Adobe announced today that they're stopping development of their mobile Flash player as soon as they release Flash Player 11.1 for Android and BlackBerry Playbook. Both of which are mobile devices, but don't run the mobile flash player.
Hopefully an OS update isn't required for those devices to get the new version of Flash Player, otherwise the majority of Android users are screwed. The PlayBook is currently running Flash 10.2.
A few hours later RIM posted a trademark-filled statement on their blog:
Earlier today, Adobe announced plans to stop investing in Flash® for mobile browsing, and focus more efforts on HTML5. As an Adobe source code licensee, we will continue to work on and release our own implementations, and are looking forward to including Flash 11.1 for the BlackBerry PlayBook.
The strategic direction announced by Adobe today further validates RIM’s decision to launch the BlackBerry PlayBook with a full-powered and uncompromised desktop class browser supporting both Flash and HTML5. We are pleased that Adobe will focus its efforts on next generation Flash-based apps delivered via AIR and BlackBerry AppWorld as well as the great opportunities that HTML5 presents for our developers as we discussed at DevCon Americas.
In essence they're saying:
Adobe just blindsided us with that announcement and even though we pay them an outrageous licensing fee for access to their source code, we don't have a copy of this mythical Flash 11.1 to test on the PlayBook. Luckily we support HTML 5, because we're probably going to be dicked-over by Adobe again in the near future.
I wonder how long until RIM changes direction again and begins to downplay the PlayBook's Flash support?
Tags: Adobe, BlackBerry, Flash, playbook, RIM
