[UPDATE (April 23rd) – Creative Suite 6 is out!]

Similar to how they did before the launch of CS5.5, Adobe has been quietly slipping out a bevy of “sneaks” (now numbering 16 videos including those for Photoshop CS6) for new features that may be in a forthcoming release of the Creative Suite…

“Check out what new technologies, features and innovations the Adobe product teams are working on behind the scenes.  Stay tuned to get an early glimpse of what could be next from Adobe.”

The latest CS6 products previewed include: Dreamweaver, InDesign (2), Premiere Pro, Audition, Flash Profes­sional, Illustrator (previously), and of course Photoshop.

The drumbeat has been getting louder with plenty of news lately about Creative Suite 6:

• We now know when Creative Suite 6 is likely to ship,
• …as well Adobe’s official grace period for free CS6 upgrades.
• The free Photoshop CS6 beta release is out with its lengthy list of what’s new.
• Not to mention, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Audition CS6 being revealed early!
• And we’ve even got chances for you to win Photoshop CS6 for free.

So things are starting to get a little exciting.

Here now are some of the significant new preview demos… For the complete set, please see the Adobe Technology Sneaks 2012 page.

Related Posts

• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Premiere Pro, After Effects and Audition CS6 FAQ and Highlights
• First Look: Adobe CS6 Production Premium Suite — What’s New?
• What’s New in CS6: Premiere Pro, After Effects & Audition Features!
• CS5.5 or CS6? New Adobe “Sneak Peek” Preview Videos Out

In continuing to provide the direct download links for such major Adobe products as CS5.5, Acrobat X, Elements 10, and Lightroom 4, below you’ll find the DDL for the brand new just-released Adobe Flash Player 11.2 (the final version).  This is important because the free Flash Player is the most widely-used and often-downloaded software in world, and some folks find it easier to access it quickly and directly, without a download manager (e.g., Akamai), or with their own DLM, and without additional products or toolbars included.

Check your current Adobe Flash Player: What version are you running now?

What’s New in Flash Player 11?

Flash Player 11.2 contains dozens of sophisticated new features and enhancements over version 10, here are some of the major ones – for more, and more details, see the Official Release Notes:

• Multithreaded Video Decoding
• Mouse-Lock, 360-Rotation, and Infinite Scrolling
• Added Support for Middle-Click & Right-Click
• Expanded Hardware and Driver Support
• Automatic Background Updates (Windows)
• New Throttling Event introduced
• Protected HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS)
• Stage 3D Accelerated Graphics Rendering
• Native 64-bit Support Available
• H.264/AVC Software Encoding for Cameras
• Flash Access Content Protection Enhancements
• Native JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) Support
• Asynchronous Bitmap Decoding
• TLS Secure Sockets Support
• Cubic Bezier Curves
• Updated iOS 5 native extensions
• Updated Native text input UI for Android

So, without further ado, here are the direct download links – just click to download and install:

For Windows 7 – 64-Bit Systems

» Download 64-bit Flash Player 11.2 for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers

» Download 64-bit Flash Player 11.2 for non-IE browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.)

For Windows 7/Vista/XP/2008/2003

» Download 32-bit Flash Player 11.2 for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers

» Download 32-bit Flash Player 11.2 for non-IE browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.)

[ Not sure? See how to tell if your computer can run the (faster) 64-bit Windows version. ]

For Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7 (all)

» Download Flash Player 11.2 for Safari, Firefox, Opera

Bonus!  Adobe AIR 3 Direct Download Links

» Download AIR 3.2 for Windows

» Download AIR 3.2 for Mac OS

[ Learn more about the universal Adobe AIR 3. ]

Resources

• Adobe Flash Player installation instructions
• Adobe Flash Player full system requirements
• Verify/test installed version of Adobe Flash Player
• Troubleshoot installation problems with Adobe Flash Player
• Configure Adobe Flash Player settings after installation
• Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

(Note: Internet Explorer sometimes drops file extensions from these downloads – so if you’re using that browser, you may have to add a “.exe” back onto the name of your file before starting it.)

Adobe Flash Player is a pervasive cross-platform browser-based application runtime that delivers uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across screens and browsers. Flash is the standard for engaging PC experiences – 99% of PCs worldwide have Flash Player installed and 85% of the top 100 websites use Flash.

Approximately 75% of online videos are viewed and 70% of web games are delivered using Adobe Flash technology. More than 3 million designers and developers use the Flash Platform to deliver expressive content and applications that run consistently across the widest reach of browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Learn more about Flash Player and the new features in version 11.

Related Posts

• Adobe Flash Player 10.3 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Download Adobe CS6 Trials: Direct Links (no Assistant or Manager)
• Photoshop Elements 10 Direct Download Links: Free Trials, Premiere

If you’d like to learn how to use Adobe’s Creative Suite tools to easily and portably create websites and apps for tablets, smartphones, and mobile devices there’s a new 2¼-hour course you’ll be interested in…

Guru Paul Trani teaches an extensive free class with 18 video chapters that will take you step-by-step on how to create portable content that will run on both Apple iOS and Google Android devices with a wide variety of screen sizes using a single code base. Basic usage of HTML5 and CSS3 is covered, as well as how to bring in Adobe’s recent additions PhoneGap (for building fast, cross-platform mobile applica­tions) and Typekit (for delivering custom web fonts).

The first half of the video series employs Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5 to develop both websites and apps, with steps on how to convert a website into a portable mobile app. The tutorials then move on to using Flash-based tools (with Adobe AIR) to build multi-platform mobile apps. We already know that Flash Professional CS5 can be used to build apps for the iPad and iPhone, but this takes it a step further. The videos guide you all the way through to how to publish your app to your device and to the Android Market (which shows immediately) or to the Apple App Store.

If you don’t own the Adobe software yet but would like to use it to follow along with the training, you can easily download the free trials, which will be fully-functional for 30 days. The tutorials also include downloadable sample files to use as you go along, so be sure to look for those.

The CS5.5 Web Premium suite is used in the demonstrations – which coincidentally we’re also giving away for free!

Here’s the 2¼-hour course:

And here is the first segment (the Overview chapter) to get you started:

Related Posts

• Adobe: New Tablet Apps Soon, “Doubling-Down” on HTML5 for CS6
• Is There a Photoshop CS5.5? No, But There’s a Photoshop CS5.1
• The Five Essential Principles of Web & Interaction Design: A Tutorial
• Learn How to Create a Website with Adobe Dreamweaver CS5
• Free New Adobe CS6 Tutorials: 18 Hours of Online Video Training

Many people have been making guesses on what’s happening now that Flash Player for Mobile will not be further developed.  There’s a lot of talk and speculation out there, as folks try to figure out what it means…  So take two dozen common questions on the subject, and here are the official answers Adobe sent to us:

What is it that Adobe is announcing?

Adobe announced plans to increase its efforts on HTML5, and to focus Flash on mobile applications (packaged with AIR) and PC browsing with an emphasis on use cases not yet addressed by HTML5, including premium video and console-quality gaming. Adobe will no longer develop Flash Player for mobile web browsers. See the blog post for more details.

Does this mean that Adobe is no longer supporting content publishers focused on delivering content via a browser on a mobile device?

