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PCWorld reports that Adobe has decided to start supporting Flash player on Linux again. This seems to entail mostly security updates for now and not many new features. Also, Flash seems to be on the decline. However, it is still likely welcome news for those required to use sites with Flash, and who do not want to use Chrome browser..
Adobe just pulled a major about-face. After axing the NPAPI Flash plugin used by Firefox and other browsers on Linux in 2012, Adobe has decided to begin updating it again and to keep it updated after the previously announced 2017 end-of-life date.
The NPAPI version of Flash for Linux, used by Firefox and other browsers, has been stuck at version 11.2 since 2012. Adobe also axed its Adobe Reader and Adobe AIR software for Linux. Adobe's been providing security updates for Flash since then, but promised it would stop doing so in 2017.
The PPAPI Flash plugin for Linux, which is included with Google Chrome, has been kept up to date with the latest features. But many browsers, such as Firefox, must use the NPAPI plugin instead of the PPAPI plugin
Adobe just had a sudden change of heart and decided to update the NPAPI plugin for Linux. The NPAPI Flash plugin for Linux is about to catapult from version 11.2 to version 23 and will stay current with the other Flash plugins going forward. "We have done this significant change to improve security and provide additional mitigation to the Linux community," reads Adobe's blog post on the subject.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Monday September 26 2016, @11:51PM
I haven't used that buggy crap on *any* machines in years.
It's unstable, riddled with security holes and doesn't provide any functionality that isn't replicated by other, better tools.
Every few months I find myself on a page with a box that says some useless crap about Flash, but it hasn't negatively affected my browsing at all.
I'm not sure why CoolHand even bothered submitting this.
Perhaps the title should be changed to "Adobe Revives Flash for Firefox on Linux, And Not A Fuck Was Given"?
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 3, Informative) by CoolHand on Tuesday September 27 2016, @12:33AM
Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job-Douglas Adams
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday September 27 2016, @01:24AM
I haven't used Flash in a long time. I remember that a couple different stories came out about the demise of Flash, and one of the major players was simply not going to support it any longer.
Since I'm a distro hopper, I simply didn't install Flash on the last couple installations. Yes, there are sites that remind you that you need Adobe Flash to view their content, but I just move on to another site with similar content. I miss Flash less and less.
(Score: 2) by edIII on Tuesday September 27 2016, @02:35AM
You're not missing much. I turn it off everywhere I can and only let it run on YouTube occasionally.
"HTML5 YouTube Everywhere" - It's broken at the moment, but it shows how once anyone opens the door to HTML5 video instead that many refuse to use anything else.
I've made a couple of websites with video, and that is all HTML5 too. That will kill Adobe in the long run since even THEY have HTML5 authoring tools now.
Which makes it more of a legacy supporting activity than anything. The writing is on the wall for Flash, and Adobe knows it.
Continue disregarding Flash :)
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 27 2016, @02:20PM
I don't have Flash installed on either my Winders (work) or several Linux (home) boxen. I haven't found anything on youtube that won't play. You can comfortably abandon Flash and that extension.
(Score: 2) by Pino P on Tuesday September 27 2016, @03:15AM
What's "similar content" to, say, Weebl and Bob? Or to the Flash games on Newgrounds? It's too bad Mozilla Shumway got cancelled.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday September 27 2016, @06:10PM
*groan* You're sounding like my wife, and her flash games.
I had her weaned off of Windows, and she was quite happy on Ubuntu, until Adobe and Canonical repeatedly screwed up her flash games. She purchased the parts, built a new computer, and installed Windows 7 because those silly games were that important to her. Weebl and Bob I know nothing about. Are they really unique?
TBH, I never *really* liked flash anyway. It always seemed an expensive way to package content, of any kind. Living in Outback, Nowhere, with limited bandwidth, I am very much aware that flash eats bandwidth. Similar content delivered by HTML5 uses less bandwidth. And, less CPU resources as well!
(Score: 2) by Pino P on Wednesday September 28 2016, @12:59AM
Homestar Runner and Weebl and Bob are vector animations. There are two ways to present a vector animation: client-side rendering or pre-rendering.
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Tuesday September 27 2016, @04:00AM
But...but...Nevada County Scooper hosts lots of flash ads and click bait.
When life isn't going right, go left.