While Adobe evangelist Ryan Stewart wants us to focus on Flash 10.1 performance -- admittedly impressive -- running on his Nexus One, we can't help but be distracted by the Android 2.2 "Froyo" build apparently supporting his device. Can you blame us? It's
not like we're alone with
waning interest in Flash,
especially for video playback. Anyway, from the looks of the homescreen in the grab above, we'll be treated to an updated launcher, Android tutorial, and global search box when the OS is revealed (presumably) at Google I/O starting May 19. And with the giant Froyo statue apparently already delivered to the
GooglePlex's confectionary art show, well, the stage is set for 2.2 to be launched in time for Adobe's planned
June release of Flash 10.1. Get your glimpse into the future of Flash and Android in the video after the break.
Update: How much faster is a Nexus One running Froyo? 450 percent faster, according to the
Android Police. They claim to have a device running the as-yet-unreleased firmware that can perform over 37 million floating-point operations per second in the
Linpack benchmark... compared to about 7 megaflops without. Oh yeeaaah.
[Thanks, Taylor]
posted May 11th 2010 11:10PM
nice
@nk This is extremely nice...
and for everyone who agrees with Jobs that flash is a thing in the past... uhhh flash is still here and today is certainly not the past.
@Skwidwerd
Well, obviously Jobs is trying to sell his product by making comments and excuses for not having a simple technology embedded. But then again, who cares? Android is getting Adobe love and that all that matters.
@cdf74dc9 .. Perhaps if Flash was really open then Apple could build an optimised player for their iPhone. It's hilarious listening to people defend Adobe when they are the only company in control of Flash.
Don't we ALL want a future not controlled by any one company ?
@nk Hopefully Sprint doesnt eff it up this time for the Evo I want the update from 2.1 to 2.2 fast and instantaneous, not months like they are doing with the Hero and Moment.. Soo Sprint dont eff it up!!!
@nk
dunno, seems bit jerky
@Xbox .. You are so clueless. Please show me the link for the source code to the last shipped version of Adobe Flash Player.
Because I will seriously start porting it to the iPhone (Cydia) right this second. And I have been a developer for over 15 years.
@taligent
Wow your defending Apple so what's the big deal. This is Android, go away. Last thing we need is Apple to tell Android what to install and what not to install.
@cdf74dc9 .. YOU brought up Apple not me. And I was bashing Adobe for not open sourcing ALL of Flash. Not just the useless spec.
Whoa, good thing i've got a nexus one and it's already May 11!! While browsing a site full of flash is admittedly a little choppy, there's no denying that the games/slideshows/video experience is awesome :) AND the got the touch inputs on flash games working just fine! Can't wait!!
@cdf74dc9 "Wow your defending Apple so what's the big deal. This is Android, go away."
Well, I came here to read for Android, but you posted several comments about Jobs an Apple. Now you are complaining that we are responding?
@taligent
You know that companies can actually work together to develop something, right? When Adobe came to Apple and talked about making an optimized player for the iPhone, Apple slammed the door in Adobe's face. Apple is the one controlling people here, not Adobe. Last time I checked, Adobe Flash is an optional download. Also, I don't mind a closed format when there is nothing that can replace it. HTML 5 is a good replacement for Adobe Flash on videos but for more rich content? Adobe Flash is much better.
I don't understand how Adobe is the one controlling people here when Apple is telling everyone what's best for them.
@Xbox
That's not the point. Nobody (Apple aside) criticises flash as a productivity tool. It's the use a video "container" and battery drain that we hate. When I say we I mean not just the users, but also Microsoft, Opera and even the editors here on Engadget seem to agree.
I think adobe and Apple both got it wrong. I also think Apple might have a second scope in getting rid of flash in his devices. Something that will be more clear to us when they start unveiling Ipod, Ipad and other camera devices able to edit video. It could have something to do with "Gianduia" (the simil-flash apple Technology) to be back in control of what is running on their systems, or maybe is something bigger. But this is just speculation, my thinking.
I don't think Apple just hates Adobe, this is business, if they do something there must be a good economical reason. Just like there is one for Microsoft to support HTML5 for video and so on...
what do you think, makes sense to you?