Adobe offers world-class tools and technologies including HTML5 tools like Adobe Edge that allow content publishers and developers to bring rich content and experiences across mobile web browsers using HTML5.

What does this mean for Flash Player support on desktops?

Adobe is fully committed to providing a great experience for use cases not yet well supported by HTML, including console-quality gaming and premium video. In fact, Flash Player 11 just introduced dozens of new features, including hardware accelerated 3D graphics for console-quality gaming and premium HD video with content protection. We are already working on Flash Player 12 and a new round of exciting features which we expect to again advance what is possible for delivering high definition entertainment experiences.

Why is Adobe making this move now?

All the major platform providers (Android, iOS, Windows 8) are betting on HTML5 for browsing, some even to the point of excluding third party plug-ins such as Flash Player. Adobe sees this as the right time to increase our focus on accelerating the development of HTML for in browser experiences, especially on mobile (phones and tablets), and general purpose apps, while using Flash to drive what’s possible in advanced interactive entertainment areas like console-quality gaming and premium video so that it can continue to serve as a blueprint for further work on HTML. Flash developers get the greatest reach by targeting mobile devices with apps packaged with AIR, and that is where we are investing while helping the mobile browsers advance the state of the art of what can be done in a browser using HTML5. Our strategy allows us to maintain leadership in content published through the web and app stores and gives developers the best tools to create content across all platforms.

Will Adobe continue to support AIR? On Mobile? On TVs?

Adobe is fully committed to enabling Flash-based apps on mobile and digital home devices. These apps are packaged using AIR for mobile devices and can be packaged with AIR or web runtime technologies on TVs and other digital home devices that use the TV as a display.

Will the Flash Player continue to be available on the Android Market?

Yes. We will continue to provide critical bug fixes and security updates to Flash Player 11.1 on Android Market for existing devices.

When will Adobe stop supporting Flash Player for browsing on mobile?

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.

What will happen with Flash Player support on RIM’s BBX platform?

Adobe will continue to support RIM’s use of the Flash Player on the current PlayBook configurations with critical bug fixes and security updates. RIM has done a great job optimizing the Flash Player for their platform and as a result the RIM playbook provides a great experience for consuming Flash content. RIM is expected to leverage their expertise with Flash to continue to support and ship the Flash Player on BBX devices for the foreseeable future.

Will the current version of Flash Player support smartphones and tablets that are coming to market over the coming weeks and months?

It depends on the version of the OS, silicon, and browser supported on the device. We are working with OEMs to determine the appropriate support and transition plan for their current and planned devices.

Will Adobe stop OEMs from shipping Flash Player on devices?

No, Adobe will not stop OEMs from pre-loading and shipping the Flash Player. We expect some of our OEM partners to opt to continue working on and releasing their own implementations of the Flash Player. However, Adobe will be recommending mobile OEMs discontinue pre-loading new devices with Flash Player due to expected OS and browser compatibility issues. However, existing licensees can continue shipping Flash Player at the manufacturer’s discretion.

Will 3D support and any of the console-quality Flash games you demoed at MAX come to mobile devices?

Yes, game developers will be able to bring console-quality games with hardware-accelerated 3D graphics to mobile devices as Flash-based apps packaged with AIR. On the desktop 3D games can be delivered with Flash within the browser. However, 3D content will not be supported in Flash Player on mobile browsers.

What does this mean for Flex?

Flex SDK 4.5 supports the development of mobile applications that target, or are packaged with AIR. Mobile applications built with Flex SDK are installed on phone or tablet devices and do not rely upon the browser or Adobe Flash Player to run; as such, they are unaffected by this announcement.

How does this affect other Flash Platform tools?

This news has no impact on the Flash platform tooling offerings (e.g. Flash Builder) from Adobe. We continue to invest in Flash Pro and Flash Builder for developing Flash-based content for the PC web and mobile apps, especially games and premium video.

Is Flash getting more and more replaced by HTML5? How will Adobe advance Flash Player on desktops and stay relevant?

We are continuing to invest in Flash to deliver the most advanced web experiences on desktops, focusing on features that are not yet available in HTML5. Flash Player 11 just introduced dozens of new features, including hardware accelerated 3D graphics for console-quality gaming and premium HD video with content protection. Flash developers can take advantage of these features, and all that Flash has to offer, to reach more than a billion desktops through their browsers and repurpose their content to hundreds of millions of mobile devices through popular App Stores using Flash-based apps packaged/enabled with AIR. We are already working on the next future version of Flash Player and a new round of exciting features which we expect to again advance what is possible for delivering high definition entertainment experiences across the Web and devices. We will continue to leverage our experience with Flash to accelerate our work with the W3C and WebKit to bring similar capabilities to HTML5 as quickly as possible, just as we have done with CSS Shaders. And, we will design new features in Flash for a smooth transition to HTML5 as the standards evolve so developers can confidently invest knowing their skills will continue to be leveraged.

How many Flash-based apps are available on App Stores today?

There are thousands of Flash-based apps available on App Stores like iTunes App Store, Android Market, BlackBerry App World, and Amazon’s Appstore for Android. Popular and top rated examples include Machinarium, Politifact, Dr Stanley’s House, Facebook for BlackBerry PlayBook, WatchESPN etc.

How are Flash-based apps different from HTML5 apps?

Flash-based apps support features and capabilities not yet supported in HTML5 such as 3D graphics and content protection for premium video. Developers are able to deliver high-end entertainment experiences as Flash-based apps packaged via AIR on mobile platforms and within the browser on PCs.

What about Flash Player and support for web browsing on TV’s (Google TV, Samsung SmartTVs and other connected Digital Home devices)?

Adobe will continue to support existing licensees who are planning on supporting Flash Player for web browsing on digital home devices and are using the Flash Player Porting Kit to do so. However we believe the best approach to deliver Flash-based content on televisions is through applications, not a web browsing experience, and we will continue to encourage the device and content publishing community down that path.

What happens to Flash browsing support in the Google TV solution?

We recommend you talk with Google, but we believe Google has no immediate plans to remove the Flash Player from the Google TV browser.

Do you regret having waited so long after Steve Jobs predicted that Flash Player won’t work on mobile devices 1.5 years ago?

HTML5 has matured and is able to deliver a great web browsing experiences across mobile devices. At the same time users consume the richest content almost exclusively via apps on smartphones and tablets today. At Adobe we are focused on delivering the best tools and technologies for our developers and content publishers so they can offer the best possible experiences to their customers across platforms – from desktops to smartphones, from tablets to TVs. We are proud to lead the industry with HTML5 tools while offering new, cutting–edge features in Flash that are not yet supported in HTML5.

Is this expected to improve the relationship between Adobe and Apple?

Adobe and Apple have a longstanding relationship and Mac and iOS users are very important to Adobe. Like with any other company in the industry we work closely with Apple in specific areas like support for our Creative Suite products on Mac OS while we compete in other areas like video editing tools.

What platforms and browsers will Adobe continue to support with Flash Player for browsing?

Adobe plans to continue to support Apple Mac OS X and Safari; Google Chrome Browser for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Intel-based Chrome OS; Microsoft Intel-based Windows and desktop Internet Explorer; and cooperate with other third-party browser providers such as Mozilla and Opera.

