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==History== ===FutureWave=== The precursor to Flash was SmartSketch, a product published by [[FutureWave Software]] in 1993. The company was founded by [[Charlie Jackson (software)|Charlie Jackson]], [[Jonathan Gay]], and Michelle Welsh.<ref name="hs">[http://www.coldhardflash.com/2008/02/grandmasters-of-flash-an-interview-with-the-creators-of-flash.html Grandmasters of Flash: An Interview with the Creators of Flash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070139/http://www.coldhardflash.com/2008/02/grandmasters-of-flash-an-interview-with-the-creators-of-flash.html |date=March 23, 2019 }}, Cold Hard Flash</ref><ref name="mfb">[http://digital-archaeology.org/flash-back/ MACROMEDIA FLASH BACK] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323070139/http://digital-archaeology.org/flash-back/ |date=March 23, 2019 }}, Digital Archaeology</ref><ref name="bh1">[https://books.google.com/books?id=tnckAQAAMAAJ PC Graphics & Video, Volume 6, Issues 1–6], Advanstar Communications, 1997</ref><ref name="bh2">[https://books.google.com/books?id=Tn8qAQAAMAAJ Personal Computer Magazine], PC Communications Corporation, 1995</ref> SmartSketch was a vector drawing application for pen computers running the [[PenPoint OS]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flashmagazine.com/413.htm |title=The Flash History |access-date=June 18, 2001 |last=Waldron |first=Rick |date=August 27, 2006 |work=Flashmagazine |archive-date=August 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820035359/http://www.flashmagazine.com/413.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gay |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Gay |title=The History of Flash |publisher=Adobe Systems Inc. |year=2001 |url=https://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page02.html |access-date=October 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204162951/http://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page02.html |archive-date=February 4, 2009 }}</ref> When PenPoint failed in the marketplace, SmartSketch was ported to [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]].<ref name="mfb"/><ref name="Back to Graphics">[https://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page03.html The History of Flash: Back to Graphics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101204138/https://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page03.html |date=January 1, 2015 }}</ref> As the Internet became more popular, FutureWave realized the potential for a vector-based web animation tool that might challenge [[Macromedia]] [[Adobe Shockwave|Shockwave]] technology.<ref name="hs"/><ref name="mfb"/> In 1995, FutureWave modified SmartSketch by adding frame-by-frame animation features and released this new product as FutureSplash Animator on Macintosh and PC.<ref name="hs"/><ref name="mfb"/><ref name="The Dawn of Web Animation">[https://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page04.html The History of Flash: The Dawn of Web Animation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125045402/http://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page04.html |date=January 25, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://coldhardflash.com/2008/02/grandmasters-of-flash-an-interview-with-the-creators-of-flash.html | title=Grandmasters of Flash: An Interview with the Creators of Flash | access-date=February 12, 2008 | publisher=ColdHardFlash.com | archive-date=October 18, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018030652/http://www.coldhardflash.com/2008/02/grandmasters-of-flash-an-interview-with-the-creators-of-flash.html | url-status=live }}</ref> FutureWave approached [[Adobe Systems]] with an offer to sell them FutureSplash in 1995, but Adobe turned down the offer at that time.<ref name="mfb"/>{{Failed verification|date=December 2023}} Microsoft wanted to create an "online TV network" ([[MSN Dial-up#MSN 2.0|MSN 2.0]]) and adopted FutureSplash animated content as a central part of it.<ref name="mfb"/> [[Disney Online]] used FutureSplash animations for their subscription-based service Disney's Daily Blast.<ref name="hs"/><ref name="mfb"/> [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] launched [[The Simpsons]] using FutureSplash.<ref name="mfb"/> ===Macromedia=== In December 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page04.html |title=Macromedia - Showcase: History of Flash |publisher=[[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]] |access-date=2024-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717071243/http://www.adobe.com/macromedia/events/john_gay/page04.html |archive-date=Jul 17, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> FutureSplash was acquired by Macromedia, and Macromedia re-branded and released ''FutureSplash Animator'' as ''Macromedia Flash 1.0''. Flash was a two-part system, a graphics and animation editor known as Macromedia Flash, and a player known as Macromedia Flash Player.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Coale |first1=Kristi |title=Macromedia Rides the FutureWave |url=https://www.wired.com/1997/01/macromedia-rides-the-futurewave/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=29 March 2022 |archive-date=December 31, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231084809/http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/1997/01/1317 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''FutureSplash Animator'' was an animation tool originally developed for pen-based computing devices. Due to the small size of the ''FutureSplash Viewer'', it was particularly suited for download on the Web. Macromedia distributed Flash Player as a free browser [[Plug-in (computing)|plugin]] in order to quickly gain market share. By 2005, more computers worldwide had Flash Player installed than any other Web media format, including [[Java (software platform)|Java]], [[QuickTime]], [[RealNetworks]], and [[Windows Media Player]].<ref name="flash2005">{{cite news|url=http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39211831,00.htm |title=Flash Player in 2005 |work=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=2008-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070516090612/http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0%2C1000000097%2C39211831%2C00.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Macromedia upgraded the Flash system between 1996 and 1999 adding MovieClips, Actions (the precursor to ActionScript), Alpha transparency, and other features. As Flash matured, Macromedia's focus shifted from marketing it as a graphics and media tool to promoting it as a [[Web application]] platform, adding scripting and data access capabilities to the player while attempting to retain its small footprint.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 2000, the first major version of ActionScript was developed, and released with ''Flash 5''. Actionscript 2.0 was released with ''Flash MX 2004'' and supported [[object-oriented programming]], improved UI components and other programming features. The last version of Flash released by Macromedia was ''Flash 8'', which focused on graphical upgrades such as filters (blur, drop shadow, etc.), blend modes (similar to [[Adobe Photoshop]]), and advanced features for [[Flash Video|FLV video]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" | Release ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Icon ! scope="col" | Description |- !scope="row" | FutureSplash Animator | 1996 | rowspan=2 | [[File:Future_Splash_Animator_icon.png|64x64px]] | Initial version of Flash released in May 1996 with basic editing tools and a timeline.