@Niazac "When Adobe came to Apple and talked about making an optimized player for the iPhone, Apple slammed the door in Adobe's face."
Maybe there's a reason? Maybe Apple had a "demo" with Flash on the Macs that didn't work properly?
Of course Adobe is controlling - you blame Apple for controlling their products, but Adobe is pushing to be on those same products, heck they are even trying to sue Apple.
@taligent
Not Apple fans
@taligent h.264 IS OPEN SINCE WHEN?
@taligent
C'mon now. Flash not being totally open is like saying that Final Cut Pro is not totally open...or OSX. Adobe isn't charging us for every piece of content produced in Flash, they are providing a content creation tool. The expectation that you have to give away the foundation for a technology you've worked on for over a decade is a bit much.
Now if Adobe decided to prevent support for JPG imports that might be considered along the same lines as no Flash on the iPhone.
This is primarily a greed/control issue. Flash will become better and better suited for mobile devices over time (and mobile devices are going to get faster and faster), this just complicates the matter for mobile content developers and end users.
Let's face it, how many games on the iphone would you buy if you could play any similar Flash game for free? When Flash first came out desktop processors were probably around 200 mhz. It may not be the most efficient media format, but it's one of the most versatile for content creators.
@taligent You clearly haven't developed much, then:
http://techcrunch.com/2008/04/30/adobes-open-screen-project-write-once-flash-everywhere/
Flash isn't closed, Flash isn't locked down and it sure as hell doesn't have an asinine approval process.
@Atkins Its called anti-trust. This would never happen in europe because of competition regulations. Apple would be guilty of monopolising
@Xbox
Well, your answer to my point does not really answer.
I never said that Microsoft has "a problem" with Flash. I said that they will not support anything other than HTML5 in their next browser (I'm assuming they mean for video)! Oh and they did say that most of the vulnerabilities on win come from flash.
Independently from all this, the fact that people that play with technology all day form an opinion in a way or another, is something you should respect. Not agree, but respect.
@iucidium Lol. Monopolizing what exactly?
@Skwidwerd remember that a sufficiently rigged demo is indistinguishable from magic. This is a video, made by Adobe, designed to make flash on a mobile look as good as possible.
I still think it's going to be a huge disappointment when it's finally released. It will suck your battery dry and be quite useless for most flash apps as they are not designed for touchscreen usage.
@LeonardNemoy
"This is primarily a greed/control issue"
For both Apple and Adobe.
"Flash will become better and better suited for mobile devices over time..."
It didn't become better on the Mac platform for all those years, why should we expect that the mobile version won't be the same?
"Let's face it, how many games on the iphone would you buy if you could play any similar Flash game for free?"
Oh, please. A quarter of all the apps in the App Store is free. Not to mention that some people would pay 1$ for the possibility to play offline.
@bungleofsketches H264 is an open standard.
@nk Yo Steve, are you watching? _This_ is how you do "full web experience" on a mobile. Oh and it doesn't seem like flash is suffering much from its reliance on click-based controls.
@taligent
Don't trust anyone who touts their career stats in a post.
@nk
This is Really nice.
the only this that worries me is that they have the phone on Charge during this demo.. Does it drain batterylife that fast?
Wh do you think?
@rmcray08 Someone asked for it, in fact.
@taligent If Apple wanted to, they could:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Screen_Project#Open_Screen_Project
http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/
The reality is that Apple's complaints about Flash not being an open standard are a smokescreen. In reality they just don't want anyone else playing in their sandpit.
@chrisoverseas What about the other complaints? :)
@taligent The SWF specification was published as part of the Open Screen Project over two years ago. Using this document it is possible to produce a working SWF Player and develop tools targeting the Flash Platform.
The source is not published because we do not own all Flash Player components, we license the codecs on behalf of consumers and our creative customers.
Mark Doherty
Platform Evangelist - Adobe
@Atkins
"H264 is an open standard."
That is Codec. and it is not open standard. it sound like "www.Apple.org"
@Atkins "heck they are even trying to sue Apple."
Just to clarify, Adobe isn't suing Apple. They filed a complaint, this complaint can potentially lead to a lawsuit, however it wouldn't be Adobe v. Apple. It'd be the DOJ or FTC v. Apple.
