Adobe Flash Support Coming to Android 2.2

[Mikiemon]

Flash support is coming in Android 2.2 and the HTC Hero is referenced about 2/3 into the article. Check it out.

Google: Adobe Flash Support Coming to Android 2.2 - PCWorld

 

[Kelmar]

Adobe's Flash platform will get official support on Android phones later this year, when Google releases version 2.2 of its mobile operating system, according to the company's VP of engineering quoted in a New York Times interview.

Almost a year ago, Adobe bragged about the first demos of Flash on Android. Fast-forward to today, and Flash on Android phones is still MIA. Perhaps the whole Apple and Adobe Flash clash made us forget that other phones were no better at supporting Flash, either--at least not yet.

Sometime later this year though, the situation should change. Google's Andy Rubin, the lead engineer behind the Android OS, said that "full support" for Flash is coming in Froyo, the code-name for version 2.2 of Android. Note that this statement, as reported in the NYT interview, was paraphrasing Rubin, rather than a direct quote.

Rubin didn't give away any details as to which Android phones will be upgradable to version 2.2, or when exactly Froyo will arrive, so many older models could be left in the dust, without proper Flash support. Hopefully, the implementation of Flash on Android 2.2 will be a better experience than the Adobe/HTC Flash partnership on the Hero model, which is slow and unreliable at times.

Through this partnership with Google, Adobe is putting its mobile future in the hands of Google. When Apple effectively banned Flash from the iPhone OS earlier this month, Adobe vouched to concentrate its efforts on developing for Android devices.

Rubin also took a covert stab at Apple's reluctance to support Flash on its mobile platform and closed eco-system, saying that being open "means not being militant about the things consumer are actually enjoying."

"When they can't have something, people do care. Look at the way politics work. I just don't want to live in North Korea," Rubin said in the interview.

For those to lazy to look (like me).

 

[NYCHitman1]

For those to lazy to look (like me).

I was under the impression that the Hero would not be able to handle full Flash (10.1) due to hardware restrictions

 

[Kelmar]

I was under the impression that the Hero would not be able to handle full Flash (10.1) due to hardware restrictions

That's what was originally announced, correct.

The article that the OP posted seems to indicate that they'll look at the way Flash-lite is working on our phones.... I also think that the OP just posted it here because it said "Hero."

Honestly, I have no idea... I didn't even read the article! I know I'm just too lazy to click on links 95% of the time so I copy and pasted it here for others like me!

 

[NYCHitman1]

That's what was originally announced, correct.

The article that the OP posted seems to indicate that they'll look at the way Flash-lite is working on our phones.... I also think that the OP just posted it here because it said "Hero."

Honestly, I have no idea... I didn't even read the article! I know I'm just too lazy to click on links 95% of the time so I copy and pasted it here for others like me!

I didn't read it either. I just read the bolded portion you quoted, lol!

 

[tailsthecat]

2.2 is a ways off...ill say 2011. im new to android but it seems its nothing but delay ater delay for 2.1

 

[NYCHitman1]

2.2 is a ways off...ill say 2011. im new to android but it seems its nothing but delay ater delay for 2.1

That's just for our phone, realistically. The newer phones with better hardware will come pre-set w/ 2.1 or greater on them.

 

[Thefoodman52]

Yea... by the end of October this year, I can guarantee our phone(s) *anything that uses technology from '09 or lower* will be 'outdated' enough for us to finally be left BFE in the Android update curve. I mean, yes the hardware in the HAND HELD DEVICE (caps because I'm emphasizing) is old, but it's still the frickin' equivalent of a computer in your pocket. A limited computer at that, yes, but a computer none the less.

 

[Doomstang]

it's pretty amazing how quickly electronic hardware gets outdated. I replaced my grandma's desktop computer the other day that had similar specs to my Hero...and her tower felt like it weighed 50 pounds lol

 

[RKMJ]

Well, it looks like full flash for Android phones won't be dependent on an update to Froyo. Yesterday Adobe announced that they will be releasing Flash 10.1 for Android phones in June. Thankfully, we won't have to wait that long to see how it works, because they are doing a public preview of it at the Google I/O in May. Below are the Engadget article and the official Adobe blog post. Check it out:

Adobe CTO says Flash 10.1 for Android in June -- will Froyo follow suit? -- Engadget

Moving Forward (Adobe Featured Blogs)

 

[rajputsmurf]

Just found this line in a Wall Street Journal interview with Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen regarding Steve Job's recent comments. Maybe a slip of the tongue but it sounds interesting:

"Mr. Narayen talks about Adobe "certainly" shipping on Android's latest version in early May."

Highlights: The Journal’s Exclusive Interview With Adobe CEO - Digits - WSJ

Edit: Was moving too fast this morning. Just watched the interview and Narayen basically exactly confirms RKMJ's info above. The Google I/O reference wasn't mentioned in the interview summary, just the early May date so I got a little over-excited. Still, June 17th for flash sounds good to me.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I wish the Hero had a better processor chip and a bit more RAM/ROM

Flash 10.1 has evaded us for sure