
Adobe
With the release of Adobe Flash Player 9 Update 3, Flash developers gain significant improvements for playing video content in Flash Player. This update includes changes to the FLVPlayback component that take advantage of the end user's system video hardware to provide better video playback performance. The changes to the FLVPlayback component also increase the fidelity of video files displayed in full-screen mode.
Additionally, Flash Player 9 Update 3 (9,0,115,0) improves the functionality of the FLVPlayback component by adding support for the high-definition MPEG-4 video formats that utilize industry standard H.264 encoding. These formats include MP4, M4A, MOV, MP4V, 3GP, and 3G2. Protected MP4 files—such as those downloaded from Apple iTunes or digitally encrypted by FairPlay—are not supported, however.
Note: The ActionScript 2.0 FLVPlayback component also supports MPEG-4 video formats that utilize H.264 encoding, beginning with Flash Player 9 Update 3.
In order to make the most of this article, you need the following software:
Note: For users of Flash CS3 Professional, an update including all debug and release versions of Flash Player 9 Update 3—and a new video playback component supporting H.264—is now available via Adobe Update Manager or directly from the Flash Support Center.
Prior experience working with video content in the Adobe Flash authoring interface is useful, but not required. Some knowledge of working with the FLVPlayback component is also helpful.

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Bob Berry is a senior technical writer with Adobe Systems, Inc. Prior to joining Adobe, Bob worked at Macromedia for four years, at IBM briefly, and at Informix Software for 10 years.
James Wiley specializes in writing, marketing, and web development. His clients have included Sony, T-Mobile, Starbucks, and Adobe.