youtube.pngYouTube yesterday announced it has begun using HTML5 video by default for all playback on its website, marking a substantial step in its gradual move away from Flash. The company states the new default will work in most popular web browsers including Safari.

Richard Leider, Engineering Manager for YouTube, reiterated on the adaptability of HTML5 over Flash and the use of the former's capabilities beyond a simple web browser. With YouTube's extension to devices like gaming consoles, and even the Apple TV, the benefits of dropping Flash became far more apparent over the years.

Over the last four years, we’ve worked with browser vendors and the broader community to close those gaps, and now, YouTube uses HTML5 by default in Chrome, IE 11, Safari 8 and in beta versions of Firefox.

The benefits of HTML5 extend beyond web browsers, and it's now also used in smart TVs and other streaming devices.

The new shift to HTML5 will allow better video streaming in adjustment to shifting network conditions, quicker video playback, easier access to 60 FPS HD and 4K content, with updates to encrypted media extensions that will allow the service to overall be "faster and smoother."

Despite having long dominated web video and other interactive content, Flash has been under fire for years over performance and security issues. Back in 2010, Steve Jobs famously wrote an open letter, his "Thoughts on Flash," to address the ongoing controversy over Apple's refusal to support Flash on its iOS devices. After summing up a series of shortcoming of Flash, Jobs end his letter by suggesting "Adobe should focus more on creating great HTML5 tools for the future, and less on criticizing Apple for leaving the past behind."

Tags: YouTube, HTML5

Top Rated Comments

dannyyankou Avatar
dannyyankou
85 months ago
Steve Jobs would be smiling reading this.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
elmateo487 Avatar
elmateo487
85 months ago
I abandoned Youtube over this since I refused to let flash near any of my computers. I will now see if I am even interested in youtube. Still nice to see google finally catching up to modern times.

Lol. You could have just done the html5 demo and set your account to play everything in html5. Like... Years ago
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redheeler Avatar
redheeler
85 months ago
I abandoned Youtube over this since I refused to let flash near any of my computers. I will now see if I am even interested in youtube. Still nice to see google finally catching up to modern times.

I've been using HTML5 instead of Flash on YouTube for about three years now.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tankmaze Avatar
Tankmaze
85 months ago
Nice, html 5 kill the flash star.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Alphabetize Avatar
Alphabetize
85 months ago
It's been so long! https://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jacquesvw Avatar
Jacquesvw
85 months ago
.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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