Adobe Releases New 64-Bit Flash Plugin For Linux 240
TheDarkener writes "Adobe seems to have made an about face regarding their support for native 64-bit Linux support for Flash today, and released a new preview Flash plugin named 'Square.' This includes a native 64-bit version for Linux, which I have verified works on my Debian Lenny LTSP server by simply copying libflashplayer.so to /usr/lib/iceweasel/plugins — with sound (which I was never able to figure out with running the 32-bit version with nspluginwrapper and pulseaudio)."
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
The summary is just bollocks as usual, don't worry. It's not linux getting a 64 bit version, it's all the platforms flash was available on getting one. Both Mac OS and Windows got a 64 bit version today too.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:5, Informative)
But I mean, misleading headline much? Why not say all OSes got 64-bit. Do they expect us to read the article or something? Honestly.
In a word, "yes". You can't expect your opinion to be taken seriously if you haven't at least tried to get your facts (however limited/speculative/subjective/fanciful they may be) from the article straight first.
The other half of the story is that there was a 64 bit flash plugin for Linux (which we only got some considerable length of time after Windoze users got theirs) which was unceremoniously dumped. To make matters worse, Gentoo went and blocked all old 64 bit versions at the same time because of "security issues". (as if the new version didn't have security issues!)
Re:is it faster? (Score:3, Informative)
I installed the new player under Chrome and left the old 64-bit plugin in Firefox on this same machine. The old player stutters still. The new one doesn't.
Reading comprehension is important! (Score:2, Informative)
The word includes implies that it is not the only version. You merely made a false assumption based on a misinterpretation of what was actually in the summary. I agree the summaries are often wrong here, but in this case you are quite off base I'm afraid.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:1, Informative)
Wrong. Linux was already going 64 bit in 1993 when Linus was given an Alpha box. Had this event not happened, who knows whether his project would have become multi-platform so long ago, instead of being stuck on the awful x86.
Enable hardware acceleration (Score:5, Informative)
The 64-bit plugin for Linux has never had hardware acceleration enabled. The 32-bit version does... maybe they've finally enabled it in this new version. I'll switch to this if that's the case... otherwise, I'm happy with my 32-bit plugin and smooth full screen video.
Right-click, Settings...
[x] Enable hardware acceleration
Looks promising!
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
[quote]Windows 7 is the first consumer desktop OS which is readily available and accepted in 64 bit.[/quote]
From Wikipedia:
- Mac OS X v10.5 "Leopard" was released on October 26, 2007, [..] full support for 64-bit applications
- Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009
Hulu works (Score:4, Informative)
Re:But does it work with Hulu? (Score:3, Informative)
I've got a 64-bit Linux machine and Hulu has worked (mostly) fine for me, except for fullscreen transitions sometimes breaking. (Sometimes when I go fullscreen, the video appears BELOW all windows, not above them.)
I'll try the new version when I get back from a trip this weekend. :)
Re:But does it work with Hulu? (Score:3, Informative)
First time I've ever seen Hulu actually work. The 64-bit Linux plugin works like a charm with Hulu!
OMFG (Score:3, Informative)
yaourt -S flashplugin-prerelease
I have never had fullscreen youtube even usable at 480 before, now I can run it fullscreen at 1080p and the controls are perfectly smooth and only using 70% CPU!!!
I never though this day would come. *sniff*
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
No, and I'm confused about what's going on here; Linux has had native 64-bit Flash since 2008... In fact, it was the *first* platform to get 64-bit flash.
So, what part of this is an "about face"?
Re:Is it still using 100% CPU (Score:3, Informative)
Hell if you're only wanting YouTube, then forget using the Adobe Flash player and use Gnash. Works fine for most of them in Standard Def (have no idea about the HD content) and it doesn't work with most adverts due to being compatible with flash 7.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
I have been using the old 64 bit beta at work with debian lenny and a chrooted 32 bit version at home with sidux (now called aptosid) 64bit without a problem- But I am not a heavy user of youtube maybe I was lucky.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
I must be one of the few that have had no issues with 64-bit Linux and Flash. Been running 64 bit flash version 10.0 r42 for nearly a year now. No browser crashes, no flash freezes. Works a charm.
Of course, I've downloaded this latest version and installed it. Wouldn't be a linux geek if I didn't live somewhat on the edge. So far, works well.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
When did you last try? I had some troubles with debian/ubuntu early on, but I can't remember how long it's been since I had ANY 64-bit issues (except for some really old binary linux game I tried to run about 18 months ago, which needed an extra 32bit library sourced and installed).
Honestly, this whole article surprises me, because the 64-bit linux support is so good now, I thought flash WAS ported. If not, the wrappers work very well indeed.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
You may wish to try Minefield, (4.0 beta) if you can stomach using a beta. I've actually been using the nightlies for months and they're generally stable. You may want to try a release beta, however. (4.0b6 is good). There are 64-bit linux, Mac, and Windows versions.
Keep in mind that it's a beta, though and not intended for general consumption quite yet.
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html [mozilla.com]
Because I hate Flash, I have a separate Firefox profile specifically for using the plugin. (Yes, there are other ways to block flash, but that isn't helpful if you're trying to find which of 200 tabs started autoplaying on startup)
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:2, Informative)
No issues here, either. It helps to use a manually-installed Flash, rather than relying on the Ubuntu repositories.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:1, Informative)
Actually, you're wrong. This is the first time the 64-bit version has been available for Windows or Mac. It was the Linux version that came first, by almost a year.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:2, Informative)
Version number here (Score:3, Informative)
Why Adobe chooses to not even say what version number they are releasing is beyond understanding....
But it is: 10.2.161.22
I was running an older Linux 64bit (I think it was 64 bit) version inside flashplayer-plugin-10.1.53.64-1mdv2010.1.rpm and it worked, but it crashed/froze often, requiring me to restart Firefox every few days (or more). This new version seems to run fine, but only time will tell if it is reliable.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
He does have a point, actually. The kernel code had to be 64-bit clean before it could be ported to the AMD64 architecture. I assume most of that work was done when Linus had that Alpha box. Therefore, Linux was indeed going "64 bit" back in 1993, although AMD64 support itself was not done until 2004.
Windows NT also had an Alpha version as well, and I'm sure that was available mid 90s. I guess that the code for this eventually made its way into the modern Windows 64 bit OS. Microsoft were never very big on 64 bit until fairly recently though, so that probably explains why there has been a general lack of interest in 64 bit from third parties.
Linux has been much easier to use on 64 bit systems. I always assumed it was because of the open source nature of Linux. People are willing to port code for fun, while proprietary software houses have to rely on saleability before putting in the work, therefore meshing itself in a chicken/egg scenario.
Re:Why does linux get this? (Score:3, Informative)
Thank you.