Adobe announced the End-of-Life (EOL) for Flash Player at the end of 2020 (some 3 1/2 years from the date of this announcement/post).

Below are some of the resources and posts related to Flash Player and Adobe Connect.  I will continue to update this post as new information is available.

Ian Justin Op-Ed on the Flash Player EOL Announcement

Below is my view on this change and what it means to Adobe Connect.  Skip this section if you just want the official blog posts and announcements below.

For as long as I can remember (at least a decade), the bloggers have posted on the end-of-life for Flash Player and today that EOL has finally been decided…technically Flash Player will have outlived the blogger predictions by a good 15 years.  This has actually been challenging for Adobe Connect, particularly in recent years when security concerns and blocking of plugins by browsers have made Flash Player less inviting for IT professionals.  Note that in all of this time, I have not experienced a single incidence of Flash Player compromising the security of an Adobe Connect user.

The Adobe Connect team has been working on the transition from Flash Player for some time, the first iteration being the ‘Connect Mobile’ application for iOS and Android as these devices were the first to remove Flash Player as an option.  As a result, the mature Connect Mobile App is an exceptional experience and unmatched in its depth of features and engagement.

The Connect team has an HTML5 option in beta and this will form the basis for entry to a Connect session without any install in the future as HTML5 and other technologies become less immature and inconsistent across browsers.  These technologies were not designed for the degree of interaction, video, audio and engagement that differentiates Adobe Connect.  As Adobe notes in their announcement however, that is the direction they intend to take with the other leaders in the field so this will improve over time.

In the meantime, it has become key to remove the dependence on the browser to enter a Connect session as browsers blocking plugins or add-ins will continue to make this less transparent.  Adobe has announced that in August 2017 they will release a desktop app (client) that will allow users easier installation, access to Connect sessions and improved diagnostics.  This application will also be packaged to ensure it is acceptable and easy for IT professionals to install and maintain.

As the use of Flash Player continues to wane, the desktop application and the existing Connect Meeting Add-in will fill the gap until the HTML5 and other technologies come of age.

It is important to remember that this change in the way browsers allow plugins and add-ins will affect all vendors in all fields that use a browser as a ‘gateway’ and Adobe’s approach with Connect seems to me to be very sound and consistent.  Addressing an immediate need and working for the future in parallel.  I would expect the HTML5 option to be in use and developing as the desktop application eventually becomes redundant in the future.

Again, these thoughts are the opinion of Ian Justin of GetConnect and intended to try to simplify a little the many messages and discussions we will see on this in the coming months.

Flash Player End-of-Life Announcement from Adobe:

https://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2017/07/adobe-flash-update.html

Blog Post discussing Adobe Connect and the end-of-Life for Flash Player from the Adobe Connect Team:

http://blogs.adobe.com/adobeconnect/2017/07/adobe-connect-on-web-conferencing-open-standards-and-the-end-of-the-flash-player.html

Blog Post discussing Adobe’s approach to joining Connect rooms in the future from the Adobe Connect team:

http://blogs.adobe.com/adobeconnect/2017/07/announcing-adobe-connect-9-7.html