We have supported the Flash plugin on the N900 in earlier builds, but we've found that the CPU time that Flash takes to run its own code really affects the page load and use experience. The Youtube Enabler add-on turns on Flash specifically for YouTube allowing that to play back well. We're also working on a way for users to opt-in to Flash on specific sites.

Flash is great for video and games you want to watch, but it was getting really annoying on the mobile device when you go to a site like the New York Times and the page doesn't load quickly because of the three Flash-based ads that eat CPU time when you most want to be able to pan and zoom around.

Come on, guys! Everyone needs FLASH and FLASH BLOCK plugin so WE, not you, can choose whether we want to see a Flash gadget or not! Make the mobile Flash work just like Flash and Flashblock on the desktop!

Blocking out Flash turns this beautiful browser into an iPad!

I don't care how much it slows down my "user experience". My "user experience" gets very angry when it CAN'T SEE THE VIDEO IT WANTS TO WATCH!

Youtube ONLY Flash just sucks! Flashblock is the best plugin and lets ME choose which Flash I want to watch.....

I tried to play several videos without success. I cannot understand how a browser won't allow washing video even on a device with flash player. That, I call it prehistoric browser.

One of the problems is that the Flash plugin on the N900 only works well with H.263 encoded video. YouTube has special support to send that video format by default to the N900. Other sites using VP6 or H.264 video can be played in the Flash 9 plugin on the device, but the framerate is pretty slow.

We had worked on a custom mobile flash block solution, but it wasn't quite right for the 1.0 release. In particular, on sites like the NYTimes or ESPN, it was hard to tell what you wanted to unblock, plus it had issues on sites that use Flash overlays over the page, since the blocked content would overlay the site content.

Good morning,

Flash is simply not ready for everybody to use in Fennec 1.0. Besides slowing down page load time, there are flickering issues, and it hurts responsiveness. Our team pushed hard these last few weeks working on Flash support, but it just wasn't ready. I apologize we had to cut it! Rest assured that we plan to support Flash (and well) in future versions, and we're on the path to realize that goal.

On the plus side, it's totally possible for extensions to give you control over Flash. Larry mentioned Youtube video for instance. I'm sure we'll see more of its kind in the next few weeks.

--Benjamin Stover, Fennec team (lots of Bens around eh!)