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Adobe confirms Flash development for Android ends after Ice Cream Sandwich

Following Adobe’s decision to kill development of mobile Flash and willingness to admit HTML5 is the future of content on mobile devices, we’re now starting to find out exactly what this means for Android.

According to Pocket-lint, Adobe has confirmed that a version of Flash is currently in development for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and is slated for release before the end of this year. However, beyond ICS, Adobe has no plans to continue Flash development for Android. Here’s what they had to say:

“Adobe will release one more version of the Flash Player for mobile browsing, which will provide support for Android 4.0, and one more release of the Flash Linux Porting Kit – both expected to be released before the end of this year… After that time, Adobe will continue to provide critical bug fixes and security updates.”

In addition to the continued development of Adobe AIR, the company further explains the future of Flash:

“We are continuing to develop new versions of Flash for PC browsers and mobile and TV app developers. We are also continuing to develop new versions of Flash Professional and Flash Builder tools for developing Flash content… Of course, with the growth and continued improved browser support of HTML5, the role of Flash will change. For the foreseeable future, Flash offers advantages in delivering premium video with content protection, as well as providing a high performance, feature-rich and graphically advanced gaming platform. We are focusing our Flash Player efforts around these areas.”

Either way, it looks like Android’s future (specifically Jelly Bean 5.0 and beyond), like iOS, won’t rely on Flash to provide the full-web experience.

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Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s weekly Logic Pros series and makes music as one half of Toronto-based Makamachine.