Adobe launches Flash Player 10
Published: 15 Oct 2008 12:28 BST
Adobe has released its first major update to Flash Player in two years.
Flash Player 10, which was made available as a free download on Wednesday, supports custom filters and effects, along with graphics processing unit (GPU) hardware acceleration, native 3D animation and what Adobe calls "advanced audio processing".
Another major change in the new version of Flash Player is the overhaul of its text engine, which now includes more layout options and control.
"Designers and developers know if they deliver video, online games, rich internet applications (RIAs) and other interactive experiences using Adobe Flash Player, they can reliably reach the entire web," claimed David Wadhwani, Adobe's general manager and vice president of platform business, in a statement. "We're excited to see how the community is already using [Flash Player 10] to create an entirely new class of experiences not previously achievable on the web."
The release of Flash Player 10 coincided with an announcement that Adobe's Creative Suite 4 (CS4) had begun shipping. Designers and developers can use CS4 to take advantage of the new player's capabilities. The Pixel Bender tool can be used to create custom filters and effects, and Flash CS4 lets designers create 2D graphics that can be converted into 3D animations.
According to Adobe, more than 98 percent of internet-enabled desktops use Flash Player, with more than 80 percent of online videos being viewed using the technology.
A significant new rival to Flash is Microsoft's Silverlight, the second major version of which was released on Tuesday.
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