@Engagged I think that it doesnt matter, just like data that its pulling...give it to users to have it on their mobile phones (ones U gave the web already) and make them(us) deside shall we use it or not...I dont use my phone for taking all my photos and as soon as I get my hands on zune(Im waiting it to be released outside US or I'll need to buy it over my friend) I wont use my phone for listening to music (but it sure is nice to have all those options on there) just as I dont use it for all of my surfing...no1 says that U need to...we are just saying that its nice that U can do
@Skwidwerd I agree with U that its not the past, but unfortunaly as far as moobilephones go its not present as well, its still the future and its one future that we all hope will come soon
@nk
Android + a good Flash Player = danger for App Store
@Dig Deep I know and like many others I belive that thats the main reason for so many flash hate (from Apples side ofc)
@Niazac
well silverlight can compete with flash, its actually alot better then flash.. but flash but flash is here, its populate and its gunna be here for a while yet so lets support it :D
@taligent
Flash is open you dumbass, that's the entire point of the open screen project. Adobe asked apple to join -- they said no.
@bergwitz
Some of those network show sites are jerky on my C2D with a GPU, especially the commercials.
@raiden8383 ""H264 is an open standard."
That is Codec. and it is not open standard."
So because it's a codec it can't be a standard? That's what you are saying? H264 is atified as part of the MPEG-4 standard, so it is a standard. (not to mention it is used everywhere). About it being open:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/04/know-your-rights-h-264-patent-licensing-and-you/
@juanvaldez Well, yes, if we want to be correct :) btw I really can't see what kind of anti-competitive practice Apple can be accused of. Ideas?
@mdoherty Open Standard? Cool. What third-party Flash implementations will play DRM content? Also, what organization is charged with making updated versions of Flash? Or is Adobe working on that in-house, and expecting third-party Flash engine developers to just catch up when they're done?
@Atkins Due to the fact that they have such a closed system and force people and developers to only go through there system that is why they are already under investigation for this is 4 countries in Europe. They will get the same treatment MS got when they where not opening up there code to competitors so that they can make proper builds for their systems, and Apple is being way worse in this aspect then MS.
@mdoherty
I can't believe you guys even care what these idiots think. In the end, if you create a good player for Android, people will start buying Android devices. The consumer always decides in the end, not the egotistical techie, who has no idea how hard it is to manage program development for something that is used for so many different things by so many different people. You have the upper hand because your content is already there and in position. Android will continue to improve and if Flash improves with it, then it will win in the end. It will win me over.
@TheOne Well, I like Apple's closed system - IMO it provides for the better experience. Of course that's a personal opinion :)
Now, in Microsoft's case - they were dominating the market and if I remember well the case had something to do with OEM intimidation.
Apple is clearly not dominant on any market, at least for now. And I don't see which market and its competition Apple's strategies affect.
This demo is certainly better than previous ones but still has a number of flaws.
Having to tap-hold to capture touch events in the player even for navigation elements isn't integral with the web experience.
Games are not the biggest thing Flash has going for it because Flash games suck, native games run much more smoothly. Basic games can be done in HTML 5 and don't require tap-hold to capture events. They didn't show how to release either, presumably tap-hold. That's gonna get annoying real quick.
Video is better done in a standard that product developers can optimize. Although H.264 is a licensed codec, it is open for developers to implement and optimize. The Flash container is unnecessary and if you've ever tried to develop a Flash media player, it sucks too because you can't control the buffering process easily. This is far better handled by the OS.
So, my conclusion is that the Flash implementation shown in the video is usable and would be nice to have as an option but I personally wouldn't miss it one bit and I would still rather publishers move to HTML 5 + H.264 wherever they can.
@nk until you see the battery meter dive to 0 in 30 minutes?
@cdf74dc9 To be fair, if Adobe had a mobile Flash player up and running in 2007 the iPhone may've had it.
@liftedngifted1 I completely agree! But even if the EVO doesn't get 2.2 for a few months, its still the fastest device on the market so im satisfied haha, but YEA SPRINT!!! GIVE ME FROYO QUICKLY!!!!!