eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Verizon Wireless is pushing out a software update to Motorola Droid handsets that will allow customers to download Flash 10.1 through Google’s Android Market application store.
On Aug. 11, Verizon sent out Android Version 2.2, code-named Froyo, to Droid smartphones, but the update didn’t include the necessary compatibility with Flash 10.1. It’s unclear how long it will take for the update, announced Aug. 26, to reach all Droid owners.
Verizon offered few details. Its full statement on the matter, per several media sites, was:
““Verizon Wireless has begun pushing an update today to the DROID by Motorola (introduced November 2009) that will allow customers to download Adobe Flash 10.1 via Android Market. Flash Player 10.1 provides access to millions of sites with rich content including animations, casual games, videos, rich internet applications, audio and much more.”“
Abobe Systems June 17 released Flash 10.1, which it has said extends the Web browsing capabilities of a desktop to smartphones and other devices, allowing device owners to access Flash-based games and Flash content on Websites.
For a look at the Google Nexus One running Android 2.2 and Flash 10.1, click here.
Flash, as Verizon advertisements have pointed out, is one of the advantages of Droid smartphones. While Android-based handsets support Flash, iPhones very notably do not. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made a point of putting down Flash-calling it an outdated technology and a CPU hog-and encouraging Websites, such as that of The Wall Street Journal, to abandon it. Prior to the debut of the iPad, Jobs made a particular effort to bring Website proprietors over to his way of seeing things, and applauded those-such as The New York Times’ site, CNN.com and the official White House site-that chose to forego Flash in favor of what Apple described as “the latest Web standards.”
The Droid, which Verizon launched Nov. 6, 2009, in time for holiday shopping, proved to be an enormous success, going on to sell even more strongly during the first quarter of 2010. On Aug. 12,Verizon brought out the Droid 2, which has been described as a solid follow-up, improving on the Droid where updates were welcome and leaving alone what the Droid already did well enough. With the Droid 2 in production, Motorola has said it will soon discontinue production of the original Droid.