How will content publishers serving premium video reach mobile devices?

Content publishers can continue to stream premium, Flash-based video content across platforms and devices including the iPhone and iPad using Flash Media Server 4.5. Additionally, content publishers can deliver premium video experiences as Flash-based applications packaged with AIR across platforms including mobile devices and connected TVs.

Does Adobe intend to bring HTML5′s capabilities to full parity with Flash Player? If yes, then why continue supporting Flash Player for desktop?

HTML5 today cannot replace the Flash Player as a platform for delivering console gaming or premium video experience on desktop computers. Adobe plans to leverage ongoing innovation in Flash to provide a blueprint for our work in HTML5. We believe there are opportunities for significant new innovation in both Flash and HTML5, and we are focused on enabling developers to create and publish the richest possible content, regardless of the underlying technology.

Will Adobe create Flash Player for Windows 8 on ARM and Windows 8 on X86?

Adobe’s plan is to support Flash Player with all of the popular browsers on Windows 8’s desktop interface (not the Metro interface) on x86.

Check out Flash Pro CS6 generating HTML5

Related Posts

• Adobe: New Tablet Apps Soon, “Doubling-Down” on HTML5 for CS6
• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• New Giveaway! Win Photoshop CS6 + Lightroom 4 FREE ($1K Prizes)
• What Are the Differences in Photoshop CS6 vs. CS5 — What’s New?

Adobe is dropping some hints about new and future creative tools coming on tablet devices and for HTML5 content creation. On a publicly-available conference call earlier this week, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen shared some guidance on the company’s upcoming product roadmap and what to expect…

With a shifting landscape that favors HTML5-based content and application delivery, we are doubling down in our investment in this area. CS5.5 delivered enhanced HTML5 capabilities. We recently previewed Adobe Edge, a new HTML5 web motion and interaction design tool, which allows web designers to create cutting-edge animations for their websites. Interest in this tool far exceeded our expectations.

We also just introduced the beta release of a new product code-named Muse, which allows designers to create and publish HTML-based websites without writing complex HTML code. And we are contributing new innovations to WebKit to allow for a more expressive Web. These initiatives show our commitment to help drive the evolution of browsers and be the leading tools provider for HTML5, and this is only the beginning.

So what does this mean in terms of the next release of Creative Suite? Will we see Adobe Muse and Edge – or other new HTML5 tools – as part of CS6?

So as we think about the evolution of Creative Suite moving forward, I think there are a couple of different things that we’re hearing from our customers in terms of what would be catalysts for Creative Suite. And HTML5 and support for HTML5, whether that’s browser-based content or creating standalone applications, is certainly one of them. So as you can expect, we will be taking the tools we’ve been delivering, like Adobe Edge and Muse, and you might see those in future versions of the Creative Suite.

So big picture, I would say as HTML5 is getting more prevalent, we’re clearly both embracing it from the point of view of tools and being the leader in tools but also contributing aggressively to the evolution of HTML as a standard.

On tablets, there’s some big news as well… Adobe will soon be introducing a broad new collec­tion of tablet applications centered on content creation. This has the potential to significantly deepen the company’s footprint from the handful of Photoshop-connected mobile device apps they have released to date.

The explosion of tablets is changing the paradigm for content authoring. We believe that content will be consumed and created on these devices. Similar to the desktop, we intend to be the leading provider of creative authoring applications on tablets.

We will soon be introducing a broad set of tablet-based and cloud-connected apps and services across iOS, Android and other mobile platforms that represent a new revenue stream. We intend to deliver a whole new set of tablet applications which will be augmenting the current desktop functionality for creative professionals. We believe there’s a large opportunity to attract new customers to the base with the new tablet applications we will create. We are excited about the recent introduction of Adobe Carousel, an innovative new cloud-connected imaging app for Mac OS and iOS devices.

On the tablet side specifically, I think we would all say it’s early. We do believe strongly that tablets will be used not just as consumption devices but as creation devices. You’re going to continue to see styluses added to tablet devices which make it an even more compelling offering. We will have a comprehensive set of products, and I think it’s early to say how rapidly that will grow, but we do think that’s a new product stream that will be meaningful for Adobe.

So this is very interesting, as up until now these devices have been used more for content consumption than creation… So we can only speculate what Adobe has in store here. One possibility, a Lightroom app for iPad?

When will we find out more?

At Adobe MAX in early October, we will unveil some of our newest innovations in the content authoring arena. And as we look forward, frankly, to the next version of Creative Suite, we think there are a lot of things that are going to drive the new release, and not least of which is a new version of our franchise imaging application [Photoshop CS6]. But in addition to that, the things that I mentioned earlier – video, expect to see a fair amount of HTML5 innovation coming in the next CS, and the combination of both the creative applications, the tablet applications, and what we provide as cloud services. So, a lot of excitement about what we’re going to deliver next year.

Listen to the entire conference call here, or read the transcript for more details.

Related Posts

• Adobe: The Future of Flash – and HTML5 (Questions Answered)
• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• Adobe Edge & Muse to be Subscription/Cloud-Only, Not Part of CS6
• Photoshop.com Launches New “Photoshop Express” Online Tools
• New Giveaway! Win Photoshop CS6 + Lightroom 4 FREE ($1K Prizes)

You may have heard of the recent releases of Flash Builder 4.5 (formerly Flex Builder, and now part of CS5.5), plus ColdFusion 9 and ColdFusion Builder 2…

And we’ve written about this particular offer before, but it bears repeating now that we have these major product refreshes for both Flex and ColdFusion.

Adobe will give you full versions of these premium devel­opment tools ($249 – $1,299 values) absolutely free if you qualify! And if you don’t, you might know someone who does and could benefit…

Free copies of Adobe Flash Builder 4.5 Standard are given for non-commercial use to: (a) students, faculty and staff of eligible educational institutions, or (b) software devel­opers who are affected by the current economic conditions and currently unemployed.

The ColdFusion products are also available for free to educational customers, to use for learning purposes only and not for production use. Complimentary installation support is available, and if you are a teacher and would like ColdFusion 9 for multiple systems in your lab, you can request up to 30 education serial numbers.

So if you can qualify yourself for any of these categories, please go ahead and download your free software here.

Related Posts

• Now – Completely Free Products From Adobe
• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• What’s the Difference on Adobe CS6 Student Editions vs. Regular?
• Adobe Releases CS6 – Now Shipping plus Download Free Trials
• Download Adobe CS6 Trials: Direct Links (no Assistant or Manager)

In our tradition of providing the direct download links for major Adobe products such as CS5.5, Acrobat X, Photoshop & Premiere Elements 10, and Lightroom 3, below you’ll find the DDL for the just-released new Adobe Flash Player 10.3 (final version). This is important because the free Flash Player is the most widely-used and often-downloaded software in world, and some folks find it easier to access offline without a download manager (Akamai or Adobe DLM), or with their own DLM, and without additional products or toolbars included.

Check your current Adobe Flash Player version: What version are you running now?

What’s New in Flash Player 10.3?

Flash Player 10.3 improves stability, enhances security and user privacy protection, and provides new desktop video and audio capabilities for enterprises and developers.

