Adobe reveals Flash Player 10.1 for an enriched internet experience with ‘any’ smartphone device

(Relaxnews) -

Adobe Flash Player 10.1 is the latest version of media-viewing software designed by Adobe for smartphones, netbooks, PCs, laptops and internet-connected devices. The software is intended to provide users with a consistent media-viewing experience regardless of the device they use.

On October 5, Adobe announced that it has almost 50 companies participating in the Open Screen Project - a project that will enable consumers to view full HD videos, interact with expressive applications and access dynamic content via the internet on their smartphones.

Adobe Flash content is present on more than 85 percent of the top 100 websites and approximately 75 percent of all web-based videos use Flash, according to Adobe.

"With Flash Player moving to new mobile platforms, users will be able to experience virtually all Flash technology based Web content and applications wherever they are," said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Platform Business Unit at Adobe.

"We are excited about the broad collaboration of close to 50 industry leaders in the Open Screen Project and the ongoing collaboration with 19 out of the top 20 handset manufacturers worldwide. It will be great to see first devices ship with full Flash Player in the first half of next year."

The implications for web-based developers and designers are also great as Flash Player 10.1 enables them to design and test software for just one platform rather than having to rewrite code and spend money testing their programs on multiple devices, browsers and operating systems.

The platform will be available as a public developer beta for Windows Mobile, Palm webOS smartphone platforms and desktop operating systems before the end of 2009 - with a public beta available for Google Android and Symbian OS early in 2010.

Adobe has also reached an agreement to bring the software to RIM's Blackberry smartphones but it doesn't appear that Apple's iPhone will have on-board Flash software in the near future. Adobe says Apple has yet to provide them with full support making it nearly impossible for them to develop an iPhone-compliant browser plug-in without further co-operation from Apple.

The software is expected to be available to the public as a free download in the first half of 2010.