Flash for Android briefly returns to Google Play Store in UK, zombie-style

Adobe Flash logoAdobe was last seen burying mobile Flash and moving on with its life. Like the stars of George Romero movies, however, Flash is back to walk amongst the living -- if just temporarily. The developer tells the BBC that Flash for Android is back in the UK's Google Play Store for a short while after "strategic partners" pushed it into action, including the British broadcaster. While the link isn't explicitly confirmed, it's strongly implied that the BBC and others want a little more time to wean Android apps like iPlayer off of their Flash dependency and toward web technologies like HTML5. Adobe is quashing any hopes of a permanent revival with a disclaimer that there's no support for the download; any bugs will remain there forever. Those attached to their dearly departed plugin may still appreciate one last look before the code is once more put six feet under.

[Thanks, Kevin]

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Flash for Android briefly returns to Google Play Store in UK, zombie-style originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3 now working on Linux through Google Chrome, more or less

Epic Citadel tech demo

A Holy Grail of Linux gaming has been an Unreal Engine 3 port. Getting one for the OS would unlock a world of games that has been the province of, well, just about any other mainstream platform. Thanks to Google preserving Flash on Linux through Chrome, that dream is alive in at least a rudimentary form. Experimenters at the Phoronix forums have found that Chrome 21 has support for the Stage 3D hardware acceleration needed to drive Epic Games' Flash conversion of UE3. Tell Chrome to enable support as well as ignore a graphics chip blacklist, and suddenly you're running Epic Citadel from your Linux install. When we say "running," however, we're taking a slight amount of poetic license. Performance isn't that hot, and certain configurations might not show the medieval architecture in all its glory. We've confirmed with Epic that it works, but it's still firm on the stance that there's no plans for official UE3 support on Linux "at this time." It's still promising enough that maybe, just maybe, gamers can embrace an open-source platform without having to give up the games they love.

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Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 now working on Linux through Google Chrome, more or less originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Aug 2012 01:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of August 13th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany week of August 13th, 2012

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, Clove teased the October arrival of the black Samsung Galaxy S III and a security vulnerability was uncovered for Android's pattern unlock feature. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of August 13th, 2012.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of August 13th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 21:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android as of tomorrow

PSA Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android from tomorrowAdobe has been broadcasting as much as possible that Flash on Android is going away, although it's been offering a grace period for those addicted to the plugin. It's now time to wean yourself off. As Adobe warned earlier in the year, new installations from Google Play won't be an option from August 15th onwards. Any downloads after that point will be limited to updates for existing installations or to those willing to raid Adobe's archives -- assuming would-be users aren't already running Android 4.1, that is. While we'd still expect Flash to preserve some of its relevance in mobile as long as phones ship with it preinstalled, and alternatives like Skyfire persist, we'd strongly suggest getting comfortable with HTML5 and native apps from now on.

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PSA: Adobe halts new installs of Flash on Android as of tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Aug 2012 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes

chrome-20-browser-released-64-bit-linux-flash

If your new MacBook is having kernel panics, or you're forced to run a 32-bit browser in Linux because you need Flash, Google's brought relief with version 20 of Chrome. While acting sheepish about "yet another release," the Chrome Blog said "hundreds of bugs" were fixed, including a MacBook resource leak issue which was temporarily patched by disabling some GPU features. Also, Linux users will finally get full 64-bit support for Flash with Adobe's PPAPI "Pepper" version, but since it was made exclusively for Chrome, Penguin users will be stuck with that browser if they want the feature. To get it, check the source after the br... oh, right, background update. Nevermind.

Chrome 20 browser released: exclusive 64-bit Linux Flash, fewer MacBook crashes originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 05:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Geek.com  |  sourceGoogle Chrome Blog  | Email this | Comments

Adobe confirms it won’t support Flash on Android 4.1, stops new Flash installs from Google Play on August 15th

Adobe Flash Platform

Adobe was very public about dropping mobile Flash last fall. In case that wasn't clear enough, the developer just drew a line in the sand: Android 4.1 doesn't, and won't ever, get certification for Flash. The company is stopping short of saying that Flash won't run, but it's evident that Adobe won't help you if the web browser plugin doesn't install (or breaks in spectacular fashion) on that Nexus 7. Just to underscore the point, the firm is also halting new installations of Flash from Google Play as of August 15th. Security updates and other vital patches will continue on for existing users. Any fresh downloads after that fateful day, however, will have to come from Adobe's mausoleum for old versions. The company had already said that HTML5 was the way forward on phones and tablets -- now we know just how quickly it's backing up that claim.