Besides a dozen bug fixes, this release contains several new features and enhancements:

• Integration with Browser Privacy Controls – Users now have a simpler way to clear local storage (“Flash cookies”) from the browser settings interface – similar to how users clear their browser cookies today. These controls are integrated with the browser’s privacy settings in Firefox 4, IE 8 and higher, Chrome 11, and a future release of Apple Safari.
• Local Native Control Panel – Provides users with streamlined controls for managing their Flash Player privacy, security and storage settings. Windows, Mac, and Linux users can access the Flash Player Settings Manager directly from the Control Panels or System Preferences locally on their computers.
• Acoustic Echo Cancellation – Developers can take advantage of acoustic echo cancellation, noise suppression, voice activity detection, and automatic compensation for various microphone input levels. End-users will be able to experience higher quality audio facilitating smoother conversation flow, without using a headset.
• Media Measurement – Allows real-time, aggregated reporting of how their video content is distributed, what the audience reach is, and how much video is played.
• Auto-Update Notification for Mac OS – Supports automatic notification of software updates on Mac OS, making it easier for Mac users to stay current with new capabilities in the latest version of Flash Player.

So, without further ado, here are the direct download links – just click to download and install:

For Windows 7/Vista/XP/2008/2003

 » Download Flash Player 10.3 for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers

 » Download Flash Player 10.3 for non-IE browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.)

For Mac OS X 10.4 – 10.6

 » Download Flash Player 10.3 for Safari, Firefox, Opera

Resources

• Adobe Flash Player installation instructions
• Adobe Flash Player full system requirements
• Verify/test installed version of Adobe Flash Player
• Troubleshoot installation problems with Adobe Flash Player
• Configure Adobe Flash Player settings after installation
• Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

(Note: Internet Explorer sometimes drops file extensions from these downloads – so if you’re using that browser, you may have to add a “.exe” back onto the name of your file before starting it.)

Adobe Flash Player is a cross-platform browser-based application runtime that delivers uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across screens and browsers. Flash is the standard for engaging PC experiences – 99% of PCs worldwide have Flash Player installed and 85% of the top 100 websites use Flash. Approximately 75% of online videos are viewed and 70% of web games are delivered using Adobe Flash technology. More than 3.5 million designers and developers use the Flash Platform to deliver expressive content and applications that run consistently across the widest reach of browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Learn more about Flash Player and the new features in version 10.3. Or go with the direct download links for Flash Player 11 instead.

Related Posts

• Adobe Flash Player 11.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Download Adobe CS6 Trials: Direct Links (no Assistant or Manager)
• Photoshop Elements 10 Direct Download Links: Free Trials, Premiere

[UPDATE (April 11th) – Adobe CS5.5 is out!]

We just got confirmation from Adobe that a “mid-cycle release” of Creative Suite 5 will be out later this year, perhaps in the coming months.

The definitive word came from a conference call on Tuesday afternoon with financial analysts, where the Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen stated:

We will continue to expand our content authoring offerings by providing a mid-cycle release to CS5.

[ Read the full transcript here ]

We’ve known for some time now (see our October piece) that a “dot release” of Creative Suite 5 would be coming and due to incorporate the new version of Acrobat X Pro – similarly to how CS2 and CS3 had mid-cycle upgrades for that exact reason…

But here Adobe has been working quite a bit harder and longer, with no “CS5.3″ at the November ship date of Acrobat X… So instead, we have clear indications of a larger upgrade in store – and here’s what’s going to be in it:

I think we’ve been saying for a while that we are hearing from our customers that in order for us to enable them to deal with the multiscreen revolution that’s happening, to deal with all of the multiple formats, we’ve been asked to provide more frequent releases.

Traditionally we’ve added Acrobat because Acrobat is on a different product cycle than Creative, because Acrobat is also used a lot by the Creative community in terms of updating the releases.

The release will enhance our digital publishing capabilities, help customers address the multiscreen challenges they face, and include new innovative features in areas like HTML and Flash authoring, application creation, and video authoring and production.

The release will start to focus on both integration of the Creative Suite with the Digital Publishing Suite. There will be a fair amount of video production features [going in], as well as more capability, both for Flash and for HTML.

So we’re clearly looking at a bigger and more expansive release (more than a .3 point move) – along the lines of a “CS5.5″ or similar.

Recently Adobe has also been talking about the possibility of offering subscriptions for Creative Suite software, and that appeared to grow firmer for this next version:

… The real goals for the mid-cycle release are: continue to enhance the functionality, as I mentioned. We have talked about our desire to introduce subscriptions worldwide, which enables us to target the more price-sensitive customers.

This would be in addition to the standard models that we have. We do not expect the mid-cycle release to cause a big shift in how people buy software. It will continue to be predominantly the shrinkwrap and the licensing, and I think we’ll see a nice [addition] through the subscription model.

The goal is to allow new customers to use the Creative products, sort of on a pay-as-you-go basis. And what we found in the early reports is that it’s really valued by customers who seek flexibility and affordability of the monthly payments, and it attracts new customers who otherwise would not buy, [or] customers who haven’t stayed current with CS4 or CS5.

Adobe has already offered subscriptions to CS products in Australia for several years, and seems poised to make the option available on a wider scale.

The last point is, when might this CS5.5 be available? As indicated above, there were no dates or plans given. However, the CEO did say this about Creative Suite development generally:

I think for the amount of fundamental innovation that continues to go in, a 24-month cycle is a good timeframe for us to update most of the customers. But there’s significant value that we can continue to provide on an annual basis, and that really is our goal.

Well, Adobe CS5 was released on April 29th, 2010 – so if we take Mr. Narayen’s statement at face value regarding the annual basis, it could mean we have the possibility to see a CS5 “mid-cycle” upgrade being announced around a year later, or sometime during the spring.

The next question: When is CS6 coming out?

[UPDATE (April 6th) – Looks like CS5.5 will be launched on 4/11!  Find out more and see new sneak-peek videos out from Adobe on what to expect...]

Related Posts

• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Sneak Peeks of CS6: Dreamweaver, InDesign, Flash, Premiere & More
• Buy Adobe After Effects CS4, Get CS5.5 Free
• Free Printing Guide for Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator & Acrobat

If you’re interested in learning about the best web and interaction design techniques, there’s a free new 2½-hour course you’ll find worthwhile…

It’s the third installment in the excellent Classroom series, which features free expert training in well-designed sessions with high-quality production values. Previous classes have been an in-depth Dreamweaver CS5 tutorial and a terrific After Effects CS5 tutorial.

This latest presentation details how to design your interfaces in the most effective way with the behavior of the user in mind. Some of the topics include crafting effective navigational systems, creating a liquid layout, how to best deliver images and media, designing forms and dialogs to smoothly guide users through a positive user experience, and more. The best practices covered here will help you make better design decisions in your work going forward.

The video uses Adobe Flash Catalyst CS5 as a tool to help walk through the important concepts involved. It’s not necessary to own or have Flash Catalyst to get a lot out of the training, although if you would like a free trial to use or follow along with, you can easily download it for free. Each chapter also includes downloadable sample files to use as you go through the demonstrations, so be sure to look for those.

Here it is:

We’ll touch upon the five essential principles covered in the course here:

Consistency
Strive for consistency in appearance and behavior, because it facilitates usability, credibility, and trust.

