At present the Flash video, audio and animations are all over the Interwebs. This indicates that consumers would love to have them on their mobile phones and tablets too. For your convenience, here we have rounded up the platforms and their various versions that support the software.
Consumers who want to check if their existing phone or tablet supports Flash, then they can just visit m.flash.com in their mobile device’s web browser. In case, the device doesn’t support it then a message will appear showing it.
Android
Most of the smartphones and tablets are supported by Google’s Android operating system which is certainly the main focus of Adobe’s mobile muscle. But not all the devices powered by Android are created equal.
HTC Hero is the first Android phone to have Flash that came with the version of Flash Lite 3.1. It is a cut-down version with less processing power. But, currently the Android phones feature better version of the software supporting Flash Player with more features and functions more types of content than Flash Lite.
Phones working on Android 2.2 Froyo, 2.3 Gingerbread generally come pre-loaded with Flash Player 10.1. If your mobile meet the minimum system requirements then you can install the software in it in case the software is not pre installed in it. The minimum system include an ARM Cortex-A8 processor running at 550MHz or more for the phones with a display unit of 480×640-pixel resolution, and 800MHz or more in case it has a 480×800-pixel display.
According to the latest report from Adobe, we will be available with a newer version of the software, Flash Player 10.2 from 18 March, in the Android Market. It will include features like ware acceleration for H.264 video. This version will be smoother, work better with the on-screen keyboard which will be handy while playing Flash games. It is also reported that some of the tablets running on Android Honeycomb has received the beta version of Flash Player 10.2. But for the updation, you’ll need to have the Android 3.0.1 software.
Symbian
Nokia’s millions of current smart phones supports Flash Lite. The software can work on phones with lower specifications, slower processors and smaller screens than those required by Flash Player. 4.1 is the latest version of Flash Lite based on Flash Player 10. It adds multi-touch support and the ability to play ActionScript 3.0 content. According to the reports, Flash Lite will only work on devices supported by Symbian S60 and Symbian 3. Consumers who want to install Flash Lite on their Nokia devices can get it from the Ovi Store to install it.
Apple iOS
The devices powered by Apple iOS don’t support Flash. According to the reports, the company won’t come up with updates regarding Flash because this software makes the devices crash, slow and insecure and also eats up the battery life.
Apart from these three brands, Pre range of phones from Palm supports Flash Player 10.1. Following the company’s merge with HP, it will have the HP’s logo on them and thus won’t come up with any updates on their Flash software. Pre 3, Veer, and TouchPad tablet from the brand HP will all support Flash. But there’s no news regarding updradation of the software to Flash Player 10.2 version.
Though BlackBerry smart phones have been anticipated to get Flash support for years, but till date none of its devices support the software. The first device from RIM to play Flash will be its tablet, the PlayBook. However, the company may take some time to trickle down this feature to its small-screen devices. BlackBerry Tablet OS was thus specially designed in order to support Flash. However, the new smartphones from Blackberry will use BlackBerry 6 OS.
