Why YouTube's HTML5 Player Sucks

Re:Why YouTube's HTML5 Player Sucks by droithomme on Wednesday February 08, 2012 @01:39AM (#3565471)

I have run into all the same problems, also I don't like the loss of full screen video. HTML5 video is simply not an adequate replacement for Flash, end of story.

I've found that many people who believe things work fine joined the HTML5 opt-in trial, but don't realize that HTML5 only works on some videos and Flash is still being used for others. Most videos seem to be only available in Flash even with the trial enabled. Right clicking on the video reveals which it is if there is any doubt.

A YouTube engineer discussed some of the issues a couple years back: http://apiblog.youtube.com/2010/06/flash-and-html5-tag.html. At the time Hulu had similar comments about HTML5 video capabilities: http://blog.hulu.com/2010/05/13/pardon-our-dust/. A more recent post from a few months ago by YouTube staff on the subject is here: http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2011/11/youtubes-html5-play...

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Re:Why YouTube's HTML5 Player Sucks by ChrisMorrisCo on Thursday February 09, 2012 @07:16AM (#3570790)

I agree. They've done such a good job in mimicking the look of the Flash player than many in the HTML5 opt-in probably don't realise half the videos they watch are presented in Flash.

Thanks for the links, very interesting reads. I agree that the HTML5 player has vastly improved, but if the issues I'm experiencing with the player now persist, I don't think that it's nearly ready to replace Flash - or, I don't think they should.

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