Visibility
Most interfaces are inherently visual, so make certain that people know when and where they can interact with it.

Learnability
Meaningful and unambiguous labels, content, and interactions make it possible to quickly understand and repeat an experience.

Predictability
Set expectations about what will happen during and after an interaction to minimize confusion and dissatisfaction.

Feedback
Acknowledge interactions and provide information about status, location, progress, and completion.

Interaction design is ultimately not about the behavior of the interface, it is about the behavior of people.

Julie says, “This is a clear and concise presentation of design fundamentals. It takes an instructor half a semester to get through these essentials! Thank you!”

Amir writes, “Nice presentation, really helpful content. Thanks!”

Steve comments, “Very nice. Clear. People that develop software should heed the values here.”

JC posted, “Thanks for the videos – nicely done on all fronts. Clear, concise and purposeful. Very nice series and hope to see more.”

So whatever you’re designing (website, game, system, software, GUI), go ahead and watch it now – it’s completely free.

Related Posts

• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• Adobe Photoshop Best Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Training & Tutorials
• Learn How to Create a Website with Adobe Dreamweaver CS5
• Tutorial: How to Use Adobe’s New Project ROME Design Tool
• How to Learn Adobe After Effects CS5 for Free

Following our custom of providing the direct download links for major Adobe products such as CS5.5, Acrobat X, Photoshop & Premiere Elements 10, and Lightroom 4, below you’ll find all the DDL for the just-released new Adobe Flash Player 10.2. This is important because the free Flash Player is the most widely-used and often-downloaded software in world, and some people find it easier to gain access without a download manager (Akamai/Adobe DLM), or with their own DLM, and without additional products or toolbars included.

Check your current Adobe Flash Player version: What version are you running now?

What’s New in Flash Player 10.2?

Flash Player 10.2 introduces Stage Video, a full hardware-accelerated video pipeline for best-in-class, beautiful video across platforms and browsers – making Flash video dramatically more efficient (a 10X reduction in CPU usage in some demos). This advance in performance builds on the benefits of H.264 hardware accelerated decoding and optimized power consump­tion introduced in 10.1, and works with all of the existing video on the web viewed in Flash Player – so will save significant battery life on portable computers and mobile devices.

Additionally, this release of Flash Player offers all new features like multiple monitor full-screen support (enabling you to watch videos in true full screen on one display while multi-tasking on another), custom native mouse cursors (another popular request from designers and devel­opers), and Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) hardware accelerated rendering support.

And other existing capabilities have been enhanced – like better sub-pixel rendering for superior text readability, fast switch between bitrates to automatically adjust to changing network conditions, and improved localized input method editor (IME) support.

So, without further ado, here are the direct download links – just click to download and install:

For Windows 7/Vista/XP/2008/2003

 » Download Flash Player 10.2 for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers

 » Download Flash Player 10.2 for non-IE browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.)

For Mac OS X 10.4 – 10.6

 » Download Flash Player 10.2 for Safari, Firefox, Opera

Resources

• Adobe Flash Player installation instructions
• Adobe Flash Player full system requirements
• Verify/test installed version of Adobe Flash Player
• Troubleshoot installation problems with Adobe Flash Player
• Configure Adobe Flash Player settings after installation
• Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

(Note: Internet Explorer sometimes drops file extensions from these downloads – so if you’re using that browser, you may have to add a “.exe” back onto the name of your file before starting it.)

Adobe Flash Player is a cross-platform browser-based application runtime that delivers uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across screens and browsers. Flash is the standard for engaging PC experiences – 99% of PCs worldwide have Flash Player installed and 85% of the top 100 websites use Flash. Approximately 75% of online videos are viewed and 70% of web games are delivered using Adobe Flash technology. More than 3.5 million designers and developers use the Flash Platform to deliver expressive content and applications that run consistently across the widest reach of browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Learn more about Flash Player and the new features in version 10.2.

Related Posts

• Adobe Flash Player 11.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.3 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Download Adobe CS6 Trials: Direct Links (no Assistant or Manager)
• Photoshop Elements 10 Direct Download Links: Free Trials, Premiere

In it he extols the virtues of an open ecosystem winning out in a fragmented world, perhaps not unlike the PC and Mac market dynamics of twenty years ago. Narayen cites Flash as a key differentiator and unifier of that fragmentation. Regarding Apple, he says it’s a non-issue in that they’ve made their decision, although they did recently relax some restrictions for Flash apps.

As evidence of growing momentum, he cites 10 million Flash-based devices (smartphones, tablets, and consumer electronic devices) having shipped in the latter half of 2010, essentially since the mobile-attuned Flash Player 10.1 was officially released.

Here at ProDesignTools we love both Android and iOS, Adobe and Apple – we don’t take sides, but we think the space and players are worth watching, not to mention entertaining…

Watch or read the interview’s full 4 minutes below:

Victoria Barret, Forbes Magazine: Last spring, Steve Jobs made a very public case against Flash on the iPhone and now the iPad – is there any update there?

Shantanu Narayen, Adobe Systems: I think it’s important to really remember what’s happening in the industry, which is we’re seeing a huge explosion of new devices. It’s actually about the future of the Internet and how content and applications are going to be delivered across the Internet. Adobe believes in it being an open system that’s going to prevail over time, and so what we’ve been doing is working with companies like Google with Android, and RIM with the PlayBook, Nokia, and HP. We want basically to do two things: For our content customers – we want to make sure that we provide them the best tools to deliver content across every one of these platforms, and for consumers we want to deliver the best Flash platform to be able to consume that content. I think it’s a non-issue with Apple in that they’ve made their decision. But we’re just all about creating content and enabling people to consume it.

Victoria Barret: A lot has changed even is less than a year now, and Apple has had a remarkable first-mover advantage. Do you think we are at the point where that first-mover advantage is no longer viable and they need to sort of loosen up a little bit – control of the iPhone and iPad environments?

Shantanu Narayen: Well, I think when you go to CES which I attended recently and you look at the proliferation of devices, it’s clear that Android – that’s bet on open system – is seeing remarkable adoption, and I think it’s again going to be about, do open ecosystems triumph in the end? Because you bring innovation of an entire ecosystem and that’s certainly the viewpoint that Adobe takes. Adobe actually allows our publishers right now to create both content for the iDevices as well as [since] Apple reduced their restrictions, we can actually provide applications. So you can build an application today in Flash and then convert it onto an iDevice – so we’ve made progress with the Apple platform as well.

Victoria Barret: How do you see this playing out in the next… let’s give you long timeframe – 5 years?

Shantanu Narayen: Well, if you put yourself in the shoes of customers, first for a publisher that wishes to get their content or applications out, fragmentation hurts. Because all you want to do…

Victoria Barret: It creates work.

Shantanu Narayen: Exactly, and what you want to do is just focus on your brand and focus on the customer and how can you get the most compelling content out, to as broad a customer base as possible. And so I think the way it plays out is, as fragment­ation occurs, Adobe has to step up and deliver the best tools in order to be able to help you with that authoring problem that you do have today.

Victoria Barret: The world will always be fragmented, we know that.