Adobe confirms it won't support Flash on Android 4.1, stops new Flash installs from Google Play on August 15th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 23:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe Flash 11.3 checks in with security fixes, OS X silent updater and Firefox sandbox in tow

adobe-flash-11-3-security-fixes-os-x-firefox

While feverishly revamping Flash with the all-new Next version -- to keep HTML5 from killing it -- Adobe is still plugging the current incarnation with smaller updates. To that end, Flash 11.3 just popped out of beta, which sees the company add a few notable goodies for the beleaguered plugin. On top of filling seven critical security holes, Adobe added a background updating feature for Mac OS X and signed the code in preparation for compatibility with Mountain Lion. That way it'll align it with the upcoming Gatekeeper feature in the next OS X release, though you'll have to dial its max security down one notch to get it. Lastly, sandboxing -- already in Chrome -- has been tacked on to Firefox as well, slowing hackers by isolating the plugin from critical system processes. All that fresh duct tape and polyfill should keep Flash rattling along -- until Adobe can pull the gleaming Next platform out of the hangar. Meanwhile, click the source for the download links.

Adobe Flash 11.3 checks in with security fixes, OS X silent updater and Firefox sandbox in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 18:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows 8’s Metro version of IE 10 may keep Flash for edge cases

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Microsoft triggered some weeping and gnashing of teeth with its decision to keep Flash out of the Metro environment's Internet Explorer 10 browser in favor of HTML5, and it looks like that outpouring of grief has produced a compromise -- albeit with a catch. Leaks of the upcoming Windows 8 Release Preview purport to show Flash running on IE10 in the new interface, but only for certain popular sites (such as Disney's) that can be trusted with Flash and don't have an easy HTML5 fallback. The company hasn't confirmed the change, but it's thought that Microsoft has skipped the familiar plugin route in favor of just coding Flash support for a few sites at a low level. If that's what we see when the Release Preview goes public in June, it could serve as a bridge for parents worried their kids will miss out on Where's My Water? games while preserving a browser that's overall leaner, meaner and safer. We wouldn't hold out much hope for Windows 8 RT tablets running ARM chips, though, knowing that backwards compatibility doesn't exist and that Adobe might not be keen to revive Flash-on-ARM support it's trying to wind down.

Windows 8's Metro version of IE 10 may keep Flash for edge cases originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple issues Leopard update with Flashback removal tool

Apple issues Leopard update with Flashback removal tool

Folks still rocking Apple's Leopard may have been feeling left out after Lion and Snow Leopard both got an update for addressing that Flashback malware. If you're one of them, you'll be glad to know that Apple has finally issued a Leopard fix that comes with a removal tool for the vulnerability afflicting its big cats. In addition to a 1.23MB Flashback update, Apple also released a second 1.11MB fix for Leopard that disables versions of Adobe Flash Player that don't have the requisite security updates. Both should further whittle down the number of Apple computers affected by the Flashback trojan. For the actual updates, feel free to pounce on the source links below.

Apple issues Leopard update with Flashback removal tool originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 04:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 9to5Mac  |  sourceApple Flashback Update, Apple Leopard Security Update  | Email this | Comments

Third betas of Adobe Flash 11.3, AIR 3.3 give peeks at low-lag audio and deeper iOS support

Adobe Flash Platform

Adobe's famous desktop browser plugin may be looking forward to a 2013 overhaul, but that doesn't mean it isn't out to improve itself in the here and now. Flash Player's 11.3 beta, for instance, rolls in low latency audio support through NetStream, designed specifically to cut back audio lag in cloud gaming. The beta also introduces support for complete keyboard control when in full-screen mode, background Flash updating on Macs, and a Protected Mode for Firefox that keeps rogue Flash files from compromising Windows PCs using Vista or later.

The AIR 3.3 beta, on the other hand, smooths the runtime's iOS experience, allowing compiled apps to run in the background more like their natively-compiled siblings. It's also friendlier to developers, with new USB debugging and simulator support that now doesn't require a physical device. Android 4.0 users aren't entirely left out, getting stylus support for AIR apps on their platform. Adobe hasn't said when the finished versions of Flash 11.3 and AIR 3.3 will reach its servers, but if you're willing to live life on the bleeding edge, you can find the download links below.

Third betas of Adobe Flash 11.3, AIR 3.3 give peeks at low-lag audio and deeper iOS support originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 May 2012 08:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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