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About FutureSplash Animator|url=http://www.futurewave.com/aboutanimator.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961105022426/http://www.futurewave.com/aboutanimator.htm|archive-date=5 November 1996|access-date=25 March 2021|website=FutureWave software}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=FutureSplash Animator|url=https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/macromedia-flash/futuresplash-animator|access-date=2021-03-26|website=www.webdesignmuseum.org|language=en|archive-date=August 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827091247/https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/macromedia-flash/futuresplash-animator|url-status=live}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 1 | 1996 | A re-branded version of the FutureSplash Animator, released on December 18, 1996, under the name Macromedia Flash 1.0. The name "Flash" was created by blending the words Future and Splash.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macromedia Announces Flash -- The Easiest Way to Create Small and Fast Shockwave Multimedia|url=http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1997/flashacq.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990209012951/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1997/flashacq.html|archive-date=9 February 1999|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 2 | 1997 | rowspan=4 | [[File:Macromedia Flash 2-5 icon.png|64x64px]] |Released with Flash Player 2 on May 18, 1997,<ref name="macromedia-brings-flash">[https://web.archive.org/web/19980613005908/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1997/flash2rel.html Macromedia Brings Flash to the Web], Macromedia. 1997-05-08. Archived 1998-06-13. Retrieved January 18, 2025.</ref> new features include synchronized [[WAV]] and [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]] sound support, enhanced bitmap editing, Macromedia [[Macromedia FreeHand|FreeHand]] integration, [[TrueType]] and [[PostScript]] fonts support, color transformations, auto-trace and the object [[Library (computer science)|library]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=1997-04-12|title=Flash 2 New Features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970412150516/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/|archive-date=1997-04-12|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Macromedia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-02-04|title=Macromedia Press Room - Press Releases|url=http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1997/flash2preview.html|access-date=2021-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990204052456/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1997/flash2preview.html|archive-date=1999-02-04}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 3 |1998 |Released with Flash Player 3 on May 12, 1998,<ref name="macromedia-ships-flash3">[https://web.archive.org/web/19991009150755/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1998/flash3ships.html Macromedia Ships Flash 3], Macromedia. 1998-05-12. Archived 1999-10-09. Retrieved January 18, 2025.</ref> new features include shape tweening, the movie clip element, [[JavaScript]] plug-in integration, [[PNG format|PNG]] support, sprite animation, vector & bitmap transparency, bandwidth profiling and an external stand-alone player.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash 3 features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980612225158/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|archive-date=12 June 1998|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 4 |1999 |Released with Flash Player 4 on June 15, 1999,<ref name="macromedia-ships-flash4">[https://web.archive.org/web/19991018222540/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/1999/flash4_ships.html Macromedia ships Flash 4], Macromedia. 1999-06-15. Archived 1999-10-18. Retrieved January 19, 2025.</ref> new features include a redesigned user interface, internal [[Variable (programming)|variables]], an input field, improved timeline (smart guides, outline color mode), advanced ActionScript, publish settings panel and [[MP3]] audio [[Streaming media|streaming]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash 4 features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991001153028/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|archive-date=1 October 1999|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 5 |2000 |Released with Flash Player 5 on August 24, 2000,<ref name="macromedia-flash5-ships">[https://web.archive.org/web/20001007193555/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/2000/index_flash5ship.fhtml Macromedia Flash 5 ships], Macromedia. 2000-08-24. Archived 2000-10-07. Retrieved January 19, 2025.</ref> new features include pen and sub-selection tools, [[ActionScript|ActionScript 1.0]] (based on [[ECMAScript]], making it very similar to JavaScript in syntax), [[XML]] support, Smartclips (the precursor to components in Flash), [[HTML]] text formatting added for dynamic text.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macromedia Flash 5: New Features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/newfeatures/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223184528/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/newfeatures/|archive-date=23 February 2001|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash MX (6) |2002 | rowspan=2 | [[File:Macromedia_Flash_6_icon.png|64x64px]] |Released with Flash Player 6 on March 15, 2002,<ref name="macromedia-ships-flashmx">[https://web.archive.org/web/20020321092033/http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/proom/pr/2002/flash_mx_ships.html Macromedia ships Macromedia Flash MX], Macromedia. 2002-03-15. Archived 2002-05-21. Retrieved January 19, 2025.</ref> new features include a context-sensitive properties panel, timeline folders, improved color mixer, a video [[codec]] (Sorenson Spark), [[Unicode]], v1 [[Widget engine|UI Components]], [[Data compression|compression]], [[ActionScript]] vector drawing API.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macromedia Flash MX: Top 10 New Features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/newfeatures/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021201125251/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/newfeatures/|archive-date=1 December 2002|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref> |-id="Flash MX 2004" !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash MX 2004 (7) |2003 |Released with Flash Player 7 on September 10, 2003{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}, new features include screens (forms for non-linear state-based development and slides for organizing content in a linear slide format like [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]]), small font size rendering, timeline effects, updated templates, high-fidelity import and video import wizard.