YouTube, Vimeo Ditching Flash for HTML5

YouTube and Vimeo is kicking Adobe's Flash to the curb in favor of the sharp new HTML5.

Both YouTube and Vimeo have announced that they are launching HTML5-based players on their video streaming sites, thus booting out the long-standing champ of multimedia delivery, Adobe Flash. With recent security issues plaguing Adobe products, it's no surprise that media giants such as YouTube are jumping ship. What makes HTML5 special is that the new Web standard doesn't require Adobe's software to stream content to viewers.

On Wednesday, YouTube launched this portal (TestTube) for HTML5 video, however the drawback is that the new technology is only supported in Google Chrome, Apple's Safari Internet browser, and Internet Explorer with Google's Chrome frame installed. Mozilla's Firefox and Opera currently do not work with YouTube's HTML5-based video player.

Vimeo, on the other hand, isn't launching a separate portal: the service will place an HTML5-related link below each video so that consumers have a choice. Like YouTube's portal, Vimeo's HTML5 vidoes will work with Chrome, Safari, and Internet Explorer with Chrome frame installed--Firefox and Opera will not display the special HTML5 links.

Outside security issues, both companies can now offer videos to devices that do not support Adobe Flash. According to CNET, Vimeo reports that 90-percent of its videos will work in HTML5; YouTube did not provide numbers. However, YouTube videos viewed in HTML5 will supposedly be free of ads and user-created information.

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Top Comments

34 Ð

lifelesspoet , January 22, 2010 10:21 AM

In others news, execs at Adobe and involuntarily spit their morning coffee all over their screens.
24 Ð

cdillon , January 22, 2010 11:12 AM

The odd choice in browser support is due to each browser's choice in which HTML5 video type they wanted to support. You have a choice between Vorbis and H.264 for HTML5 video. Chrome and Safari support H.264. Firefox and Opera support Vorbis. There's nothing stopping anybody from supporting BOTH formats at the same time, on either side, it's mostly a matter of Firefox and Opera not wanting to pay the licensing fees required for an H.264 decoder, and Google and Apple don't trust that Vorbis isn't subject to submarine patents which could bite them in the ass in the future (which I think is ridiculous, because H.264 could potentially have the same problem). So for the moment there is a rift in HTML5 video, but at least it's only a small rift which I think will get worked out sooner rather than later.
20 Ð

Supertrek32 , January 22, 2010 10:50 AM

'bout time we kicked the outdated software to the curb. Adobe's decided it's not going to update it, and after years of complaining still hasn't even managed to get a 64 bit version out. If a company doesn't listen to its customers, it's doomed to be replaced.

Other Comments

34 Ð

lifelesspoet , January 22, 2010 10:21 AM

In others news, execs at Adobe and involuntarily spit their morning coffee all over their screens.
10 Ð

ta152h , January 22, 2010 10:42 AM

Hmmmm, the only two browsers I use are Opera and, if I have to, Firefox. I can understand them leaving out Opera, with roughly 2% market share, but Firefox? While including Safari? Seems strange to me.
20 Ð

Supertrek32 , January 22, 2010 10:50 AM

'bout time we kicked the outdated software to the curb. Adobe's decided it's not going to update it, and after years of complaining still hasn't even managed to get a 64 bit version out. If a company doesn't listen to its customers, it's doomed to be replaced.
19 Ð

mianmian , January 22, 2010 10:52 AM

Youtube better support Firefox 3.6 at least. Firefox is no minority any more.
4 Ð

radiowars , January 22, 2010 11:01 AM

OMFG! I'm so excited for this. I run a +20mb/s connection and I used to not be able to watch HD videos on youtube (or regular tbh. SOOOO SLOW!). Now, HTML5 instantly loads. It's amazing. Thank you, finally. No longer having to wait for youtube videos to load.
8 Ð

dravis12 , January 22, 2010 11:05 AM

It's about time. Flash is a joke, Adobe has grown way to complacent about quality of their products. Need more stuff like this and Silverlight.
-7 Ð

anonymous@guest , January 22, 2010 11:09 AM

What if I don't want to install stupid google chrome frame into internet explorer???

