Adobe Flash Player 10.2 offers improved hardware acceleration for Mac
Adobe has publicly launched Flash Player 10.2 for Mac, Windows and Linux, an update to the Web plugin that introduces full hardware acceleration support for video which, when supported, is said to be up to 34 times more efficient.
Adobe claims that "Stage Video" offers "best-in-class, beautiful video across platforms and browsers." In addition, Flash Player 10.2, which is now available for download, has new features like custom native mouse cursors, multiple monitor full-screen support, Internet Explorer 9 hardware accelerated rendering support and enhanced sub-pixel rendering for superior text readability. Flash Player 10.2 was previously available in beta form.
Hardware acceleration for H.264 content first appeared on Flash Player for Mac with version 10.1, released in August of 2010. But content built for Stage video allows websites to take advantage of full hardware acceleration of all video.
According to Adobe, Stage Video will allow Flash Player to play high quality video while using "dramatically less processing power," offering better performance and longer battery life on mobile devices. Adobe said that its testing has found Stage Video to make Flash playback up to 34 times more efficient.
Put another way, Flash Player using Stage Video can effortlessly play beautiful 1080p HD video with just 1-15% CPU usage on a common Mac or Windows computer -- working across platforms and browsers, it will enable the best video experience for the most people," the company said. "Many millions of additional PCs, from netbooks to desktops, can now become slick HD home theaters on the web."
Even with the addition of Stage Video to Flash Player 10.2, users will likely not see any immediate changes, as websites and content providers must first update video players to support the new feature.
In a very public battle, Apple and Adobe have sparred over Flash, as the Mac and iPhone maker has argued that the Web plugin results in poor battery life and system crashes. Last year, Apple began shipping its Macs without Adobe Flash preinstalled, and it was discovered that the absence of Flash boosted battery life on the new MacBook Air by two hours.
For its part, Adobe has suggested that any performance issues with Flash on the Mac are a result of issues with Apple's Mac OS X operating system. With respect to the MacBook Air, Adobe said last November it is working on an optimized version of Flash for the thin-and-light notebook, but added that hardware acceleration offers superior performance and battery life.
Adobe claims that "Stage Video" offers "best-in-class, beautiful video across platforms and browsers." In addition, Flash Player 10.2, which is now available for download, has new features like custom native mouse cursors, multiple monitor full-screen support, Internet Explorer 9 hardware accelerated rendering support and enhanced sub-pixel rendering for superior text readability. Flash Player 10.2 was previously available in beta form.
Hardware acceleration for H.264 content first appeared on Flash Player for Mac with version 10.1, released in August of 2010. But content built for Stage video allows websites to take advantage of full hardware acceleration of all video.
According to Adobe, Stage Video will allow Flash Player to play high quality video while using "dramatically less processing power," offering better performance and longer battery life on mobile devices. Adobe said that its testing has found Stage Video to make Flash playback up to 34 times more efficient.
Put another way, Flash Player using Stage Video can effortlessly play beautiful 1080p HD video with just 1-15% CPU usage on a common Mac or Windows computer -- working across platforms and browsers, it will enable the best video experience for the most people," the company said. "Many millions of additional PCs, from netbooks to desktops, can now become slick HD home theaters on the web."
Even with the addition of Stage Video to Flash Player 10.2, users will likely not see any immediate changes, as websites and content providers must first update video players to support the new feature.
In a very public battle, Apple and Adobe have sparred over Flash, as the Mac and iPhone maker has argued that the Web plugin results in poor battery life and system crashes. Last year, Apple began shipping its Macs without Adobe Flash preinstalled, and it was discovered that the absence of Flash boosted battery life on the new MacBook Air by two hours.
For its part, Adobe has suggested that any performance issues with Flash on the Mac are a result of issues with Apple's Mac OS X operating system. With respect to the MacBook Air, Adobe said last November it is working on an optimized version of Flash for the thin-and-light notebook, but added that hardware acceleration offers superior performance and battery life.
Comments
it still blows.
I am no Flash lover but my MBP i7 just had several HD 1080p Flash videos playing at the same time and the fan did start up as usual but then slowed down! Normally it would have got into wind tunnel mode. So, in this brief test it is way better for me.
I note Adobe say it is 34 times better, so I am looking forward to hearing how all the pro Flash people here square that with 'it was always OS X's fault'? But for SJ reaming Adobe a new one this would never have even be worked on I suspect.
Glad to see they finally responded 4 years later....
I installed ClickToFlash which blocks Flash and you just click on the window where it would be to let it through. I have REALLY noticed just how much Flash there is on the web, and for things that just do no need it at all. Definitely sped up my mac and increased Safari stability.
*** UPDATE ***
Wow I have to say this has massively increased the stability for me. The black screen hang has gone and HD content on the iPlayer Adobe Air app has gone silky smooth. They took their sweet time about it, but perhaps they finally got a half-decent Flash plugin onto the mac...
My prediction: Flash on iPad 2 (i.e., iOS 4.3).
My prediction: Safari 5.5 mobile with latest HTML 5 from WebKit.
My prediction: Flash on iPad 2 (i.e., iOS 4.3).
You don't know Steve very well do you??? Look up 'can hold a grudge' in the dictionary and next to it will be his picture.
Hope AI implements it right away.
So, obviously no hardware acceleration for this configuration. Windows 7, with mediocre video card uses 0-1% of CPU to play the same video in 720p.
Have not tried it yet on my Macbook with nVidia 9400 (where hardware acceleration is presumably supported), but this is just atrocious.
I think Adobe should just give up and people should move on from this crap to something better.
EDIT:
Alright, tried it on 13'' Aluminum Macbook as well. about 60 - 75 % CPU usage for 320p and 120% CPU usage for 720p (not full screen), but the 720p did stutter a bit here and there.
Really not impressed.
You don't know Steve very well do you??? Look up 'can hold a grudge' in the dictionary and next to it will be his picture.
There are just as many cases of steve panning something and then coming out with it a year later.
Adobe Flash Player 10.2 CLAIMS improved hardware acceleration for Mac
Where are the benchmarks and independent tests? Why are we reading a press release?
There are just as many cases of steve panning something and then coming out with it a year later.
Stevie has panned things only to later come back and embrace them when the time was right to do so.
And this conflicts with what I said how? Are you actually trying to say that Steve DOEN'T hold grudges?!!?
My prediction: Flash on iPad 2 (i.e., iOS 4.3).
My prediction: You're on something and bogarting it.
it still blows.
Yah, Chrome isn't too happy with it.