NO FLASH FOR ICE CREAM SANDWICH...FOR NOW

If you lucky owners of the Galaxy Nexus in these first days of its release complete with the first iteration of Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), you’ll notice that you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed, nor do you have access to a download on the Android Market.

Google has just confirmed, this is normal and that Flash support will only come once Adobe makes the call to update the mobile version for Android 4.0 to work with ICS.

LEAK: ADOBE HALTING WORK IN MOBILE FLASH; CONCENTRATING ON HTML 5

Sources close to Adobe that have been briefed on the company’s future development plans have revealed this forthcoming announcement:

Our future work with Flash on mobile devices will be focused on enabling Flash developers to package native apps with Adobe AIR for all the major app stores. We will no longer adapt Flash Player for mobile devices to new browser, OS version or device configurations. Some of our source code licensees may opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations. We will continue to support the current Android and PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates.

Additionally, the e-mail briefing to Adobe’s partners says "Adobe is Stopping development on Flash Player for browsers on mobile." Adobe will concentrate their efforts on three main areas

• Applications for mobile
• Expressive content on the desktop (in and out of browser)
• Increasing their investments in HTML5 in general

The full content and scope of the announcement is expected to be posted on the Adobe web site in the next day or so.

MICROSOFT SCRAPS FLASH, WINDOWS 8 METRO IE10 TO BE "PLUG-IN FREE"

The tablet-optimized Metro version of Internet Explorer 10 in Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 will be a "plug-in free experience," as the company follows Apple's lead in abandoning Adobe Flash in favor of HTML5 on tablets.

Microsoft revealed Wednesday on its Building Windows 8 blog that the Metro version of IE10 will drop plug-ins because the experience that they provide is "not a good match with Metro style browsing and the modern HTML5 web." The company will, however, continue to support Adobe Flash and other plug-ins on the desktop version of Internet Explorer 10.

IE team lead Dean Hachamovitch wrote in the post that going plug-in free in for the Metro version of IE10 "improves battery life as well as security, reliability and privacy for consumers." Hachamovitch further stated "Plug-ins were important early on in the web’s history. But the web has come a long way since then with HTML5. Providing compatibility with legacy plug-in technologies would detract from, rather than improve, the consumer experience of browsing in the Metro style UI,.

ADOBE BRINGS FLASH TO iPHONE AND iPAD FOR ONLY $4,500

During the IBC trade show in Amsterdam on Friday, Adobe officially took the wraps off of its new Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 and Adobe Flash Access 3.0 products, which will allow iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users to access Adobe Flash content. Apple, which has long rejected Adobe’s Flash technology, doesn’t need to approve the tech for it to work, either. “With Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5, media publishers now have a single, simple workflow for delivering content using the same stream to Flash-enabled devices or to the Apple iPhone and iPad,” Adobe said in a statement.

Flash Media Server 4.5 allows publishers to stream Flash content to iOS devices, which means support within the iOS Safari browser is not required. Instead of relying on a device’s processor to render the stream, which often degrades battery life and slows a device down, Adobe’s Flash Media Server 4.5 does all the legwork. Adobe Flash Media Server is available immediately to publishers for $4,500.

GOOGLE DOODLE LETS YOU PLAY AND RECORD A GUITAR RIFF

Have you been to Google's home page recently? Do it, you've got less than 24 hours to check out its guitar-inspired doodle celebrating the birthday of Les Paul. The "Google" script is highly interactive thanks to a combination of JavaScript, HMTL5, CSS, and even Flash (providing the audio). Click the compose button at the base of the second "g" and begin recording your own 30 second tribute to one of music's most innovative pioneers using your keyboard to play specific notes or mouse for virtual strumming. Unfortunately, the recording and sharing aspect appears limited to US Googlers. Impressive stuff from a typically impressive company.

GOOGLE CHROME 12 AVAILABLE

Google's Chrome browser has been updated to version 12. This stable version brings expanded malware protection. In addition to Chrome’s existing phishing defenses and Google’s Safe Browsing integration, Chrome can now warn users before malicious files are downloaded. Another handy security-related update in Chrome 12 is that its built-in file clean-up tools can now delete Flash cookies (Local Shared Objects) in addition to standard browser cookies.

And since updates are always about adding functionality, it’s worth noting that Google Chrome 12 has finally done away with the Google Gears plug-in.

Chrome 12 has hardware accelerated 3D CSS enabled by default. To check out the capabilities head on over to the Chrome Experiments site and play around with some of the fun demos.

If your using Google Chrome you can wait for it to update automatically or click the wrench and then About Chrome. If you need to download Chrome, click here.

ADOBE CEO ENDS FEUD WITH APPLE, SIDESTEPS POOR ANDROID FLASH PERFORMANCE ISSUE

Speaking at yesterday's D9 conference in Palos Verdes, California, Adobe head Shantanu Narayen confirmed that he and Steve Jobs have reached an unofficial armistice, bringing an end to their prolonged war of words. According to the CEO, Apple's Flash issues stemmed from the company's "business model," rather than any legitimate concerns over quality. "It's control over the app store that's at issue here," Narayen said, implying that Flash's wide-ranging platform compatibility may not have jibed with the Cupertino ethos. He went on to remind moderator Walt Mossberg that developers can still use Adobe's AIR software to get their products to the App Store, adding that his company is looking forward to the rise of HTML5 and "actively contributing" to its development.

