Adobe Flash 10.1 limited to Android 2.1 and above, launching in first half of 2010

Adobe has come out with some additional details about the release of Adobe Flash 10.1 for the Android platform. If you were hoping to play some Flash games or watch a few Hulu clips on your HTC Magic or Motorola Cliq, we have some bad news for you. Adobe Flash will only be available for Android 2.1 handset when it is launched. Adobe is citing certain software-level access issues with older versions of the OS. I’m not sure about you, but that explanation simply does not cut it. If a firmware update is needed for Flash 10.2 to work on an Android handset, wouldn’t the manufacturer or the carrier be able to alter the code to fix an access issues that may exist? My hunch is that Adobe simply does not want to do the leg work to back port Flash to Android 1.6 and 1.5 equipped handsets.

At the moment, most older handsets running Android have not yet gotten the blessing to have their firmware updated to Android 2.1 in the near future. Adobe’s decision could most likely leave more than 60% or more Android users without Flash support.

Adobe also cleared up their launch time frame a little, saying Flash 10.1 should be available in the first half of 2010. Maybe Adobe is hoping that a late May of early June launch will give manufacturers and carriers enough time to roll out android 2.1 updates to their current handset. We can only hope.

Source: Electronista