Google's starting to become more like MS in the 90's all the time!
14 Ð

JamesSneed , January 22, 2010 11:09 AM

Firefox 3.6 came out today and it supports HTML5. Havent tried it yet but im guessing it works. Anyone give it a try yet?
24 Ð

cdillon , January 22, 2010 11:12 AM

The odd choice in browser support is due to each browser's choice in which HTML5 video type they wanted to support. You have a choice between Vorbis and H.264 for HTML5 video. Chrome and Safari support H.264. Firefox and Opera support Vorbis. There's nothing stopping anybody from supporting BOTH formats at the same time, on either side, it's mostly a matter of Firefox and Opera not wanting to pay the licensing fees required for an H.264 decoder, and Google and Apple don't trust that Vorbis isn't subject to submarine patents which could bite them in the ass in the future (which I think is ridiculous, because H.264 could potentially have the same problem). So for the moment there is a rift in HTML5 video, but at least it's only a small rift which I think will get worked out sooner rather than later.
0 Ð

Gin Fushicho , January 22, 2010 11:15 AM

I thought the new Firefox 3.6 supported that....
4 Ð

JonathanDeane , January 22, 2010 11:16 AM

Video in Opera is hit and miss, although to be honest it is the Alpha build so I can imagine its still a bit buggy.

10.5 Aplha

http://labs.opera.com/news/2009/12/22/
6 Ð

nebun , January 22, 2010 11:34 AM

adobe flash is responsible for a lot of problems, i am happy to see it being replaced
0 Ð

dragonsqrrl , January 22, 2010 11:34 AM

HTML5 doesn't require additional software installation for playback... but it doesn't playback at all on Firefox, one of the most popular web browsers available?? At least at the moment that doesn't sound all that "special", especially in comparison to what's already available through flash.

Then again I know nothing of the potential benefits of HTML5 video content, perhaps in terms of performance/efficiency? Flash has always been a bit buggy for me in this regard.
0 Ð

footsoldier , January 22, 2010 11:35 AM

ta152hHmmmm, the only two browsers I use are Opera and, if I have to, Firefox. I can understand them leaving out Opera, with roughly 2% market share, but Firefox? While including Safari? Seems strange to me.

It's because the editors of HTML5 are from Google and Apple. I believe it will come to Firefox, soon.
-4 Ð

IzzyCraft , January 22, 2010 11:43 AM

Gin FushichoI thought the new Firefox 3.6 supported that....

yeah but youtube doesn't support firefox =p imo i don't trust it when i see download google chrome every time i go there.
-4 Ð

greenskye , January 22, 2010 11:44 AM

apparently you don't read the articles on your own site

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/firefox-3.6-mozilla-download-browser,9490.html

states that the new firefox 3.6 supports it.
-2 Ð

Pyroflea , January 22, 2010 11:47 AM

Yeah, Firefox 3.6 supports HTML5...
7 Ð

anonymous@guest , January 22, 2010 12:11 PM

youtube is owned by google.....

supporting chrome and not firefox, didn't see that one coming....
14 Ð

haze4peace , January 22, 2010 12:31 PM

cdillonThe odd choice in browser support is due to each browser's choice in which HTML5 video type they wanted to support. You have a choice between Vorbis and H.264 for HTML5 video. Chrome and Safari support H.264. Firefox and Opera support Vorbis. There's nothing stopping anybody from supporting BOTH formats at the same time, on either side, it's mostly a matter of Firefox and Opera not wanting to pay the licensing fees required for an H.264 decoder, and Google and Apple don't trust that Vorbis isn't subject to submarine patents which could bite them in the ass in the future (which I think is ridiculous, because H.264 could potentially have the same problem). So for the moment there is a rift in HTML5 video, but at least it's only a small rift which I think will get worked out sooner rather than later.

This is the correct post about firefox and html5
2 Ð

randomizer , January 22, 2010 1:20 PM

Finally this pond scum is being scraped off the Internet.

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YouTube, Vimeo Ditching Flash for HTML5

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