Mossberg, meanwhile, seemed to blindside Narayen when he brought up Flash's poor performance on Android devices. "I have yet to test a single one where Flash tests really well," the columnist claimed. "I'm sorry, but it's true." Narayen sputtered a bit, before pointing to the BlackBerry PlayBook as an example of the progress that Flash has made. When Mossberg reminded him that the PlayBook doesn't run on Android, the CEO not-so-subtly sidestepped the question by emptily declaring that Adobe's mission is simply to provide people with the best tools to create content. Apparently satisfied with this non-answer, Mossberg changed the subject back to Apple, allowing Narayen to wax poetic about their new truce.

LEAK: ADOBE FLASH 10.2 LEAKS ANDROID 3.1 VIDEO ACCELERATION

A recent Adobe Flash Player 10.2 update has spilled the beans on Android 3.1. The update says that Flash Player 10.2 supports “hardware accelerated video,” provided that a user is running the unannounced Android 3.1 operating system. This should drastically increase video playback performance, specifically with HD video, on Honeycomb tablets. Google hasn’t yet announced Android 3.1, but we expect to hear more it during Google’s I/O developer conference on May 10th and 11th in San Francisco.

NOOK COLOR UPDATED WITH ANDROID 2.2, FLASH SUPPORT AND NOOK APPS

On Monday, Barnes & Noble announced that it will be updating the NOOK Color eReader with Android 2.2 (Froyo) and a number of other enhancements. The software patch — which will deliver Adobe Flash Player support – adds a NOOK Friends beta social network for sharing books, 15 new NOOK Kids Read and Play books, NOOK Email, NOOK Books Enhanced with embedded video and audio, and NOOK Newsstand for quick access to magazines and newspapers. A new NOOK Apps store will provide access to more than 125 applications, many of which are free or are priced below the $2.99 price point. The update, officially known as NOOK Color v1.2, is available now for free. NOOK Color owners can visit www.nookcolor.com/update to apply it now, or you can wait for an over-the-air update to roll out over the coming weeks.

ADOBE FINDS ANOTHER CRITICAL FLAW IN FLASH

Adobe has found yet another serious security flaw in Flash. The vulnerability affects all platforms, including Android, though only attacks on Windows have been seen in the wild so far. Just like last month's exploit, this one is spreading via malicious .swf files embedded in Office documents, only this time it's Word instead of Excel being targeted (a hacker's gotta keep it fresh, after all). Once again Reader and Acrobat are also vulnerable, but attacks can be thwarted using Reader's Protected Mode.

SILVERLIGHT COMING TO XBOX; WP7 GAMES ON THE WAY

Silverlight started as just a humble Flash competitor and now, well, it's all grown up. Almost, anyway. It's a fundamental part of the Windows Phone 7 ecosphere and word on the street is that it's about to become a fundamental part of the Xbox 360 world as well -- or a part, at least. Microsoft's MIX 11 developer event kicks off next week and rumor has it that Microsoft will unload a new tier of Silverlight compatibility enabling apps on the company's console and there's the potential for writing apps that could run both on phones and on the console.

RUMOR: NOOK COLOR GETTING FLASH AND APPS

According to a listing on the Home Shopping Network, the Nook Color will get an update next month that brings Flash support and additional apps to the platform. That suggests that we'll finally be seeing Android 2.2 and perhaps an app store of some sort, though HSN isn't spilling the beans right now -- the cable station wants you to tune in this Saturday to get an exclusive sneak peek at the goods.

MOTOROLA XOOM UPDATE HITS, BRINGS FLASH 10.2 SUPPORT

Motorola’s corporate Twitter account sent out a tweet announcing that the Motorola XOOM will be receiveing an OTA software upgrade starting late Friday.

Improvements for daylight savings time and support for the upcoming Adobe Flash 10.2 release are expected. The OTA will hit XOOM tablets later on in the evening and your device can be updated over 3G or Wi-Fi.

GOOGLE CHROME 10 NOW AVAILABLE WITH SPEED BOOST

It was just a month ago that Google released version 9 of its hot browser Chrome. They have now released version 10. The new version has speed increases as well as a new Options layout and sandboxing of integrated Flash, which provides better security from malware. Chrome 10 scored a 66% increase in Javascript performance. Users can now sync passwords across multiple computers as well. Google has some handy videos showing the improvements which you can view here.

ADOBE HELPING HTML5 CONVERSIONS

Adobe, the company behind Flash, has created an application that will help convert Flash to HTML5. It seems a bit odd that a company would help a competitor, especially with the ability convert their product to the competitors. Adobe openly admits that the initial goal for the new tool will be to help convert animated banner ads so that they work on the iOS platform.

