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Flash Player 10.1 hits 1 million downloads on Android

But issues with running desktop content on mobile

Flash Player 10.1 hits 1 million downloads on Android
If Steve Jobs needed evidence that there's demand for Flash on mobile from consumers, one million downloads of Flash Player 10.1 on Android since June just might be it.

The player, which tailors Flash videos and adverts for mobile but still drives to deliver a full web experience, is available on Android versions 2.2 and above, enabling websites to reach a major mobile audience despite Apple's continued browser block.

However, as cited by ZDNet's Larry Dignan, Flash on Android isn't without fault, and Jobs' vindication may well come if Flash isn't fully equipped to deal with the platform's forthcoming leap to tablets.

Fixing Flash

"I've been testing a Motorola Droid X with Flash Player 10.1 installed," Digman says in his report, claiming several sites – including Disney and AddictingGames.com don't yet work as they should on Android handsets.

"Flash Player 10.1 uses the same code base across experiences, but sites aren't set up to provide a desktop experience on a mobile device."

Digman's concern is sites that detect an Android device and alter their display accordingly might well fall foul when users attempt to access them with a tablet running Google's OS.

Consumers want a web experience on tablets equivalent to the kind they enjoy on desktop PCs, not mobile, he reckons. 

"I'm conditioned to sites that don’t render well. On a tablet, my patience will be thin. Larger screens need to show off Flash and a good browsing experience."

Abode's D Day will come with the launch of Samsung's Galaxy Tab, expected to roll out in European markets at the start of November and hit the US market on November 15.

[source: ZDNet]

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