Shantanu Narayen: That’s correct. On the other hand, for consumption – the more we can provide our technology on multiple devices, we’ve had over 10 million smartphones already in the latter half of 2010 shipping with Flash. So the more we provide this really compelling, hi-fidelity runtime, we’re assuring you of the fact that your content will be consumed in the way in which you intended. So, I think it is going to be frag­mented, I think you are going to see a few platforms really gain disproportionate share, and I do think open ecosystems win out over the long run.

Related Posts

• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• Adobe: New Tablet Apps Soon, “Doubling-Down” on HTML5 for CS6
• Adobe: The Future of Flash – and HTML5 (Questions Answered)
• Is There a Photoshop CS5.5? No, But There’s a Photoshop CS5.1
• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)

The fine folks over at Que Publishing, who have over thirty years of experience writing good books about software and technology, have put out a free sampler edition of their new series of books on learning Adobe Creative Suite 5… This “CS5 on Demand” e-book runs 172 pages (11.3 MB to download, in PDF format) and includes five full chapters on Photoshop, Dreamweaver, InDesign, Illustrator, and Flash Professional.

This collection has been designed to teach CS5 through step-by-step tutorials with easy-to-follow instructions, to be rich in illustrations for those who want to learn visually, and to be complete and in-depth references for those seeking a trusted desk resource to quickly provide the answers you need.

Topics covered in the free downloadable ebook include Using the Paint, Shape Drawing, & Eraser Tools in Photoshop CS5, Creating an Interactive Document in InDesign CS5, Viewing the HTML Behind the Page in Dreamweaver CS5, Working with Objects in Illustrator CS5, and Developing iPhone Apps with Flash Pro CS5.

So if you’ve been meaning to learn more about Creative Suite 5, here’s a good opportunity…
If you don’t have the software itself yet, you can just download and run Adobe’s free fully-working trial (any or all products) for 30 days, and then follow along with that. If you then decide to purchase it, you might save some money with their currently running specials.

These Que books are well-reviewed and highly rated – each of them receiving up to 4½ stars on Amazon.com (“Excellent and easy-to-follow,” “Useful for veterans and novices alike,” “Great CS5 reference books”) – so if you want to find out more, click for the details of each individual volume:

» See also: Over 17 Hours of Free New Online Video Tutorials for Adobe CS5

Related Posts

• Free Printing Guide for Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator & Acrobat
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Jump in with Free Adobe CS5 Deep Dive Product Sessions
• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• Sneak Peeks of CS6: Dreamweaver, InDesign, Flash, Premiere & More

[UPDATE (April 11th) – Adobe CS5.5 is out!  See also when CS6 is penciled.]

Last week Adobe held a private briefing for partners under non-disclosure agreement, where they gave “an overview of the upcoming Creative Suite release”… While we can’t speak to what transpired within the presentation, the invitation itself is publicly available.

Given that the next release of Adobe Acrobat is due out within a matter of weeks (see why and when, or get a chance to win a free upgrade to Acrobat 10 Pro), and given the two year age of Acrobat 9, it’s likely Adobe would be refreshing CS5 with the addition of the new Acrobat X. When Acrobat moved from version 7 to version 8, Adobe subsequently updated the Creative Suite and issued CS2.3 – and then once again when Acrobat revisioned from 8 to 9, Adobe incorporated the new version into CS3.3 in 2008. Acrobat 9 is still what we have today in CS5 – but since it’s obviously way too early for CS6, it seems a safe bet we’ll be seeing a point release (CS 5.3?) that would incorporate the new Acrobat 10.

But from reading the briefing invitation, it looks like there will be more in store for this next release than “just” integrating the new version Acrobat X Pro. It says, “… an overview of the upcoming CS release with a focus on InDesign and ePublishing…” Adobe has been hard at work on a new Digital Publishing Platform (you may have seen or read about the tablet editions of WIRED or The New Yorker magazines) that ties in with InDesign, and is (over)due to be made available on Adobe Labs. It seems logical that this would also be part of a CS5 point release, as it is a major deal for magazine and print publishers to deliver their content to the iPad, iPhone, Android, and other mobile devices, and has been quite successful thus far… But since the publishing tools haven’t yet been released in beta form on the Labs, it could be a while longer before the final version of this new technology is ready for the world at large.

There are hints that other applications may be receiving updates as well – for example the Flex team has been slipping out sneak peek videos for the next version of Flash Builder, code­named “Burrito.” There’s also talk by Adobe of some future vector drawing improvements for Photoshop CS5 (for vector shapes and layer effects – strokes, gradients, etc.). And finally there’s an unnamed “cool” new Adobe product in development that aims to improve the way visual people create for the Web.

Add it all up and it means we may not see a CS5.3 released at the same time Adobe Acrobat 10 ships, but rather a larger upgrade to more products (CS5.4 or CS5.5?) coming out a bit further down the road, perhaps sometime during the winter or spring… In the meantime, undoubtedly, we should expect that when AA10 arrives it will work well as a separate upgrade add-on to CS5, if desired.

[UPDATE (October 18th) — Confirmed! Adobe Acrobat X was just announced this morning and the following appears in Adobe's Acrobat X FAQ — "Q: When will Adobe CS5 include Acrobat X Pro? A: Because Adobe CS5 contains so many applications, it isn't always possible to update the entire suite edition when a single product release becomes available. Acrobat X Pro will be included in the next dot release of Creative Suite."]

One question: If you buy Creative Suite 5 now, what would an eventual point upgrade cost? (e.g., from CS5 to CS5.5) Well, the best yardstick we have is what it cost in previous years to move from CSx to CSx.3… The price was $159 in both cases for the suite upgrade, which is the same as the cost to upgrade just Acrobat Pro from one version to the next. Obviously we can’t state what Adobe’s future pricing will be, but if past history is any guide then it could be close to this. And of course, if you’re happy with CS5 as it is and wouldn’t need these updates, you wouldn’t need to upgrade to CS5.x.

What would you like to see in a CS5 point release? Please share your thoughts below and/or at Adobe’s official feature request “wishlist”…

Related Posts

• Adobe Plans CS5 “Mid-Cycle Release” (CS5.5?), Mulls Subscriptions
• Free Printing Guide for Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator & Acrobat
• Is There a Photoshop CS5.5? No, But There’s a Photoshop CS5.1
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Download Free Adobe CS5 eBook on Photoshop, Dreamweaver, more

There’s a cool new art museum that’s just opened, and it’s available to anyone, anytime, anywhere, at no cost… It’s the Adobe Museum of Digital Media, a first-of-its-kind, all-digital venue created to showcase all forms of digital art and media. As digital media is Adobe’s business, we’ve been looking forward to this space opening its doors…

And the setting does not disappoint. You get the idea like you’re at a museum of the future, with a stunning cityscape intro to the unique building and its exhibit hall. The striking structure was designed and modeled by an architect even though it exists only in cyberspace. Holo­graphic videos from the curator and a cyborg jellyfish (with a euro-diva voice) are your primary guides, and you have the feeling like you’ve snuck into your very own “night at the museum” with a cavernous, futuristic, even cinematic atmosphere.

The details of the first major exhibition now open can be found here. The works are not static, and visitors to invited to explore the interactivity and possibilities of the (Flash-based) medium. Like physical museums, there will be rotating artists, new shows, and expanding collections – and this is a good thing since modern art can be hit or miss as to whether it speaks to you personally. Once you enter the building, you can sign up for a free charter member­ship with your email to receive advance notice and previews of future exhibits, access to seminars, and other exclusive events.

