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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, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 27 2016, @07:18AM
Years ago, Flash for Windows was on version 11, while Linux Flash was stuck somewhere around version 6. At some point Adobe decided that Linux was becoming big enough to revive Flash on Linux, and we got version 11.
Sure we may get version 23, but then we'll be stuck on that until Flash on Windows reaches version 45 (or Flash finally dies).