Yesterday Adobe released several new versions of programs available to developers and among them is Media Server 4.5, a program that attracted attention all thanks to the implementation of iOS support. The new version of Media Server allows website owners to offer flash content to iDevices using a system that converts the clip into the format supported by iOS and transmits it using HTTP Dynamic or Live Streaming protocol. In practice, Media Server 4.5 works on the principle implemented in the Air Video application, that is, it transforms flash content into that accepted by iOS and does live streaming.
Now publishers can simplify their video publishing and protection workflows with Adobe Flash Media Server 4.5 with protected HLS support, audio channel extraction, DVR/PVR live, on demand and variant playlists. One set of content without any preparation or additional storage and deliver safely to both Adobe Flash with HDS and to Apple devices using HLS.
Although Media Server 4.5 was presented yesterday as bringing flash to iOS, in reality this will not happen anytime soon. The Media Server only works for video clips, so the rest of the flash content will still be inaccessible from iDevices that use Safari to browse the web. Of course, a browser like Puffin solves the problem of viewing flash content, but it would be better if Apple solved it by implementing it directly in iOS.