MOTOROLA XOOM TO SHIP WITHOUT FLASH SUPPORT

Verizon's webpage dedicated to the Xoom has just gone up an eagle-eyed reader has already spotted a disquieting bit of small print: "Adobe Flash expected Spring 2011." You don't sit around expecting what you already have, so that leads us to conclude that the Xoom, the mighty iPad-slaying, Honeycomb-bringing, world-changing tablet... won't have Flash at launch. The version of Adobe's rich media player it's waiting for is most probably 10.2 for mobile devices, scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks.

FLASH PLAYER 10.2 EXITS BETA; AVAILABLE NOW

Adobe's Flash Player 10.2 has just exited beta testing and is now available for download to Windows, Mac and Linux computers. Its biggest new feature is the Stage Video API, which promises to drastically reduce the processor load of playing back high-res video. It'll need to be enabled by content-providing sites like YouTube, Vimeo and Brightcove -- all of whom are already on the job -- but once that's done, Adobe says 1080p playback will cost you no more than 15 percent of your CPU cycles. Other new additions include a single-monitor full screen option for multi-display rigs, allowing you to max out a Flash video on one panel while keeping the others free, IE9 hardware acceleration support, and some nifty sub-pixel text rendering enhancements to make our web lives marginally nicer to look at.

Flash Player 10.2 also marks Adobe's discontinuation of support for PowerPC-based Macs and Microsoft's Windows 2000 OS. So if you're still rocking some finely aged gear, you'll have to just content yourself with the awesomeness of 10.1. [Engadget]

NETGEAR CEO DISSES MICROSOFT AND STEVE JOBS

At a press lunch in California Patrick Lo, CEO of NetGear, had some unkind things to say about Microsoft and Steve Jobs. About Microsoft's recently launched Windows Phone 7 platform Lo said "Microsoft is over -- game over, from my point of view." Of course this doesn't really take into account Microsoft's huge purse filled with greenbacks from its lucrative Windows 7 and Office products.

But Lo didn't stop with Microsoft. He went on to attached Steve Jobs' decision to leave Adobe Flash out of the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. "What's the reason for him to trash Flash? There's no reason other than ego," said Lo. He went on to say "Once Steve Jobs goes away, which is probably not far away, then Apple will have to make a strategic decision on whether to open up the platform." Uhm, yeah way to stay classy there Patrick.

ADOBE FLASH KILLING BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK BATTERY

Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu recently wrote RIM's new Blackberry Playbook might only have the battery life of the Samsung Galaxy tablet at best, and that is with some major re-engineering. What is killing the battery life of the Playbook? According to Wu it's Adobe Flash. "From our understanding, the poor battery life of early PlayBook units may be due to its incorporation of Adobe Flash," Wu wrote. "As seen in recent tests for the new MacBook Air, use of Flash can cut battery life in half. It should be no surprise to anyone that our checks indicate Adobe is furiously working on reducing Flash's consumption of resources to make it a viable mobile platform vs. HTML5 that both Apple and Google are moving toward." What's clear, Wu wrote, is that the PlayBook is unlikely to reach the iPad's 10-hour battery life. "We would be very surprised if PlayBook matches anywhere near the battery life of the iPad at 10 hours unless it uses a larger battery," he said.

The PlayBook is based on QNX, which "wasn't originally designed for low-powered mobile environments but rather devices plugged into a wall socket (like network equipment) or a car battery (like automobile control systems and stereos)," Wu wrote. "At the end of the day, we are glad RIM is working hard on improving battery life as it will be good for both customers and shareholders."

RIM has responded to battery life concerns and issued a statement saying it's "on track with its schedule to optimize the BlackBerry PlayBook's battery life and looks forward to providing customers with a professional grade tablet that offers superior performance with comparable battery life."

GOOGLE CHROME DEV BUILD SANDBOXES FLASH

On Wednesday Google announced a new developer test version of its Chrome Web browser that will place the code of Adobe's Flash Player plug-in in its own sandbox. For now, the update just applies to the Windows Versions of the browser.

A sandbox isolates the running code from the rest of the operating system so that its has no access to critical processes or data, thus preventing it from either intentionally or unintentionally doing harm. Flash has been famously criticized by Apple CEO Steve Jobs for its lack of security and stability.

Google already uses sandboxing for HTML rendering and JavaScript execution, making it one of the most secure browsers available.

The announcement appeared on the blog dedicated to Chromium, as the open source browser engine project is called. (To further complicate things, the company also plans an upcoming operating system, Chrome OS, using some of the same Chromium code base.) The blog post states that Google engineers have been working closely with Adobe to implement the plug-in sandboxing. Adobe recently used the technique in its own Reader X plugin for Acrobat PDF files.

According to the post, written by Google software engineers Justin Schuh and Carlos Pizano, "This first iteration of Chrome's Flash Player sandbox for all Windows platforms uses a modified version of Chrome's existing sandbox technology that protects certain sensitive resources from being accessed by malicious code, while allowing applications to use less sensitive ones. This implementation is a significant first step in further reducing the potential attack surface of the browser and protecting users against common malware." [PC Mag]