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Adobe brings 64-bit Flash to Linux

Sacha   on 17 November 2008 - 14:37 · 20 comments & 10779 views

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Adobe first experimented porting its products to Linux back in November of 2004. Since acquiring Macromedia in mid 2005, Adobe has also been committed to porting Macromedia's assets, such as Flash, to Linux. The most recent milestone in this process was the synchronization of releases between Windows and Linux with Flash Player 10.

Though equality had been established between the operating systems, this release did not calm users. Still, a common complaint amongst users of all operating systems was: Where is our 64-bit version? Users of 64-bit Linux distributions were required to use the NS Plugin Wrapper or install a 32-bit browser in order to see Flash. Other operating systems had to use a 32-bit browser as well but these come pre-installed.

Today, Adobe answered this problem with an alpha version of their 64-bit Adobe Flash Player 10 for Linux operating systems released on their Adobe Labs website.

Release notes and a FAQ for the new driver were also made available. I mention the FAQ as it answers one question that comes immediately to mind: Why aren't the Windows and Mac 64-bit alpha versions available on Adobe Labs?
Release of this alpha version of 64-bit Flash Player on Linux is the first step in delivering upon Adobe's commitment to make Flash Player native 64-bit across platforms. We chose Linux as our initial platform in response to numerous requests in our public Flash Player bug and issue management system and the fact that Linux distributions do not ship with a 32-bit browser or a comprehensive 32-bit emulation layer by default. Until this pre-release, use of 32-bit Flash Player on Linux has required the use of a plugin wrapper, which prevents full compatibility with 64-bit browsers. With this prelease, Flash Player 10 is now a full native participant on 64-bit Linux distributions. We are committed to bringing native 64-bit Flash Player to Windows and Mac in future pre-releases.

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(3 replies) #1 barteh on 17 Nov 2008 - 14:40
bugger 64bit, what about iphones
#1.1 creamhackered on 17 Nov 2008 - 14:41
yeah I second that but that's Apple stopping it!
#1.2 zivan56 on 17 Nov 2008 - 21:08
creamhackered said,
yeah I second that but that's Apple stopping it!

It's an issue with Apple, not Adobe. I have a Nokia N800 internet tablet, and it has shipped with an official Adobe flash player for years. Even it's predecessor, the N770, has had flash since 2005! They both run on the ARM architecture, as does the iPhone. So the only thing preventing it from happening is probably a license agreement.

Last edited by zivan56 on 17 Nov 2008 - 21:14
#1.3 Unplugged on 18 Nov 2008 - 18:10
creamhackered said,
bugger 64bit, what about iphones


Your a couple of years to early their. Apple will wait 5 years and then bring it out on a new chargable firmware that offers revolutionary technology to show cartoons on the go! their call it iCartoonInteractive widgets and charge for them on itunes
(3 replies) #2 Marshalus on 17 Nov 2008 - 14:43
Sweet. Great step in the right direction. Hopefully 64bit for Windows will follow suit.
#2.1 ipodman715 on 17 Nov 2008 - 15:01
Marshalus said,
Sweet. Great step in the right direction. Hopefully 64bit for Windows will follow suit.

Hopin' here too
#2.2 Avi on 17 Nov 2008 - 15:51
+1.
#2.3 bluarash on 19 Nov 2008 - 18:48
I think it will probably happen when the majority of Windows users are using the 64bit version. Flash runs fine as long as you are using a 32bit copy of IE or any other browser. At this point, it would really be pointless given that there are almost no 64bit Windows applications. Windows Vista x64 is little more than a more secure version of Windows that can access more than 4gigs of memory cleanly. This might change with the Windows 7 release...
(2 replies) #3 ViperAFK on 17 Nov 2008 - 15:13
Nice! flash on 64 bit linux has been buggy as hell.
#3.1 rajputwarrior on 17 Nov 2008 - 16:13
you mean how you have to use a hacked version with that plugin (forget whats its called) that just downloads the swf file and displays in the the tiniest box ever?
#3.2 ViperAFK on 17 Nov 2008 - 18:08
I'm talking about using NDIS pluginwrapper which works fine for sites like youtube but it can be buggy and slow.

The only other alternative for linux is to go out of your way to get the 32 bit libs and install the 32 bit firefox and flash and such.

(idk wtf you are talking about with tiny windows?)
#4 zaidgs on 17 Nov 2008 - 15:35
They are too slow! First of all, thats an alpha, not a release... And how long more would windows users have to wait?! Around this time, they should have already made releases for the most popular OS'es.
(1 reply) #5 vetmarkjensen on 17 Nov 2008 - 15:37
Why aren't the Windows and Mac 64-bit alpha versions available on Adobe Labs?

Easy! Because we Linux users are already used to being guinea pigs!
#5.1 rajputwarrior on 17 Nov 2008 - 16:14
its okay, no 64 bit linux alone was reason enough not to use a 64 bit build of linux as a desktop OS
(2 replies) #6 Yggdrasil on 17 Nov 2008 - 17:22
Is Flash available for Vista 64bit yet?
#6.1 +TCLN Ryster on 17 Nov 2008 - 18:14
Yggdrasil said,
Is Flash available for Vista 64bit yet?

Did you even read the article and the subsequent comments?
#6.2 Raa on 17 Nov 2008 - 22:52
Yeah, I wish they'd hurry up. Geez. What's this Linux priority stuff?
#7 excalpius on 17 Nov 2008 - 22:56
Congrats Linux, you've now got ads... 8P
(1 reply) #8 on 01 Jan 1970 - 00:00
#8.1 bluarash on 19 Nov 2008 - 18:45
Ha ha ha... ha ha ha!

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