Adobe Flash Player 10.2 now available to download

Adobe has released the latest version of its Flash Player; version 10.2, which is now available to download. The update includes a host of fresh benefits, including advanced security measures, faster graphics rendering, all-new APIs, minor bug fixes, improved text rendering and added support for mobile devices.

The addition of the new Stage Video API enables hardware acceleration of the entire video pipeline, which helps to take the strain off your computer’s CPU. The result is higher frame rates, reduced memory usage, and greater pixel fidelity during high-def video playback. According to Adobe, this reduces processor usage by up to 85 percent. (This will be especially advantageous for mobile devices, with less strain on battery life.)

The 10.2 update boasts increased support for multitouch, gestures, mobile input models, and accelerometer input. This will allow developers to create interactive content for the latest hardware and operating systems, with options for pinch, scroll, rotate, scale, and two-finger tap. (Native custom mouse cursors can also be created for that personal touch.)

If you like working on multiple monitors, Flash Player 10.2 should definitely impress; the player now allows you to play full-screen content on one monitor, while working on the other display. In addition, video streams now automatically adjust to suit changing network conditions. Support for the GPU rendering technology in Internet Explorer 9 is also included.

Adobe Flash Player 10.2 requires a minimum of 128MB RAM for Windows users and 128MB of graphics memory. (Mac OS X and Linux/Solaris users will need 256MB of RAM and 512MB of RAM, respectively.)

For a full overview of what’s new in Adobe Flash Player 10.2, click here.

To download Adobe Flash Player 10.2, visit the Adobe Labs download centre.