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Adobe stops Flash Player support for Android with Jelly Bean

Will still be available for devices running ICS and older

Adobe stops Flash Player support for Android with Jelly Bean
Citing an inability to deliver the "best possible user experience", Adobe has announced its Flash Player for mobile browsers will not be compatible with Android 4.1.

Adobe claimed it has not developed or tested Flash Player for the latest version of Google's OS - better known as Jelly Bean - and as such cannot guarantee that uncertified Android 4.1 devices would be able to run Flash Player effectively.

Quick as a flash

The reason is Flash needs to be deeply integrated with an OS in order to work properly. This requires certification by Adobe. 

But as Adobe is no longer supporting the Flash Player for mobile devices, OEMs won't be able to get certification, hence the decision to stop new Android devices downloading Flash Player from Google Play. 

Adobe recommends anyone upgrading an Android 4.0 device to 4.1 should uninstall Flash Player. 


It's also encouraging developers to use its Adobe AIR tools if they want to use Flash as a deployment technology.

Flash forward

"Devices that do not have Flash Player already installed are increasingly likely to be incompatible with Flash Player and will no longer be able to install it from the Google Play Store after 15 August," Adobe detailed in a blog post.

"If a device is upgraded from Android 4.0 to Android 4.1, the current version of Flash Player may exhibit unpredictable behaviour, as it is not certified for use with Android 4.1. Future updates to Flash Player will not work.

"We recommend uninstalling Flash Player on devices which have been upgraded to Android 4.1."

Flash will remain available for users who have already downloaded it from Google Play on Android devices running older versions of the OS, however. 

[source: Adobe]

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.