens.

Don't expect Flash Player for Mobile 10.1 to make its way to Apple's iPhone platform--Apple CEO Steve Jobs is vehement in his opposition to Flash, in May releasing an open letter to outline the thinking behind his decision to block support for Flash across devices running the iPhone OS. In summary, Jobs takes issue with Adobe's contention that Flash is an open system, also expressing concerns over security, battery life and touchscreen interaction before arriving at what he calls "the most important reason"--control. "We know from painful experience that letting a third party layer of software come between the platform and the developer ultimately results in sub-standard apps and hinders the enhancement and progress of the platform," Jobs wrote.

The terms of Apple's iPhone Developer Program License Agreement mandate that all iPhone and iPod touch applications must be written to run directly on the iPhone platform, effectively banning cross-compiler translation tools like Adobe's Flash Professional CS5. Apple is reportedly facing a federal antitrust inquiry to determine whether its actions threaten competition by forcing developers to focus on one platform to the exclusion of others. In late April, Adobe said it will cease investment on solutions targeting the iPhone platform.

For more on Flash Player 10.1 for Mobile:
- read this release

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