Adobe, Intel Will Team to Extend Flash to TVs

Adobe and Intel announced plans on Jan. 5 to work together to extend the Flash platform to TVs and other devices.

The two companies said they plan to work together to port and optimize Adobe's Flash technology for the Intel Media Processor CE 3100. The goal is to provide consumers with richer and more seamless Web-based and video viewing experiences through advanced Intel-based cable set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, digital TVs and retail connected AV devices, the companies said.

Intel and Adobe have a long history of technical collaboration, including being founding members of the Open Screen Project, announced by Adobe in May 2008. The Open Screen Project is designed to enable a consistent run-time environment across screens. The initiative has 20 major industry partners and is dedicated to enabling Web content, stand-alone applications and full Web browsing across televisions, set-top boxes, mobile devices and other consumer electronics that take advantage of Adobe's AIR (Adobe Integrated Runtime) and Adobe Flash capabilities, Adobe officials said.

Click here to read more about Adobe AIR and its competitors.

"The Open Screen Project is striving to remove barriers for developers and designers as they look to publish content and applications across desktops and devices," said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president of the Platform Business Unit at Adobe. "The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 provides a powerful platform capable of delivering outstanding Flash experiences to millions of homes as a new generation of televisions and set-top boxes makes its way into the living room."

Moreover, Intel and Adobe are working together to optimize both the Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Flash Lite for the CE 3100. Intel plans to ship the first CE 3100 with support for an optimized implementation of Adobe Flash Lite before mid-2009.

"The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is a highly integrated solution that provides a powerful, yet flexible technology foundation that will bring to life the high-definition capabilities of Adobe Flash," William Leszinske Jr., general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group, said in a statement. "Our effort with Adobe is poised to accelerate a rich, yet relevant Internet experience on the TV that will provide consumers with access to a growing number of Flash-based applications that will ultimately be enjoyed across a number of screens seamlessly, from the laptop to a MID [mobile Internet device] and now the TV."

The company also said in a news release, "Adobe and Intel are also working together to bring an optimized implementation of Adobe AIR technology to Intel's digital home platform in the future."