Adobe, Intel to Bring Flash to TVs

Adobe and Intel have announced plans to bring Adobe's Flash platform to televisions, enabling more sophisticated on-screen interfaces and access to Web content.

Software developer Adobe and chipmaker Intel have announced they’re working to bring Adobe’s Flash Player and Flash Light to Intels’ Media Processor CE3100—in other words, the companies plan to put Flash into televisions and TV peripherals. The combined technologies would not only enable televisions to access Web-based Flash content, but also permit more sophisticated onscreen interfaces.

“The Intel Media Processor CE 3100 is a highly integrated solution that provides a powerful, yet flexible technology foundation that will bring to life the high-definition capabilities of Adobe Flash,” said Intel’s digital home group general manager William O. Leszinske Jr., in a statement. “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.”

Intel plans to begin shipping its firs CE100 chips with support for an “optimized” version of Adobe Flash Lite before the middle of 2009; shortly thereafter, they should start making their way into consumer television offerings, along with television gear like Blu-ray players, set-top boxes, DVRs, and other AV peripherals.

The companies also say they’re working together to bring an optimized version of Adobe’s Air technology to Intel digital home platform.

Intel’s CE100 processor line aimed at digital home devices also plays a factor in Yahoo’s plans to wiggle into living room TVs.