Android News
Flash 10.1 will not be supported on all Android phones?
February 25, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
Android OS
Not all current generation phones will be able to use Flash 10.1 for Android once it is released in the next few months. Though Flash has been seen working as a prototype on the G1 and had some support on the Hero, an Adobe forums post reveals that not all Android phone models will be supported.
In response to a question about Adobe’s roadmap, an Adobe employee stated that Flash would begin appearing on Android phones “mid-year.” That employee also dropped this bombshell:
“The HTC Hero will not be supported [because] it does not have the correct Android OS version and its chipset is not powerful enough. We require a device an ARM v7 (Cortex) processor. Examples include the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and TI OMAP3 series.”
We’ve already seen Adobe show-off Flash 10 betas on a Droid and Nexus One, but many hoped that Adobe would still be able to get Flash onto G1’s and Hero’s. This is the first time I’ve seen anyone plainly state that Flash would not be available for a particular Android model. Flash will have minimum software and hardware requirements that the Hero and other phones don’t seem to meet because of OS version or processing power.
Here’s the statement in-full:
Hi all,
You can expect the final release for Android to be available mid-year. All Android devices that meet our minimum s/w and h/w requirements will be supported. Unfortunately, I cannot say a lot more publicly about our port to the Android platform at this time.
As for WinMo, we have made the tough decision to defer support for that platform until WinMo7. This is due to the fact that WinMo6.5 does not support some of the critical APIs that we need.
As for your other questions:
* Yes, we will support the Motorola Milestone.
* No, the HTC Hero will not be supported b/c it does not have the correct Anroid OS version and it’s chipset is not powerful enough. We require a device with an ARM v7 (Cortex) processor. Examples include the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and TI OMAP3 series.
Best regards,
Antonio
[Adobe Forums] via WMPoweruser
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Yikes! The Hero is supposed to be getting Android 2.x sometime this year, though…
Exactly. What worries me is that even with the OS updates, he claims the chipset won't be able to keep up with having Flash. I'm hoping he just misspoke or is mistaken about the Hero's power. Adobe has inched away from statements on Flash for mobile on multiple occasions.
Yeah the funny thing is i Google'd what the ARM version is on the Hero and i found that apparently the HTC hero is running the ARM9 processor which has a robust roadmap linking to the latest Cortex processors. I think this may be a matter of the Hero acquiring android 2.1 (rumored march 2010) and adobe taking the finger out of their asses and working on developing a HTC hero 10.1 version, i think the hero can optimize flash but that is just a guess really, i only say this as it shines above all other older android models and shouldn't be classed as a first generation android phone….
It might be the float point units on the newer hardware. A bit like how Quake3 works fast on some and not on others.
The Motorola Cliq looks to have an ARM v6 Processor, so no Flash on the Cliq, even when it gets the Android 2.1 upgrade. That stinks.
That sucks, if this turns out to be the case… many users will be upset! I guess that will make Droids and Nexus Ones all the more attractive to upgrade to.
Cute, Adobe. I thought Steve Jobs was way too early by saying that Flash is 'dead' and wont' be bothered with on the iPad; but I never though Adobe would be one of the actors helping that come about. If mobile Flash gets too nitpicky about hardware, it's going to find itself increasingly irrelevant. C'mon Adobe, forget all the bells and whistles: just roll out a 'lite' version.
What about samsung moment? I swear its like this phone doesn’t even matter.
I would think the moment would get it.
Just drop flash altogether, stinking technology that only serves 3 purposes on the net: youtube, flash games and broken webs. Android 2.1 browser is html5 compatible (coughyoutubecough), so what gives.
Meh, there's not going to really be an HTML5 standard until all browsers agree on a codec and YouTube supports it. I'm not a humongous fan of Flash but it was certainly touted as one of the selling points of the HTC hero.
Great Blog! Need more like it.
interesting matter, i never seen one thing about this before
Nice read. By the way, I was able to watch Avatar online for free. Click here to watch Avatar and also check out the other movies they have, it’s really freaking great.