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Macromedia Flash MX 2004|url=https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/macromedia-flash/macromedia-flash-mx-2004|access-date=2021-03-26|website=www.webdesignmuseum.org|language=en|archive-date=August 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827004416/https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/macromedia-flash/macromedia-flash-mx-2004|url-status=live}}</ref> [[ActionScript]] 2.0 was released with this version, enabling [[object-oriented programming]] but lacking the easier "Script assist" method of writing code. JavaScript for Flash (JSFL) allowed users to write scripts to automate tasks within the Flash editor. New programming features included: [[web service]]s integration, MP3/FLV media playback components, [[XML]] data service components, data binding APIs, the Project Panel, V2 UI components, and Transition libraries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Take a tour of the Flash MX 2004 and Flash MX Professional 2004 features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803012857/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/productinfo/features/|archive-date=3 August 2004|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Macromedia Flash 8 |2005 |[[File:Macromedia_Flash_8_icon.png|64x64px]] |Released with Flash Player 8 on September 13, 2005{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}}, new features include graphical filters (blur, [[drop shadow]], glow, etc.) and [[blend mode]]s, easing control for animation, enhanced stroke properties (caps and joins), object-based drawing mode, run-time bitmap caching, [[Saffron Type System|FlashType advanced anti-aliasing]] for text, [[On2 Technologies|On2]] VP6 advanced video codec, support for alpha transparency in video, a stand-alone encoder and advanced video importer, cue point support in FLV files, an advanced video playback component, and an interactive mobile device emulator.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash 8 features|url=http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/flashpro/productinfo/features/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051214113931/http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/flashpro/productinfo/features/|archive-date=14 December 2005|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Macromedia}}</ref> Macromedia Flash Basic 8, a "lite" version of the Flash authoring tool targeted to new users who only wanted to do a basic drawing, animation, and interactivity. The Basic product was eventually stopped and replaced by a discounted educational version of Flash CS3 Professional.<ref name="adobe-flashcs3pro-education">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070407194224/http://www.adobe.com/education/products/flash/ Adobe Flash CS3 Professional for education], Adobe Systems. Archived 2007-04-07. Retrieved January 20, 2025.</ref> Macromedia Flash 8 was one of the most used and popular versions of Flash. |} ===Adobe=== On December 3, 2005, Adobe Systems acquired Macromedia<ref>{{Cite news|last=Flynn|first=Laurie J.|date=2005-04-19|title=Adobe Buys Macromedia for $3.4 Billion (Published 2005)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/19/technology/adobe-buys-macromedia-for-34-billion.html|access-date=2021-03-04|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=April 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421051253/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/19/technology/adobe-buys-macromedia-for-34-billion.html|url-status=live}}</ref> alongside its product line which included Flash, [[Adobe Dreamweaver|Dreamweaver]], [[Adobe Director|Director]]/[[Adobe Shockwave|Shockwave]], [[Adobe Fireworks|Fireworks]], and [[Authorware]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-07 |title=Adobe Press Room: For immediate release |url=http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200512/120505AdobeAcquiresMacromedia.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207031046/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200512/120505AdobeAcquiresMacromedia.html |archive-date=2005-12-07 |access-date=2024-01-21 |website=[[Adobe Inc.|Adobe]]}}</ref> In 2007, Adobe's first version release was ''Adobe Flash CS3 Professional'', the ninth major version of Flash. It introduced the ActionScript 3.0 programming language, which supported modern programming practices and enabled business applications to be developed with Flash. [[Adobe Flex Builder]] (built on [[Eclipse (software)|Eclipse]]) targeted the enterprise [[Software development|application development]] market, and was also released the same year. Flex Builder included the Flex SDK, a set of components that included charting, advanced UI, and data services (''Flex Data Services'').{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 2008, Adobe released the tenth version of Flash, ''Adobe Flash CS4''. Flash 10 improved animation capabilities within the Flash editor, adding a motion editor panel (similar to [[Adobe After Effects]]), [[inverse kinematics]] (bones), basic 3D object animation, object-based animation, and other text and graphics features. ''Flash Player 10'' included an in-built 3D engine (without GPU acceleration) that allowed basic object transformations in 3D space (position, rotation, scaling).{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} Also in 2008, Adobe released the first version of Adobe Integrated Runtime (later re-branded as ''Adobe AIR''), a runtime engine that replaced Flash Player, and provided additional capabilities to the ActionScript 3.0 language to build desktop and mobile applications. With AIR, developers could access the file system (the user's files and folders), and connected devices such as a joystick, gamepad, and sensors for the first time.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} In 2011, ''Adobe Flash Player 11'' was released, and with it the first version of [[Stage3D]], allowing GPU-accelerated 3D rendering for Flash applications and games on desktop platforms such as [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[macOS|Mac OS X]].<ref name="Labrecque2011">{{cite book|first =Joseph|last =Labrecque|title=What's New in Flash Player 11|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UGD4zMFnK0QC&pg=PA17|year=2011|publisher=O'Reilly Media, Inc.|isbn=978-1-4493-1110-0|page=17}}</ref> Adobe further improved 3D capabilities from 2011 to 2013, adding support for 3D rendering on Android and iOS platforms, alpha-channels, compressed textures, [[texture atlas]]es, and other features.<ref name="fproadmap">[https://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplatform/whitepapers/roadmap.html Adobe Flash Roadmap] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112221026/http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashplatform/whitepapers/roadmap.html |date=January 12, 2013 }}, Adobe</ref><ref>[http://www.bytearray.org/?p=4516] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707181514/http://www.bytearray.org/?p=4516|date=July 7, 2015}} Introducing Flash Player 11.4/AIR 3.4 beta!, by Thibault Imbert (Adobe employee), ByteArray</ref> Adobe AIR was upgraded to support 64-bit computers, and to allow developers to add additional functionality to the AIR runtime using ''AIR Native Extensions'' (ANE). In May 2014, Adobe announced that Adobe AIR was used in over 100,000 unique applications and had over 1 billion installations logged worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-05-09|title=1 Billion AIR Installations|url=https://forta.com/2014/05/10/1-billion-air-installations/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Ben Forta|language=en-US|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308033139/https://forta.com/2014/05/10/1-billion-air-installations/|url-status=live}}</ref> Adobe AIR was voted the ''Best Mobile Application Development'' product at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] on two consecutive years (CES 2014 and CES 2015).