Where's the Flash support in Opera Mobile 10 for Symbian S60?
Wednesday, 4. November 2009, 14:40:18
Update: Opera Mobile 10 for S60 apparently does not support plugins yet. As it is a beta, this might change in the final version.
If you are wondering whether Opera Mobile 10 for S60 supports Flash or not (and if not, if it will ever support it), the short answer is (as far as I know):
You need the Flash plugin.
No browser supports Flash natively, since Flash is a plugin. This means that as long as a browser supports plugins and a Flash plugin is available for your platform, it should be possible to use the plugin to view Flash content. Some browsers also use a remote server to handle the plugin content, and then passes it on to the browser client in a format suitable for that browser. (Opera Turbo does not transcore plugin content (such as Flash), so that will not get you Flash support either.)
As I understand it, Opera Mobile 10 does (or should) support plugins, but I'm not sure if a Flash plugin is available for S60. If it is, and it doesn't work in Opera, it's probably a bug in either the plugin, or in our plugin support (report bugs in Opera Mobile for S60 in the Symbian forum).
If anyone knows about a Flash plugin for S60, let me know.
So should Opera bundle Flash, if possible? Probably not. We did that on Desktop, and that led to all sorts of problems, such as security flaws in Flash forcing us to release updates to Opera. The Flash plugin is also a pretty large download, and that is a major reason to keep it as a separate download.
And of course, Flash is a closed, proprietary, inaccessible technology which actually puts everyone at risk because it's a single point of failure and therefore a very tempting target for virus and malware authors.
If you are wondering whether Opera Mobile 10 for S60 supports Flash or not (and if not, if it will ever support it), the short answer is (as far as I know):
You need the Flash plugin.
No browser supports Flash natively, since Flash is a plugin. This means that as long as a browser supports plugins and a Flash plugin is available for your platform, it should be possible to use the plugin to view Flash content. Some browsers also use a remote server to handle the plugin content, and then passes it on to the browser client in a format suitable for that browser. (Opera Turbo does not transcore plugin content (such as Flash), so that will not get you Flash support either.)
As I understand it, Opera Mobile 10 does (or should) support plugins, but I'm not sure if a Flash plugin is available for S60. If it is, and it doesn't work in Opera, it's probably a bug in either the plugin, or in our plugin support (report bugs in Opera Mobile for S60 in the Symbian forum).
If anyone knows about a Flash plugin for S60, let me know.
So should Opera bundle Flash, if possible? Probably not. We did that on Desktop, and that led to all sorts of problems, such as security flaws in Flash forcing us to release updates to Opera. The Flash plugin is also a pretty large download, and that is a major reason to keep it as a separate download.
And of course, Flash is a closed, proprietary, inaccessible technology which actually puts everyone at risk because it's a single point of failure and therefore a very tempting target for virus and malware authors.
WIDGETIZE
endless love # 4. November 2009, 14:56
I haven't seen a mobile browser which can support flash on Mobile phones !
Martin Rauscher # 4. November 2009, 14:57
I'll test if flash works...
Serola # 4. November 2009, 15:02
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2009/10/06/adobe-flash-player-10-1-for-mobile-devices-and-smart-phones/
Haavard # 4. November 2009, 15:07
Martin Rauscher # 4. November 2009, 16:26
Originally posted by haavard:
You seem to be right
The flash test page only works with the built in browser...
Charles Schloss # 4. November 2009, 17:14
53north # 4. November 2009, 22:53
Andrey Petrov # 4. November 2009, 23:22
Unfortunately we will not see OGG video (that can be played w/o plugins) on major sites such as Youtube, Rutube or Vimeo for couple more years (if ever they will provide such support until all major browser vendors are agree on something).
So, seems that this is the only way for now. And I hope Opera also stop play politics here and provide goods for the end users.
Some browser vendors even managed so add Silverlight support, all for compatibility with current web and greater user experience.
Summary: video is an important part on the web nowadays, and video on the web is mostly Flash currently, so it should be supported if browser vendor wants to attract new users and not lost current ones.
Disclaimer: as a web designer/developer I'm all against proprietary technologies like Flash and Silverlight, and would never use them in my projects (except video currently).
Charles Schloss # 5. November 2009, 03:46
Originally posted by FataL:
I would also prefer a non plug-in based video code (save the end user a lot of trouble)
Most people don't under stand the difference between a plug-in and a browser (I would say most think it is part of the browser)
Haavard # 5. November 2009, 05:34
Originally posted by FataL:
FataL, I have noticed a pattern where you constantly seem to misrepresent what I'm saying in this blog. This has got nothing to do with playing politics. It has to do with the Flash being a plugin, and that plugin apparently not being available.So the reason for the lack of Flash is not politics, at least not on Opera's part. It is the lack of a cross-browser plugin port by Adobe.
Andrey Petrov # 5. November 2009, 06:58
Also all this perfectly applies to Opera Mobile with Turbo technology...
53north # 5. November 2009, 07:15
Maybe there could be a 'pay for' mini that might address all these problems. €3 or 4 via phone credit would make more sense for good video or high end trix.
=o)
z@h3k # 5. November 2009, 09:00
Haavard # 5. November 2009, 09:26
Originally posted by FataL:
This is about Opera Mobile. You will have to ask the Opera Mini team about Opera Mini. Please stay on-topic.Transcoding video would be extremely expensive. I am not sure how, e.g., Skyfire can afford it. I suspect they can't. But again, this if off-topic.