Adobe has been finalizing their new Flash Player 11 since its beta launch back in July, but Adobe has this week edged a little closer to launching its final build by rolling out another release candidate for its Flash Player 11 this week. In the attempt to try and keep its Flash product relevant in a world where its banned from iOS devices and struggling to make its mark on Android devices.
New Features and Enhancements
Adobe is taking a different direction with their latest Flash Player 11, aiming it at gaming, high-end video, and in-house company applications. Now including 64-bit support and JPEG XR image support, which offers better compression than conventional JPEG images and which is now an international standard. This move is significant as it allows for higher quality images with reduced file sizes, making it more efficient for web use.
Together with their “Molehill” interface for hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, Flash Player 11 will be of particular interest to mobile gaming designers and application developers. The “Molehill” interface, now known as Stage 3D, provides low-level GPU-accelerated APIs, enabling developers to create complex 3D environments and games that run smoothly on both desktop and mobile platforms. This is a game-changer for developers who have been limited by the performance constraints of previous Flash versions.
The new Flash 11 player will also be able to encode H.264 video, a widely used video compression standard that provides high-quality video at lower bit rates. This is particularly beneficial for streaming services and online video platforms, as it ensures that users can enjoy high-definition content without excessive buffering or data usage. Additionally, Flash Player 11 will be partnered with Adobe’s AIR 3, which extends Flash capabilities to standalone applications across multiple devices and operating systems.
Implications for Developers and Users
The enhancements in Flash Player 11 are not just technical upgrades; they represent a strategic shift for Adobe. By focusing on gaming and high-end video, Adobe is targeting markets where Flash can still offer unique advantages. For instance, the gaming industry can leverage the new 3D capabilities to create more immersive and visually stunning games. Companies can use the improved video encoding and image compression features for better multimedia presentations and training materials.
However, the road ahead is not without challenges. Flash has been banned from iOS devices, and its presence on Android devices is dwindling. This has led many developers to shift towards HTML5, which is supported across all major platforms and does not require a plugin. Despite these challenges, Adobe is committed to keeping Flash relevant by continuously innovating and adding new features that cater to specific niches.
One example of Flash’s continued relevance is its use in online gaming portals like Kongregate and Newgrounds, where many games are still built using Flash. These platforms benefit from Flash’s robust animation and multimedia capabilities, which are not yet fully replicated by HTML5. Additionally, many educational websites use Flash for interactive content, such as simulations and tutorials, which require precise control over multimedia elements.
Source: CNET
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