Here’s an interesting video with Robert Scoble talking to Anup Murarka (Dir. Technology and Strategy at Adobe) about Flash on TV (Digital Home). In it they discuss the Flash player and Flash Media Server as a platform for delivering full HD video to TV’s over the internet, combined with of course other content and web applications to create the next generation of home entertainment (or as Robert suggests, the 2010 web). Jump in around 12:20 to hear them start talking about Flash Player 10 on mobile devices.
I think it’s interesting to hear Anup talk about the change in direction for Flash on mobile over the past 12 months or so. When he describes the shift from a mobile-specific player (Flash Lite) to parity with the desktop version, it really sounds like something they should have been doing years ago. However obvious it sounds, devices have had to evolve a lot before this could be started and so I think the timing is definitely right to be on this path now.
The Open Screen Project gives me hope that what we’re seeing demonstrated now on the TV with Flash won’t be the same as Flash on mobile 4 years ago – so much promise but the commercial realities of getting the technology to market was never going to allow it to be a straightforward as was being said. With all of the vendors involved with OSP, the Flash Platform has a greater chance of success than with Adobe trying to shoehorn it into the market through specialized players and the promise of great content.
And while we continue to work in an industry that thrives on the “excitement of what is just around the corner next year”, there’s no doubt to me that there’s certainly some exciting opportunities opening up.