Anyway, it’s all very slick and worth checking out for a peek into the future today. While it won’t replace a physical visit to MoMA, with everything else moving online this is another sign of the digital times.

About the Museum

The mission of the new Adobe Museum of Digital Media is to showcase and preserve groundbreaking digital work and expert commentary to illustrate how digital media shapes and impacts today’s society.

Open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, and accessible anywhere, AMDM is a place to reflect on the importance and impact of digital media in our lives. The museum is an ever-chang­ing repository of eclectic exhibits. Shows will be curated by leaders in art, technology, and business to inspire fresh conversations about our constantly evolving digital landscape.

Related Posts

• Adobe Developer Week Kicks Off
• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Sneak Peeks of CS6: Dreamweaver, InDesign, Flash, Premiere & More
• Adobe Flash Player 11.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets

With the surprise news out from Apple that removes all previous restrictions on the development tools that can be used to create iOS apps, the doors open for standalone Flash-built apps to finally be migrated to the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Adobe at first released a simple statement, “We are encouraged to see Apple lifting its restrictions on its licensing terms, giving developers the freedom to choose what tools they use to develop applications for Apple devices.”

Later, Adobe issued a more complete response that confirms these apps are already being accepted into the App Store:

Great News for Developers

Apple’s announcement today that it has lifted restrictions on its third-party developer guidelines has direct implications for Adobe’s Packager for iPhone … This feature was created to enable Flash developers to quickly and easily deliver applications for iOS devices, and is available for use today in the Flash Professional CS5 authoring tool …

This is great news for developers and we’re hearing from our developer community that Packager apps are already being approved for the App Store. We do want to point out that Apple’s restriction on Flash content running in the browser on iOS devices remains in place.

Adobe will continue to work to bring full web browsing with Flash Player 10.1 as well as standalone applications on AIR to a broad range of devices, working with key industry partners including Google, HTC, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Palm/HP, RIM, Samsung and others.

So given the good news, how do you get a Flash-based app to now run on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch? Adobe’s Packager for iPhone compiles Flash ActionScript 3.0 bytecode into native iPhone application code. These apps can now be distributed as iPhone application installer files (.ipa files) via the iTunes Store, and can be installed and run just like any other iPhone applications.

Interestingly, some of the relevant videos and tutorial content that used to be on Adobe TV are no longer available there, and may have been taken down due to the impasse between the two companies, and the heretofore reduced utility of the new Packager feature. But now that it’s “game on” once again, here’s a summary video and a short list of good resources to get started:

1. NEW via Adobe: How to Create an iPhone App in 5 Steps
2. Packager for iPhone (PFI) Developer Guide
3. DevNet: Developing for the Apple iPhone using Flash
4. Packager for iPhone Community Q&A Forum
5. Free Book Chapter: Developing iPhone Apps with Flash Pro CS5

Related Posts

• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• Apple Extends Olive Branch to Adobe over Flash Apps
• Adobe CEO: “You’ll Want Flash on Your Smartphone”
• Adobe Works Around Apple with New Digital Publishing Technology
• Adobe: No Impact to CS5 Adoption from Apple Actions

Up until now, iPhone/iPad apps built with a new technology in Adobe CS5 known as the Packager for iPhone were not accepted in Apple’s App Store – meaning existing multi­platform Flash applications could technically be recompiled run as native iOS apps, but could not easily be made available to the broader public. But this is all changed now – and suggests that a wealth of new apps will be coming soon to Apple’s smartphones, benefiting both users and developers alike…

More from Apple:

We are continually trying to make the App Store even better. We have listened to our developers and taken much of their feedback to heart. Based on their input, today we are making some important changes to our iOS Developer Program license in sections 3.3.1, 3.3.2 and 3.3.9 to relax some restrictions we put in place earlier this year.

In particular, we are relaxing all restrictions on the development tools used to create iOS apps, as long as the resulting apps do not download any code. This should give developers the flexibility they want, while preserving the security we need.

Now this applies solely to self-contained mobile apps and games, and not to the Adobe Flash Player – so it won’t suddenly make dynamic Flash web content work within the iPhone and iPad browsers, but it’s nonetheless a major policy shift by Apple and huge step towards healing the rift betweeen these two behemoths that has so often left developers and end-users caught in the middle.

Apple also for the first time is publishing their official App Store Review Guidelines to help developers better understand how the company reviews (and accepts or rejects) submitted apps. So this will help increase transparency, which has also been an point of controversy – and makes for good news all around.

Related Posts

• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• How to Create Adobe Flash Pro CS5 Apps for Apple iPhone & iPad
• Adobe CEO: “You’ll Want Flash on Your Smartphone”
• Adobe Works Around Apple with New Digital Publishing Technology
• Adobe: No Impact to CS5 Adoption from Apple Actions

Following our tradition of providing the direct download links for major Adobe products such as CS5.5, CS4 and CS3, Captivate 5, Photoshop Lightroom 4 and Elements 10, below you’ll find all the DDL for the recently-released Adobe Flash Player 10.1. This is important because the free Flash Player is the most widely-used and often-downloaded software in world, and some folks find it easier to gain access without a download manager (Akamai/Adobe DLM), or with their own DLM, and without additional products or toolbars included.

Check your current Adobe Flash Player version: What version are you running now?

Adobe Flash Player is a cross-platform browser-based application runtime that delivers uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across screens and browsers. Flash is the standard for engaging PC experiences – 99% of PCs worldwide have Flash Player installed and 85% of the top 100 websites use Flash. Approximately 75% of online videos are viewed and 70% of web games are delivered using Adobe Flash technology. More than 3.5 million designers and developers use the Flash Platform to deliver expressive content and applications that run consistently across the widest reach of browsers, operating systems, and devices.

So, without further ado, here are the direct download links – just click to download and install:

For Windows 7/Vista/XP/2008/2003/2000

 » Download Flash Player 10.1 for Internet Explorer (IE) browsers

 » Download Flash Player 10.1 for non-IE browsers (Firefox, Opera, etc.)

For Mac OS X 10.4 – 10.6

 » Download Flash Player 10.1 for Safari, Firefox, Opera

Resources

• Adobe Flash Player installation instructions
• Adobe Flash Player full system requirements
• Verify/test installed version of Adobe Flash Player
• Troubleshoot installation problems with Adobe Flash Player
• Configure Adobe Flash Player settings after installation
• Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

What’s New in Flash Player 10.1?

Flash Player 10.1 is redesigned from the ground up with new performance, stability, and mobile-ready features, and is the first release to bring the full Web across desktops and devices. The new release delivers expressive content to personal computers, smartphones, tablets, smartbooks, and netbooks, and can take advantage of native device capabilities including multitouch, gestures, mobile input models, and accelerometer input.

New hardware acceleration support delivers smooth, high-quality video with minimal overhead to mobile devices and personal computers using audio and H.264 video decoding. Added capabilities such as Smart Rendering, Smart Zooming, Smart Seek, Sleep Mode, and Advanced Out-of-Memory Management help drive efficiency and reliability gains. As a result, the reduced memory and CPU consumption help increase battery life on mobile devices.

