In 2010, YouTube first introduced HTML5 as an option for viewers. Fast forward five years later and the company announced Wednesday that it will be using the HTML5 Video Player as a default function in the latest editions of Google’s Chrome, Microsoft’s IE11, Apple’s Safari 8 and in beta versions of Mozilla’s Firefox browser.
For those who abhor Flash, here is the good news: Flash is likely officially dead on YouTube.
When YouTube first introduced its HTML5 Player, the features were very minimal, such as being unable to view videos in fullscreen mode. With the implementation of HTML5, the video content can now be watched with high resolutions with minimal wait times and real-time streaming. Embedded videos will also be published in HTML5.
“These advancements have benefited not just YouTube’s community, but the entire industry,” YouTube said in a statement. “Other content providers like Netflix and Vimeo, as well as companies like Microsoft and Apple, have embraced HTML5 and been key contributors to its success.”
Richard Leider, engineering manager at YouTube, told Silicon Republic that there are a wide variety of reasons to adopt HTML5, including the fact that most smart televisions and media streaming devices are equipped with HTML5. In addition, HTML5 consumers permit to start using open VP9 codec, a function for higher quality video resolutions.
In other words, HTML5 supports a single video player across a variety of media platforms.
“Combined with Common Encryption, we can support multiple content protection technologies on different platforms with a single set of assets, making YouTube play faster and smoother,” said Leider.
Whether or not the rumors of Flash’s death are greatly exaggerated remains to be seen. However, if Flash does meet its demise then that would please many people on the Internet today. Tech experts say Flash is losing tech support, consumers’ approval and when developers look into the long-term they only see HTML5 and not Flash.