<ref>[http://www.compassintelligence.com/?q=press/compass-intelligence-announces-winners-2014-mobility-awards-wireless-m2m-and-green-technology Compass Intelligence Announces Winners of the 2014 Mobility Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726182523/http://www.compassintelligence.com/?q=press%2Fcompass-intelligence-announces-winners-2014-mobility-awards-wireless-m2m-and-green-technology |date=July 26, 2020 }}, Compass Intelligence</ref><ref>[http://www.compassintelligence.com/?q=press/compass-intelligence-announces-winners-2015-mobility-awards-list-m2m-green-technology-and Compass Intelligence Announces Winners of the 2015 Mobility Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726172135/http://www.compassintelligence.com/?q=press%2Fcompass-intelligence-announces-winners-2015-mobility-awards-list-m2m-green-technology-and |date=July 26, 2020 }}, Compass Intelligence</ref> In 2016, Adobe renamed Flash Professional, the primary authoring software for Flash content, to [[Adobe Animate]] to reflect its growing use for authoring HTML5 content in favor of Flash content.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/12/adobe-flash-is-dead-in-name-only/|title=Sadly, Adobe Flash Isn't Dead. It Just Changed Its Name|last=Barrett|first=Brian|magazine=WIRED|access-date=2017-06-22|language=en-US|archive-date=June 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611045328/https://www.wired.com/2015/12/adobe-flash-is-dead-in-name-only/|url-status=live}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! scope="col" | Release ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Icon ! scope="col" | Description |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CS3 (9) |2007 |[[File:Adobe_Flash_Professional_CS3_icon.png|64x64px]] |Flash CS3 is the first version of Flash released under the Adobe brand name, and features improved integration with [[Adobe Photoshop]], enhanced [[QuickTime]] video export, filter and motion tween copy-paste support, improved vector drawing tools becoming more like [[Adobe Illustrator]] and [[Adobe Fireworks]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adobe Flash CS3 Professional User Guide|url=https://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/flash/cs3/flash_cs3_help.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926202427/http://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/flash/cs3/flash_cs3_help.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-26|access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref> [[ActionScript|ActionScript 3.0]] was released with this version, along with ActionScript Virtual Machine 2.0 (AVM2) for [[Program optimization|faster code execution]] and [[Garbage collection (computer science)|garbage collection]]<ref>[http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/first_as3_application.html Migrating from ActionScript 2 to ActionScript 3: Key concepts and changes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117095903/https://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/first_as3_application.html |date=January 17, 2019 }}, Adobe Developer Connection</ref> New programming features included: [[Strong and weak typing|strongly typed variables]] with type safety, runtime errors, improved events, display list instead of "depth" system, and many new classes (Socket, ByteArray, Loader, RegExp, etc.).<ref>[http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/first_as3_application.html ActionScript 3.0 overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117095903/https://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/first_as3_application.html |date=January 17, 2019 }}, Adobe Developer Connection</ref> AS3 allowed entire applications to be written in code, without needing the Flash timeline. |-id="Flash CS4" !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CS4 (10) |2008 |[[File:Adobe_Flash_Professional_CS4_icon.png|64x64px]] |Flash CS4, released on September 23, 2008, introduces a new object-based motion-tween, renaming the former frame-based version as classic tween. Additions include basic [[Three-dimensional space|3D]] object manipulation, [[inverse kinematics]] (bones), a vertical properties panel, the Deco and Spray brush tools, motion presets and further expansions to [[ActionScript|ActionScript 3.0]] (Vector arrays). CS4 allows the developer to create animations with many features absent in prior versions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Using Adobe Flash CS4 Professional|url=https://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/flash/cs4/flash_cs4_help.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926210624/http://help.adobe.com/archive/en_US/flash/cs4/flash_cs4_help.pdf|archive-date=26 Sep 2015|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Adobe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Adobe Flash CS4 Professional - Top new features|url=http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/?view=topnew|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205045018/http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/features/?view=topnew|archive-date=5 December 2008|access-date=27 March 2021|website=Adobe Systems}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CS5 (11) |2010 |rowspan=2|[[File:Adobe_Flash_Professional_CS5_icon.png|64x64px]] |Flash CS5 was released on April 12, 2010, and launched for purchase on April 30, 2010. Flash CS5 Professional includes support for publishing [[iPhone]] applications.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcs5/appsfor_iphone/ | title=Adobe Labs — Adobe Flash Professional CS5: Applications for iPhone | access-date=2010-03-02 | publisher=Adobe | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100313063622/http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashcs5/appsfor_iphone/ | archive-date=13 March 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> However, on April 8, 2010, Apple changed the terms of its Developer License to effectively ban the use of the Flash-to-iPhone compiler<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chen|first=Brian X.|title=Adobe Apps: easier to pass through the 'i' of a needle?|url=https://www.wired.com/2010/04/iphone-developer-policy|website=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|date=April 8, 2010|access-date=January 11, 2024|archive-date=December 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227015727/https://www.wired.com/2010/04/iphone-developer-policy/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kincaid|first=Jason|title=Apple gives Adobe the finger with its new iPhone SDK agreement|url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/08/adobe-flash-apple-sdk/|website=[[TechCrunch]]|date=April 8, 2010|access-date=January 11, 2024|archive-date=January 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111234632/https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/08/adobe-flash-apple-sdk/|url-status=live}}</ref> and on April 20, 2010, Adobe announced that they will be making no additional investments in targeting the iPhone and iPad in Flash CS5.