Adobe Flash coming for ICS, not Android 5.0
Adobe has confirmed its Flash software will come to Android Ice Cream Sandwich before the end of the year, but that's your lot.
Earlier in the month news came that Flash was dead for mobile devices; and this seemed confirmed over the weekend when it was revealed Samsung's Galaxy Nexus doesn't ship with it installed. You can't even download it from Android Market.
But it looks like that's set to change. Adobe has confirmed to Pocket-lint it intends to bring Flash to Android 4.0 before the end of the year. But the bad news? It'll be the last Flash update. You win some...
"Adobe will release one more version of the Flash Player for mobile browsing," a spokesperson said, " which will provide support for Android 4.0, and one more release of the Flash Linux Porting Kit -- both expected to be released before the end of this year."
So it seems Apple has won the war on Flash, but Adobe's firing a parting shot.
If you're going to pick up a Samsung Galaxy Nexus you'll be able to install Flash and not have any compatibility issues with any sites. But Android Ice Cream Sandwich is the last version of Android that'll have Flash support, after that you're on your own. Or as the spokesperson puts it, "After that time, Adobe will continue to provide critical bug fixes and security updates."
It added that Flash's future is uncertain. "Of course, with the growth and continued improved browser support of HTML5, the role of Flash will change. For the foreseeable future, Flash offers advantages in delivering premium video with content protection, as well as providing a high-performance, feature-rich and graphically advanced gaming platform. We are focusing our Flash Player efforts around these areas."
Steve Jobs was famously anti-Flash, not putting it on the iPhone or iPad.
Is this a welcome announcement? Or will you miss Flash? Let us know down in the comments or over on our Facebook page.