Skip to main content

Adobe reveals Flash-to-HTML5 converter Wallaby

The problem with Adobe’s Flash for most consumers, as anyone with an Apple iPhone/iPad is acutely aware of, is that it is not universally supported by all mobile platforms. Google’s Android OS didn’t get Flash until version 2.2 and there is still some time to go yet before support is added to the tablet-centric 3.0 Honeycomb update, but the runaway success of Apple’s iDevices has left a sizable number of mobile tech users without access to chunks of the Internet.

Apple has instead put a big push behind the less hardware-intensive HTML5, which a number of popular websites — notably YouTube — have converted to or offer support for. In recognition of this, Adobe has pulled back the veil on an experimental file conversion application called Wallaby which is designed to turn your Flash files into HTML. It is a developer-focused release, so you won’t be able to put this on your phone and start browsing through Flash-driven pages.

Recommended Videos

Instead, the intent with this initial offering is to give advertisers a workable solution for bringing their Flash-based ads to iOS devices, as it says in the Wallaby release notes. Awesome. That Flash-driven website still gives you the frowny face icon whenever you load it, but at least the Extenze ad at the top of the page is fully animated!

In all seriousness, this is at least a first step. The initial release of Wallaby doesn’t support the conversion of ActionScript, movies or sound, but Adobe is working on implementing these features and more. For now the application simply takes your supported Flash content and converts it to a mix of HTML, CSS and JavaScript code, which can then be edited or simply dropped into a webpage.

Adam Rosenberg
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…
Apple Intelligence features are finally available for everyone
Apple Intelligence & Siri screen on an iPhone 16 Pro

Apple has begun rolling out Apple Intelligence to those with eligible iPhones through the latest iOS 18.1 update. Apple Intelligence was originally shown off during WWDC 2024 in June and has been available to those on the developer and public betas. However, as of today, iOS 18.1 is available to everyone, though Apple Intelligence is only available for the iPhone 15 Pro models and the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

With iOS 18.1, those users can now access several Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, a more natural and capable Siri, summarize notifications, a smarter Photos app, and priority messages in Mail. Be aware that these are just a fraction of Apple Intelligence features — there are even more AI tools coming in iOS 18.2, which is currently in beta.

Read more
If you aren’t already using the Apple Sports app, you need to
The Apple Sports app running on an iPhone 16.

Friends, we are well into the best time of the year: football season. The Lions are off to an incredible start, the Vikings look dangerously good, and I'm continually amazed by how bad the Browns are.

The 2024 season has been a lot of fun. Not only have the games been entertaining, but I've also had a much better time following the latest plays and scores on my phone. After begrudgingly using the ESPN app last year and the year before, I decided to go all-in on Apple Sports this year — and I couldn't be happier. If you have an iPhone and aren't already using Apple Sports, this is your reminder that you absolutely need to.
A clean, simple, and ad-free interface

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs. Google Pixel 9 Pro: Which Pro is best?
Hero photo of the back of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro

Smartphones are constantly getting bigger, and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max and Google Pixel 9 Pro XL both stretch the boundaries of what's comfortable to use with one hand. Thankfully, Apple and Google also launched the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro, which offer the same premium flagship experience in a smaller, more ergonomic form factor.

Each phone boasts reasons to buy it over the other, and many of these have to do with AI. Both phones also cost $1,000, So, which one should you buy? Which phone has the best mix of hardware and software, and utilizes AI in ways that will improve your life? Let’s dive into the details.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro vs Google Pixel 9 Pro: specs

Read more