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Chen |first1=Brian X. |title=Adobe Gives Up on Flash for iPhone, iPad |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/04/adobe-flash-iphone/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=11 January 2024 |date=April 21, 2010 |archive-date=January 11, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111234632/https://www.wired.com/2010/04/adobe-flash-iphone/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other features of Flash CS5 are a new text engine (TLF), new document templates, further improvement to [[inverse kinematics]], new Deco tool effects, live FLV playback preview, and the code snippets panel.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Using Adobe Flash Professional CS5 & CS5.5|url=http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flash/cs/using/flash_cs5_help.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514232108/http://help.adobe.com/en_US/flash/cs/using/flash_cs5_help.pdf|archive-date=14 May 2012|access-date=25 March 2021|website=Adobe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Adobe Flash Professional CS5|url=http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412171552/http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/|archive-date=12 April 2010|access-date=27 March 2021|website=Adobe Systems}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CS5.5 (11.5) |2011 |Flash Professional CS5.5 was released in 2011. It includes improved support for publishing [[iPhone]] applications, following Apple's revision of their iOS developer terms.<ref>Apple Inc. modified terms & conditions for developers in the app store. Adobe is developing again for iPhone and iPad CS5</ref> Flash CS5.5 also contains several features to improve mobile app workflows across devices. Some examples are content scaling and stage resizing, copy and paste layers, sharing symbols across FLA files, symbol rasterization, incremental compilation, auto-save and file recovery, and integration with CS Live online services.<ref name=":2" /> |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CS6 (12) |2012 |[[File:Adobe Flash Professional CS6 icon.png|64x64px]] |Adobe Flash Professional CS6 was released in 2012. It includes support for publishing files as [[HTML5]] and generating sprite sheets.<ref>{{cite web|title=What's new in Flash Professional CS6|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-cs6.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114065858/https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-cs6.html|archive-date=2012-11-14|access-date=27 March 2021|publisher=Adobe}}</ref> This is the last 32-bit version and last perpetually licensed version. |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CC (13) |2013 |rowspan=4|[[File:Adobe_Flash_Professional_icon.png|64x64px]] |Flash Professional CC was released in June 2013, as part of Adobe's [[Creative Cloud]] rebrand. Changes include a native 64-bit scene rendering engine, HiDPI user interface with Dark/Light themes, unlimited pasteboard size, live preview in shapes, fills and strokes, new distribute to keyframes option, full-screen mode, center stage button, multiple selection support for layer properties, guides, masks, etc. Minor performance improvements and bug fixes, and the removal of legacy features such as [[ActionScript|ActionScript 2]] support, as well as the removal of the bone tool, deco tool and spray brush tools. As part of the Creative Cloud suite, Flash CC offered users the ability to synchronize settings and save files online.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash Professional CC - New features summary 2013|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-flash-professional-cc.html|website=Adobe|access-date=December 2, 2023|archive-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929115608/https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-flash-professional-cc.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CC 2014 (14) |2014 |Flash Professional CC (2014) was released on June 18, 2014. It includes variable-width strokes, [[Scalable Vector Graphics|SVG]] export, and [[WebGL]] publishing for animations, as well as a redesigned Motion Editor.<ref name="flashfeatures"/> |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CC 2014 (14.1) |2014 |Flash Professional CC (2014.1) was released on October 6, 2014, featuring expanded WebGL publishing abilities, brush custom settings (angle, flatness), and the ability to import external [[SWF]]s.<ref name="flashfeatures">[https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-2014.html Adobe Flash New features summary 2014] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108113640/https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new-2014.html |date=January 8, 2021 }}, Adobe</ref> Also, a new [[software development kit]] (SDK) enabling extensibility for custom platforms without depending on the Flash runtime, to reach more viewers. |- !scope="row" | Adobe Flash Professional CC 2015 (15) |2015 |Flash Professional CC (2015) was released on June 15, 2015, with the return of the bone animation tool ([[inverse kinematics]]), import H.264 videos with audio, export bitmaps as [[spritesheet]] for HTML5 Canvas, brush scaling with stage zoom, universal document type converter, improved audio workflows, improved Motion Editor, panel locking, faster saving of FLA files, auto-recovery optimizations, organize imported GIFs in a library, library search by linkage name, invert selection, paste and overwrite frames. Programming features include code snippet support for [[WebGL]], improved Custom Platform Support SDK, latest [[Adobe Flash Player|Flash Player]] (version 17.0), [[Adobe AIR|AIR SDK]] (version 17.0) and CreateJS libraries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Flash Professional CC 2015 - New features summary|url=https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628230138/https://helpx.adobe.com/flash/using/whats-new.html|archive-date=June 28, 2015|access-date=June 20, 2020|website=Adobe}}</ref> |} === Open Source === Adobe has taken steps to reduce or eliminate Flash licensing costs. For instance, the [[SWF]] file format documentation is provided free of charge<ref>[https://www.adobe.com/devnet/swf.html SWF Technology Center | Adobe Developer Connection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822131849/http://www.adobe.com/devnet/swf.html|date=August 22, 2014}}. Adobe.com (July 14, 2009). Retrieved on March 11, 2011.</ref> after they relaxed the requirement of accepting a [[non-disclosure agreement]] to view it in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adobe Open Screen Project|website=[[ZDNet]]|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-open-screen-project/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811085142/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/stewart/adobe-open-screen-project/828|archive-date=August 11, 2011|access-date=March 21, 2012|quote=Starting today, there will be no restrictions on the use of the SWF specification or the FLV and F4V specifications that make up video in Flash. Formerly, to look at the SWF specification users had to sign a licensing agreement not to use it to create competing players}}</ref> Adobe also created the Open Screen Project which removes licensing fees and opens data protocols for Flash. Adobe has also open-sourced many components relating to Flash. * In 2006, the [[ActionScript Virtual Machine 2]] (AVM2) which implements [[ActionScript 3]] was donated as open-source to [[Mozilla Foundation]], to begin work on the [[Tamarin (software)|Tamarin]] virtual machine that would implement the [[ECMAScript 4]] language standard with the help of the [[Mozilla]] community.