YouTube Now Defaults to HTML5 Enterprise & IT Jan 28,2015 0 YouTube introduced the HTML5 player back in early-2010 as an experimental feature and almost five years later HTML5 becomes the default player. Currently, 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. Adaptive Bitrate (ABR) streaming is critical for providing a quality video experience for viewers - allowing us to quickly adjust resolution and bitrate in the face of changing network conditions. Google says that ABR has reduced buffering by more than 50 percent globally and as much as 80 percent on heavily-congested networks. MediaSource Extensions also enable live streaming in game consoles like Xbox and PS4, on devices like Chromecast and in web browsers. HTML5 also lets you take advantage of the open VP9 codec, which gives you higher quality video resolution with an average bandwidth reduction of 35 percent. These smaller files allow more people to access 4K and HD at 60FPS -- and videos start 15-80 percent faster. In the past, the choice of delivery platform (Flash, Silverlight, etc) and content protection technology (Access, PlayReady) were tightly linked, as content protection was deeply integrated into the delivery platform and even the file format. Encrypted Media Extensions separate the work of content protection from delivery, enabling content providers like YouTube to use a single HTML5 video player across a wide range of platforms. Combined with Common Encryption, Youtube can support multiple content protection technologies on different platforms with a single set of assets. YouTube enables everyone to share their videos with the world. WebRTC allows Youtube to build on the same technology that enables plugin-free Google Hangouts to provide broadcasting tools from within the browser. Using the new fullscreen APIs in HTML5, YouTube is also able to provide an fullscreen viewing experience, all with standard HTML UI. Youtube is also deprecating the "old style" of Flash object embeds and its Flash API. This means that all embedders can use the iframe API, which can intelligently use whichever technology the client supports. Other content providers like Netflix and Vimeo, as well as companies like Microsoft and Apple have embraced HTML5.
