Adobe has decided to rename the next release of Macromedia Flash Player as Flash Player 9. During beta releases on Adobe Labs, this player was known as Flash Player 8.5.

Flash Player 8.5 9 will add a new virtual machine [performance enhancements], AVM2, and a new programming language, ActionScript 3.0. Clearly, Adobe wants to sync the version numbers of Flash Player and the upcoming Macromedia Flash 9 Authoring tool (dubbed Blaze).

Like Adobe Flex, Flash Player 9 will also be available for download this summer. The Adobe Flash 9 wishlist is also accepting entries.

Download Macromedia Flash Player - Version 8,0,24,0