Flash Player For Palm OS

Introduction:











This petition seeks the creation of a Flash (SWF) player for the Palm OS platform, capable of playing standard flash files, created in recent versions of flash, such as Flash MX, 8 and 9 and Flash video content (.FLV). Currently, the only Flash player for the Palm OS platform is one which ships with Sony Clie handhelds. This player is only capable of playing content up to version 5.0, leaving out a large portion of the Flash content available on the web.











Why the Palm Platform:











The Palm OS platform is a well known PDA environment, which has been implemented in dozens of products, including at 13 smartphones. Over 40 million Palm OS devices have been sold all over the world. The devices which run this robust system are increasingly being used for web browsing and other internet activities. The Palm Treo 650, and its successor the Treo 700p are amongst the most popular pda/phone combinations on the market and have garnered glowing reviews. These phones have achieved a following of Palm enthusiasts, who are constantly looking to do more with their devices. Additionally, Palm devices such as the Lifedrive and TX feature integrated wifi and are commonly used for internet browsing.

















Necessity For Flash Player:











Due to its efficiency and ease of use, Flash has become the unofficial defacto standard for vector graphics, animation and graphical applets on the web. Increasingly, websites are using Flash for their primary user interface and navigational features. The lack of an effective Flash player for the Palm platform hampers users ability to use such sites.











Additionally, Flash is the standard used by numerous sites for audio or video files. Sites such as YouTube and Google Video have become extremely popular for both entertainment and the distribution of informational content. These sites use FLV video, with Flash-based embedded players. Allowing these sites to be viewed on Palm devices would be a giant step in creating a truly mobile internet solution.











Creating a Flash client for the Palm platform would also have the effect of immediately increasing the number of games and entertainment options for the system. There are already numerous Flash-based game applets as well as popular Flash cartoons, such as homestarrunner.com. By allowing these games, applications and animations to be used on the Palm platform, the user will immediately be given more options in what they can do with their device.











Conclusion:











As a dominant platform for mobile computing and communications, support for the Palm OS system is a necessity for any major internet standard or content type. With the growing use of Flash in web navigation, video distribution, entertainment and gaming, it is critical that support for Flash be extended to the Palm platform. There may be some limitations in the capabilities of a mobile Flash player (due to screen resolution, device profile, input methods available). However, a Flash 8 or 9 player for Palm is without doubt a worthwhile application with very high potential.