Intel and Adobe are to collaborate on optimising Flash technology for the chipmaker's CE3100 media processor, the companies announced on Monday.
The tie-in follows on from Intel's involvement in Adobe's Open Screen Project, which aims to get Flash-based web content and applications running consistently on digital televisions, set-top boxes and handheld devices. To kick off the project, Adobe scrapped the licensing fees that it had previously charged manufacturers for embedding Flash into devices.
The CE3100 system-on-a-chip is the first in a new range from Intel that targets internet-connected consumer electronics. According to an Intel statement, the CE3100 will start shipping with "support for an optimised implementation of Adobe Flash Lite" before the middle of the year.
William Leszinske, the general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group, said in the statement that the CE3100 would bring the high-definition capabilities of Adobe Flash to life.
"Our effort with Adobe is poised to accelerate a rich yet relevant internet experience on the TV that will provide consumers with access to a growing number of Flash-based applications that will ultimately be enjoyed across a number of screens seamlessly, from the laptop to a [mobile internet device] and now the TV," Leszinske said.
Adobe's general manager for its platform business unit, David Wadhwani, said in the statement that the CE3100 would be capable of delivering outstanding Flash experiences to millions of homes, as the latest TV sets and set-top boxes enter the market.
The Open Screen Project is not only focused on broadening the range of device types that can run Flash — it is also geared towards doing the same for Adobe AIR.
AIR, which runs across a variety of operating systems, allows developers to create web applications that run both offline and online. According to Monday's statement, Adobe and Intel are also working on an optimised version of AIR for Intel's digital home platform.
Intel is currently pushing hard into the home multimedia market. In partnership with Yahoo, the chipmaker is expected to show off new web-enabled TVs at this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Intel rival ARM is keen on addressing the same market. In November, ARM announced its own deal with Adobe, which should see Flash Player 10 optimised for devices that use ARM's architecture.
Talkback
The combos of Intel and ARM with Adobe is a good sign that the real power of microcomputers are beginning to take on the desktop systems we've struggled to play video and music on before this.
You shouldn't have to write a program or make a http browser connection to a web site just to watch your favorite soap opera!