One of the many criticisms levelled against Adobe Flash - and there are many - is that it doesn't have a native 64-bit version. This means that 64-bit browsers either can't use the plugin, or have to use a compatibility layer - neither of which is an ideal compromise.
However, the company has now released a preview version of Flash for 64-bit operating systems called Square. The plug-in will work with x64 browsers under Windows and Mac OSX, including the recently released beta of Internet Explorer 9. Of course, these join the version for Linux that has been available for some time.
Other than running as a native process, Square will feature some specific tweaks that should take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of compatible processors. Improvements have also been made for IE9, including the ability to use hardware-rendering to improve graphics performance and ‘enable seamless composition'. However, it's not clear what this involves above and beyond the hardware acceleration included in Flash 10.1.
Obviously this release is strictly a preview, so there are going to be some problems, including issues on sites like Hulu, nbc.com and Audi's UK homepage. However, a quick test with the IE9 beta saw the 64-bit plug-in running fullscreen 1080p video-clips on YouTube without any problems.
Full release notes for Square are available from Adobe (PDF), as well as installers for all operating systems and browsers.
