Adobe Gives Up On Flash for Mobile for HTML5 – RIM Committed to Supporting All

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Adobe just dropped an interesting bomb this morning. They have decided to relegate Flash to PC browsing and mobile apps while giving up on flash in mobile browsers to focus on HTML5. They plan on releasing Flash 11.1 for the PlayBook and Android and from then only continue to offer critical bug fixes and security updates.

Alec Saunders from RIM confirmed to me that RIM is a Flash source code licensee which means they can continue to release their own implementations even when Adobe stops. RIM has confirmed as much on their official blog saying that they are committed to “support a full web and app experience today and tomorrow” whether it be Flash, WebWorks, or HTML5 websites. This also sort of makes sense since RIM is just trying to attract developers though they mentioned at DevCon that HTML5/WebWorks and Native development are the future.

Check out Adobe’s announcement here and what RIM’s Dan Dodge, President and CEO of QNX had to say:

RIM is committed to delivering compelling user experiences so you can stay connected and take action wherever your life takes you. Often, that action is enabled by a BlackBerry® smartphone or BlackBerry® PlayBook™ app, and other times it’s through your BlackBerry device’s web browser. We’re able to deliver a full-featured web and app experience because BlackBerry embraces and integrates a variety of developer platforms to make it possible for you to experience and consume the content you want, while you’re on the go – whether that’s powered by the BlackBerry native applications, BlackBerry PlayBook OS, Open Source, superior Flash integration, Adobe® AIR®, Web Works, or websites that use HTML5 to deliver cutting-edge graphics and video.

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.

“The PlayBook browser does a great job of supporting both HTML5 and Flash, including industry leading HD video streaming. Adobe and RIM are focused on HTML5 innovation for mobile browsing and believe it is the best solution for developers to deliver rich web experiences on RIM’s BlackBerry products and other mobile devices. RIM has the ability to continue working on and releasing its own implementations of Flash Player 11 and beyond,” said Danny Winokur, VP & GM, Interactive Development, Adobe Systems Inc.

RIM is also energized by the powerful, open standards-based development platform that HTML5 delivers through our BlackBerry products. To us, this means working with thousands of talented BlackBerry developers to bring new gaming, entertainment, and video experiences that deliver depths of experience we had only dreamed of a few years ago. That’s progress we support, and we look forward to seeing the innovation soon in BlackBerry App World™.

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– Dan Dodge, President and CEO, QNX

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