Finally, expanded options for high-quality media delivery provide new ways to deliver rich Internet experiences using HTTP Dynamic Streaming, content protection, and improved support for live events, buffer control, globalization, and peer-assisted networking.

Learn more about the new features.

Related Posts

• Adobe Flash Player 11.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.3 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Adobe Flash Player 10.2 Direct Download Links for Windows & Mac
• Download Adobe CS6 Trials: Direct Links (no Assistant or Manager)
• Photoshop Elements 10 Direct Download Links: Free Trials, Premiere

The presentations are 90-minute live “deep dives” with Adobe product experts where you can get firsthand detailed information on the new features of these releases, see demonstrations, and get direct answers to your questions. All sessions are from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM ET on upcoming Tuesdays, and will be presented in English:

Deep Dive: Adobe Illustrator CS5
Tuesday, July 13, 11:30am – 1:00pm US/Eastern
Complimentary Registration

Deep Dive: Adobe InDesign CS5
Tuesday, July 27, 11:30am – 1:00pm US/Eastern
Complimentary Registration

Deep Dive: Adobe Flash Professional CS5
Tuesday, August 10, 11:30am – 1:00pm US/Eastern
Complimentary Registration

Deep Dive: Adobe Premiere Pro CS5
Tuesday, August 24, 11:30am – 1:00pm US/Eastern
Complimentary Registration

The only requirements to participate are a web browser with an Internet connection and Adobe Flash Player.

If you’re also interested in Photoshop or Lightroom, this additional free webinar is a bonus:

  Professional Photographer Workflow — Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Lightroom
  Thursday, July 15, 2010, 1:00pm – 2:00pm US/Eastern — Watch On-Demand

Adobe Digital Imaging Evangelist Julieanne Kost will demonstrate how you can leverage the tight integration between Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom software to create a completely fluid workflow to manage and edit images. Learn how to easily select multiple photos in Lightroom and automatically open them in Photoshop CS5 to merge them into a panorama, an HDR image, or a multilayered Photoshop document. Discover the ease of “Edit in” the power of presets for exporting files as well as how to hand off images from Lightroom to Photoshop CS5 to automat­ically run actions for speed and efficiency.

[Photo credit: javiy]

Related Posts

• Adobe Creative Suite 5 Is Now Shipping!
• Download Free Adobe CS5 eBook on Photoshop, Dreamweaver, more
• Free Printing Guide for Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator & Acrobat
• Adobe Plans CS5 “Mid-Cycle Release” (CS5.5?), Mulls Subscriptions
• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)

Adobe announced their second quarter financial results yesterday and during the accompany­ing conference call, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen spoke about their Flash technology and how it’s doing given the recent contro­versy with Apple. The call transcript quotes Narayen as saying:

Enabling our customers to deliver engaging experiences across multiple devices remains a focus of the company. Today we announced availability of Flash Player 10.1 for mobile devices, which delivers on the promise of enabling access to the full web across desktops and devices. We expect millions of devices to ship with 10.1 in the second half of 2010.

Flash is strategic for Adobe because it delivers great value to our customers. Approxi­mately 3.5 million Flash designers and developers are working with Flash-based solutions today, and their ranks grew by 59 percent in 2009. The new release of Flash Player creates a whole new sandbox for these millions of designers and developers to create next-generation content, advertising, games, applications and experiences.

We’ve already seen that those who have been using the new Flash Player on Android phones love it; and as devices start to ship with Flash during the rest of the year, those that don’t have Flash on their smartphones will wish they did.

During the subsequent Q&A session with analysts, the question came in, “are you seeing any impact on the Creative Suite business relative to the Flash and HTML5 debate?” Last month we reported here there would be “no impact,” and yesterday the CEO confirmed:

No, we really have not seen any impact on our Flash authoring business. What we are finding frankly is that we’re seeing more and more fragmented workflows as people have to author to different standards. And the demand actually on our authoring side, to be able to deal with all these disparate workflows is actually causing more attention being paid to the Creative Suite 5 features.

In fact, for CS5 products containing Flash authoring and output, we have a 22% increase in revenue over CS4 to date. And I think you’ll see probably another ten tablet-style devices that come out with different resolutions between now and holiday season, which will increase the demand for that capability within our products.

And we’ve said this multiple times, both Flash and HTML are really going to be the solution for the web. Both of them have benefits. And Adobe has had a long history of supporting both existing formats; and when the formats don’t exist, of inventing appropriate technology to enable people to deliver the kind of experience they want.

But if you think about sporting events that are happening or when you think about television, all of that’s also being streamed on the internet and frankly all of that’s in Flash. So for those who have been watching the soccer or golf, virtually all of that content is in Flash.

The press reviews of the new Flash Player 10.1 on mobile devices have been good and the demos impressive, and it’s the #1 free download on Android. At today’s Droid X launch in New York (see video interview below with Adobe, Google, Verizon, and Motorola), Google’s mobile VP Andy Rubin shared that 160,000 Android phones are now activated each day, up from a prior estimate of 100,000/day just last month. As more and more Android devices come to market, along with planned support for Flash Player on RIM’s Blackberry devices, Nokia’s Symbian and MeeGo devices, Palm’s WebOS devices, and future versions of Windows Phone, Flash’s future looks bright.

Related Posts

• Adobe Working on New Release of Creative Suite 5 (CS5.3? CS5.5?)
• How to Create Adobe Flash Pro CS5 Apps for Apple iPhone & iPad
• Apple Extends Olive Branch to Adobe over Flash Apps
• Adobe Works Around Apple with New Digital Publishing Technology
• Adobe: No Impact to CS5 Adoption from Apple Actions

Best practices in optimizing web content for Flash Player 10.1
Tuesday, June 22, 9AM–10AM PDT — Watch Free On-Demand

The quickest way to build cross-platform apps with AIR 2
Tuesday, June 22, 1PM–2PM PDT — Watch Free On-Demand

Rich Internet App development with Flash Builder 4 for Flash Player 10.1 and AIR 2
Wednesday, June 23, 9AM–10AM PDT — Watch Free On-Demand

Multi-screen web content development with Flash Pro CS5
Thursday, June 24, 9AM–10AM PDT — Watch Free On-Demand

There’s also been a ton of good Flash-related news in recent weeks… Some of the best:

• A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words: Why Flash is Hard to Replace
• Two Pictures is Worth 2,000 Words: Flash Player 10.1 is #1 Free Download on Android
• Demos: Flash Player Now Does Hardware-Accelerated HD Video on a Range of Devices
• Add Another Screen: Google TV Integrates Flash Player 10.1 on Television Sets
• Shape Future Adobe Development by Giving Your Feedback via New Adobe Labs Ideas
• New Video Codec Coming: Flash Player Will Support On2/Google’s VP8 Video
• Goooooal! Flash Powers Live Streaming of the World Cup on ESPN Online

Related Posts

• Using Adobe CS5 to Create Websites and Apps for Mobile & Tablets
• The Five Essential Principles of Web & Interaction Design: A Tutorial
• Jump in with Free Adobe CS5 Deep Dive Product Sessions
• Adobe Photoshop Best Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Training & Tutorials
• Free Yearlong Adobe CS5 Curriculums for Teachers & Students