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 7, 2006|title=Adobe and Mozilla Foundation to Open Source Flash Player Scripting Engine|url=http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/press/mozilla-2006-11-07.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021012819/http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/press/mozilla-2006-11-07.html|archive-date=October 21, 2010|access-date=September 3, 2010|work=Mozilla Foundation Press Center|location=San Francisco}}</ref> It was released under the terms of a [[Mozilla Public License|MPL]]/[[GPL]]/[[LGPL]] [[tri-license]] and includes the specification for the ActionScript [[bytecode]] format; [[Tamarin Project]] jointly managed by Mozilla and Adobe Systems<ref>[https://www.mozilla.org/projects/tamarin/ Tamarin Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210002959/http://www.mozilla.org/projects/tamarin/|date=February 10, 2007}}. Mozilla.org (October 5, 2010). Retrieved on March 11, 2011.</ref> It is now considered obsolete by Mozilla. * In 2011, the [[Apache Flex|Adobe Flex Framework]] was donated as open-source to the [[Apache Software Foundation]] and rebranded as Apache Flex.<ref name="Adobe donates Flex to Apache">{{cite web|title=Adobe donates Flex to Apache|url=http://www.techworld.com.au/article/407714/adobe_donates_flex_apache|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118101841/http://www.techworld.com.au/article/407714/adobe_donates_flex_apache/|archive-date=November 18, 2011|access-date=November 17, 2011|website=[[Techworld]]}}</ref> Some saw this move as Adobe abandoning Flex, and stepping away from the Flash Platform as a whole.<ref name="thereg1">{{cite web|first=Tim|last=Anderson|date=November 15, 2015|title=Adobe Flex SDK bombshell STUNS developers|website=[[The Register]]|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/15/adobe_donates_flex_sdk_to_open_source/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810172248/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/15/adobe_donates_flex_sdk_to_open_source/|archive-date=August 10, 2017|access-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref><ref name="pcworld1">{{cite web|author=Joab Jackson, IDG News Service|date=November 16, 2011|title=Adobe Donates Flex to Apache|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/244060/adobe_donates_flex_to_apache.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118220544/http://www.pcworld.com/article/244060/adobe_donates_flex_to_apache.html|archive-date=November 18, 2012|access-date=October 10, 2015|publisher=[[PCWorld]]}}</ref> Sources from Apache say that "Enterprise application development is no longer a focus at Adobe. At least as Flash is concerned, Adobe is concentrating on games and video.",<ref name="thereg1" /><ref name="printui1">[http://printui.com/blog/2013/01/flex-flash/ Flex != Flash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110220042/http://printui.com/blog/2013/01/flex-flash/|date=January 10, 2016}}, PrintUI, January 27, 2013</ref> and they conclude that "Flex Innovation is Exploding!".<ref name="printui1" /> The donated source code included a partly developed AS3 compiler (dubbed "Falcon") and the [[BlazeDS]] set of technologies.<ref name="pcworld1" /><ref name="printui1" /> * In 2013, the [[CrossBridge]] C++ [[cross-compilation]] toolset was open sourced by Adobe and released on [[GitHub]].<ref name="labsblog4">[http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2013/06/open-source-flash-c-compiler-crossbridge.html Open Source Flash C++ Compiler, CrossBridge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325084106/http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2013/06/open-source-flash-c-compiler-crossbridge.html|date=March 25, 2014}}, Adobe Blogs, June 25, 2013</ref><ref>[https://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/ CrossBridge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190506/http://adobe-flash.github.io/crossbridge/|date=September 20, 2017}}, Adobe Gaming GitHub Website</ref> The project was formerly termed "Alchemy" and "Flash Runtime C++ Compiler", and targeted the game development market to enable C++ video games to run in Adobe Flash Player.<ref>[https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM5NjA Adobe Open-Sources Flash C/C++ Compiler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206072221/https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM5NjA|date=February 6, 2017}}, Phoronix, Michael Larabel, June 26, 2013</ref> Adobe has not been willing to make complete source code of the Flash Player available for [[free software]] development and even though [[free and open source]] alternatives such as [[Shumway (software)|Shumway]] and [[Gnash (software)|Gnash]] have been built, they are no longer under active development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gnash Reference Manual|url=https://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/manual/gnashref.html#runs-on|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125173326/http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/manual/gnashref.html#runs-on|archive-date=November 25, 2011|access-date=November 12, 2011|website=gnu.org}}</ref> ====Open Screen Project==== On May 1, 2008, Adobe announced the ''Open Screen Project'', with the intent of providing a consistent application interface across devices such as personal computers, [[mobile device]]s, and [[consumer electronics]].<ref name="osppr">{{cite web|title=Adobe and Industry Leaders Establish Open Screen Project|url=https://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200805/050108AdobeOSP.html|access-date=February 20, 2009|date=May 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210215745/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200805/050108AdobeOSP.html|archive-date=February 10, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> When the project was announced, seven goals were outlined: the abolition of licensing fees for Adobe Flash Player and [[Adobe AIR]], the removal of restrictions on the use of the [[Adobe Shockwave|Shockwave]] Flash ([[SWF]]) and Flash Video (FLV) [[file format]]s, the publishing of [[API|application programming interfaces]] for porting Flash to new devices, and the publishing of The Flash Cast protocol and Action Message Format (AMF), which let Flash applications receive information from remote databases.<ref name="osppr"/> {{As of|February 2009}}, the specifications removing the restrictions on the use of SWF and FLV/F4V specs have been published.<ref name="interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.uiresourcecenter.com/rich-internet-applications/articles/inside-the-open-screen-project.html?s=2_1 |title=Inside the Open Screen Project |first=Anup| last=Murarka|access-date=February 21, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090210122744/http://uiresourcecenter.com/rich-internet-applications/articles/inside-the-open-screen-project.html?s=2_1| archive-date= February 10, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> The Flash Cast protocol—now known as the Mobile Content Delivery Protocol—and AMF protocols have also been made available,<ref name="interview"/> with AMF available as an open source implementation, [[BlazeDS]]. The list of mobile device providers who have joined the project includes [[Palm, Inc.