[Update] RUMOR: ADOBE nixes development on mobile browser Flash

Rumor has it, Adobe has put the kibosh on all development for Flash for mobile browsing. That’s all mobile browsing — not just Android. I didn’t see this one coming, but apparently it’s expected to be officially announced on Adobe’s website within the next day. Here’s what we’ve got from ZDNet’s report:

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. 

In addition, their developmental focus will now be focused on creating mobile applications, expressive content on the desktop (in and out of browser), and increasing their general investments in HTML5. Again, this is only a rumor for now, but it’s looking like will know more within the next 24. Stay tuned.

Update – At the time of scheduling this post, the information was still based as a rumor. It has no of course since been confirmed. Here is the official statement released by Danny Winokur. He is the VP and GM of interactive development at Adobe –

HTML5 is now universally supported on major mobile devices, in some cases exclusively.  This makes HTML5 the best solution for creating and deploying content in the browser across mobile platforms. We are excited about this, and will continue our work with key players in the HTML community, including Google, Apple, Microsoft and RIM, to drive HTML5 innovation they can use to advance their mobile browsers.

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 continue to develop Flash Player in the browser to work with new mobile device configurations (chipset, browser, OS version, etc.) following the upcoming release of Flash Player 11.1 for Android and BlackBerry PlayBook.  We will of course continue to provide critical bug fixes and security updates for existing device configurations.  We will also allow our source code licensees to continue working on and release their own implementations.

Source: ZDNet
Via: AndroidPolice