Flash player

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This command is run in the standard Linux environment via the Terminal Activity. The GUI will probably not integrate comfortably with the XO Laptop's Sugar environment. Your user experience may vary considerably depending on the established environment and the other programs running on the laptop, may need re-installation after an OS Update. See the Linux software category for other commands.

Introduction

Flash is a popular format for interactive online content, including animation, video, and games. The Browse activity on the XO can display Flash content embedded in web pages, provided that an appropriate Flash plugin is installed.

Official Adobe Flash

Adobe makes the official Flash plugin, but OLPC cannot ship it on the XOs because it is legally restricted and doesn't meet the OLPC's standards for open software. Instead, the XO ships with Gnash, an open source Flash plugin that can play some (but not all) Flash content; in particular, it can't play YouTube videos.

As an individual, you can download and install Adobe's Flash plugin to view all Flash content. Instructions are on the Adobe Flash page.

Installing Flash 9 plugin

• Get the XO's WiFi connected to a wireless access point so the XO can download Firefox from the internet. Read more about how to do this at Wifi_Connectivity.

• Start the Terminal_Activity.

• When you see a prompt that looks roughly like "[olpc@xo-NN-NN-NN]$", start typing the following commands, pressing the <enter> key after each one:
• First, use the 'su' command to go into "superuser" mode. Be careful in this mode, as you can mess up your XO if you make a mistake.

su

• Download the plugin file using wget:

wget http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz

• Unpack the file using tar:

tar xzvf install_flash_player_9_linux.tar.gz

• Run the flashplayer-installer and follow instructions:

./flashplayer-installer

• Exit from "superuser" mode:

exit

Non-macromedia readers

• See Gnash - http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/ Flash Player

Codecs

Flash uses video codecs to decode and show video. Some have patent issues, so not included with basic shipped system.

YouTube, for instance, apparently uses h.263.

See also

• RealPlayer
• OpenQuicktime?

• gstreamer (which may include OpenQuicktime), see: Software components#Libraries and Plugins
• helix (which can play Flash, among other formats),
• see: Software components#Applications (and ports) under development for B2

• Ask OLPC a Question about Software#Include Flash Player?
• Ask OLPC a Question#RealPlayer in OPLC and applications download
• Web Browser#Flash in the default web browser

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