|Palm]], Motorola, and Nokia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.openscreenproject.org/partners/current_partners.html| title=Open Screen Project partners|access-date=February 20, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090224150104/http://www.openscreenproject.org/partners/current_partners.html| archive-date= February 24, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> who, together with Adobe, have announced a $10 million Open Screen Project fund.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adobe and Nokia Announce $10 Million Open Screen Project Fund|url=https://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200902/021609AdobeNokia.html|date=February 16, 2009|access-date=February 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219070548/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200902/021609AdobeNokia.html|archive-date=February 19, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ===End of life=== {{See also|Adobe Flash Player#End of life}} One of Flash's primary uses on the Internet when it was first released was for building fully immersive, interactive websites. These were typically highly creative site designs that provided more flexibility over what the current HTML standards could provide as well as operate over dial-up connections.<ref name="bbc eol">{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55497353 | title = Adobe Flash Player is finally laid to rest | first = Chris | last = Fox | date = December 31, 2020 | access-date = December 31, 2020 | work = [[BBC News]] | archive-date = January 1, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210101004325/https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55497353 | url-status = live }}</ref> However, these sites limited accessibility by "breaking the [[Back button (hypertext)|Back Button]]", dumping visitors out of the Flash experience entirely by returning them to whatever page they had been on prior to first arriving at the site. Fully Flash-run sites fell out of favor for more strategic use of Flash plugins for video and other interactive features among standard HTML conventions, corresponding with the availability of HTML features like [[CSS|cascading style-sheets]] in the mid-00's.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/flash-is-responsible-for-the-internets-most-creative-era/ | title = Flash Is Responsible for the Internet's Most Creative Era | first = Ernie | last = Smith | date = October 9, 2019 | access-date = November 24, 2020 | work = [[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] | archive-date = December 4, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201204160228/https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3awk7/flash-is-responsible-for-the-internets-most-creative-era | url-status = live }}</ref> At the same time, this also led to Flash being used for new apps, including video games and animations.<ref name="gamasutra death">{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/374253/The_forgotten_Flash_Website_movement_when_websites_were_the_new_emerging_artform.php | title = The forgotten Flash Website movement (when websites were 'the new emerging artform') | first = Nathalie | last = Lawhead | date = November 24, 2020 | access-date = November 24, 2020 | work = [[Gamasutra]] | archive-date = November 24, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201124172810/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/374253/The_forgotten_Flash_Website_movement_when_websites_were_the_new_emerging_artform.php | url-status = dead }}</ref> Precursors to [[YouTube]] featuring user-generated Flash animations and games such as [[Newgrounds]] became popular destinations, further helping to spread the use of Flash.<ref name="bbc eol"/> Toward the end of the millennium, the [[Wireless Application Protocol]] (WAP) was released, corresponding with development of [[Dynamic HTML]]. Fifteen years later, WAP had largely been replaced by full-capability implementations and the [[HTML5]] standard included more support for interactive and [[HTML video|video]] elements. Support for Flash in these mobile browsers was not included. In 2010, [[Apple, Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Steve Jobs]] famously wrote ''[[Thoughts on Flash]]'', an open letter to Adobe criticizing the closed nature of the Flash platform and the inherent security problems with the application to explain why Flash was not supported on [[iOS]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Jennifer |last=Valentino-Devries |title=Highlights: The Journal's Exclusive Interview With Adobe CEO |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/04/29/live-blogging-the-journals-interview-with-adobe-ceo/ |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=June 19, 2017 |archive-date=April 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416135028/https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/04/29/live-blogging-the-journals-interview-with-adobe-ceo/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Charles |last=Arthur |title=Adobe CEO hits back in row with Steve Jobs over Flash on Apple's iPhone |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2010/apr/29/adobe-chief-executive-flash-apple-reply |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref> Adobe created the Adobe AIR environment as a means to appease Apple's concerns, and spent time legally fighting Apple over terms of its App Store to allow AIR to be used on the iOS. While Adobe eventually won, allowing for other third-party development environments to get access to the iOS, Apple's decision to block Flash itself was considered the "death blow" to the Flash application.<ref name="gamasutra death"/> In November 2011, about a year after Jobs' open letter, Adobe announced it would no longer be developing Flash and advised developers to switch to HTML5.<ref name="cnn jobs death blow">{{cite web | url = https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/tech/mobile/flash-steve-jobs/index.html | title = Did Steve Jobs kill Adobe Flash? | first = Doug | last = Gross | date = November 9, 2011 | access-date = February 4, 2021 | work = [[CNN]] | archive-date = January 18, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210118031407/https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/tech/mobile/flash-steve-jobs/index.html | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2011, Adobe ended support for Flash on Android.<ref name="cnn jobs death blow"/> Adobe stated that Flash platform was transitioning to Adobe AIR and [[OpenFL]], a multi-target open-source implementation of the Flash API.<ref name="intro">{{cite web|title=Introducing OpenFL|url=http://www.joshuagranick.com/blog/2013/05/30/introducing-openfl|website=Joshua Granick Blog|date=May 30, 2013|access-date=March 26, 2018|archive-date=October 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002104344/http://www.joshuagranick.com/blog/2013/05/30/introducing-openfl|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, Adobe rebranded Flash Professional, the main Flash authoring environment, as [[Adobe Animate]] to emphasize its expanded support for HTML5 authoring, and stated that it would "encourage content creators to build with new web standards" rather than use Flash.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/1/9827778/stop-using-flash|title=Adobe is telling people to stop using Flash|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=2015-12-01|website=The Verge|access-date=2017-07-25|archive-date=August 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802210340/https://www.theverge.com/2015/12/1/9827778/stop-using-flash|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2017, Adobe [[deprecate]]d Flash, and announced its [[end-of-life (product)|End-Of-Life (EOL)]] at the end of 2020, and will cease support, distribution, and security updates for Flash Player.<ref name="Adobe Flash EOL"/> With Flash's EOL announced, many browsers took steps to gradually restrict Flash content (caution users before launching it, eventually blocking all content without an option to play it). By January 2021, all major browsers were blocking all Flash content unconditionally. Only [[IE11]], niche browser forks, and some browsers built for [[China]] plan to continue support. Furthermore, excluding the China variant of Flash, Flash execution software has a built-in kill switch which prevents it from playing Flash after January 12, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cimpanu|first=Catalin|title=Adobe to block Flash content from running on January 12, 2021|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-to-block-flash-content-from-running-on-january-12-2021/|access-date=2021-02-18|website=ZDNet|language=en|archive-date=January 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121094858/https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-to-block-flash-content-from-running-on-january-12-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2021, Microsoft released an optional update KB4577586 which removes Flash Player from Windows; in July 2021 this update was pushed out as a security update and applied automatically to all remaining systems.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/microsoft-will-remove-adobe-flash-from-windows-10-this-summer/ | title = Goodbye again, Flash—Microsoft makes removal from Windows 10 mandatory | first = Jim | last = Salter | date = May 5, 2021 | accessdate = May 5, 2021 | work = [[Ars Technica]] | archive-date = May 4, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210504232006/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/microsoft-will-remove-adobe-flash-from-windows-10-this-summer/ | url-status = live }}</ref> ====Post EOL support==== {{Main|Adobe Flash Player#Post-EOL support}} Adobe Flash will still be supported in China and worldwide on some specialized enterprise platforms beyond 2020.<ref name=Zhongcheng/> === Content preservation projects === As early as 2014, around the same time that Adobe began encouraging Flash developers to transition their works to HTML5 standards, others began efforts to [[video game preservation|preserve]] existing Flash content through emulation of Flash in open standards. While some Flash applications were utilitarian, several applications had been shown to be experimental art, while others had laid the foundation of [[independent game development|independent video game development]].<ref name="vice preservation"/> An early project was [[Mozilla]]'s [[Shumway (software)|Shumway]], an open source project that attempted to emulate the Flash standard in HTML5, but the project was shuttered as the team found that more developers were switching to HTML5 than seeking to keep their content in Flash, coupled with the difficulties in assuring full compatibility. Google had developed the [[Google Swiffy|Swiffy]] application, released in 2014, to convert Flash applications to HTML5-compatible scripts for viewing on mobile devices, but it was shut down in 2016.<ref name="vice preservation">{{cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/tracing-the-sprawling-roots-of-flash-preservation/ | title = Tracing the Sprawling Roots of Flash Preservation | first = Khee Hoon | last = Chan | date = March 18, 2021 | access-date = March 18, 2021 | work = [[Vice (magazine)|Vice]] | archive-date = August 7, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210807112623/https://www.vice.com/en/article/wx8y5y/tracing-the-sprawling-roots-of-flash-preservation | url-status = live }}</ref> Closer to Flash's EOL date in 2020, there were more concentrated efforts simply to preserve existing Flash applications, including websites, video games, and animations beyond Flash's EOL.<ref name="gamasutra death" /><ref name="BlueMaxima">{{cite web |title=Flashpoint Archive |url=https://flashpointarchive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704174210/https://flashpointarchive.org/ |url-status=live |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |access-date=18 July 2020 |website= |language=en }}</ref><ref name="FGA">{{cite web|title=Flash Game Archive - Preserve Flash Gaming|url=http://www.flashgamearchive.com/|access-date=18 July 2020|website=Flash Game Archive|language=en|archive-date=July 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724231544/http://www.flashgamearchive.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2020, the [[Internet Archive]] integrated [[Ruffle (software)|Ruffle]] within its Emularity system to emulate Flash games and animations without the security holes, opening a new collection for creators and users to save and preserve Flash content.<ref>{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Ian Carlos|date=November 19, 2020|title=The Internet Archive is now preserving Flash games and animations|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578616/internet-archive-preservation-flash-animations-games-adobe|access-date=November 19, 2020|work=[[The Verge]]|archive-date=November 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120014816/https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/19/21578616/internet-archive-preservation-flash-animations-games-adobe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Scott|first=Jason|date=2020-11-22|title=Flash Back! Further Thoughts on Flash at the Internet Archive|url=http://blog.archive.org/2020/11/22/flash-back-further-thoughts-on-flash-at-the-internet-archive/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Internet Archive Blogs|language=en-US}}</ref> By October 2023, the [[Flashpoint Archive]] has collected more than 160,000 Flash applications, excluding those that were commercial products, and offered as a freely available archive for users to download.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bailey|first=Dustin|date=February 1, 2020|title=Every Flash game disappears forever in 2020 – but this project has preserved 38,000 of them|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/flash-games-2020-flashpoint|access-date=February 1, 2020|work=[[PCGamesN]]|archive-date=February 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201160944/https://www.pcgamesn.com/flash-games-2020-flashpoint|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Morton|first=Lauren|date=January 31, 2020|title=Flashpoint launcher is saving Flash games from impending extinction|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/01/31/flashpoint-launcher-is-saving-flash-games-from-impending-extinction/|access-date=February 1, 2020|website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]|archive-date=January 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124113151/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/01/31/flashpoint-launcher-is-saving-flash-games-from-impending-extinction/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kongregate]], one of the larger sites that offered Flash games, has been working with the [[The Strong|Strong Museum of Play]] to preserve its games.<ref name="vice preservation"/>
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