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Another Follow-up on HTML5 Video in IE9

May 19, 2010 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

An interesting blog post from Microsoft with regards to video support in IE 9:

In previous posts, we described why IE9 will support H.264-encoded HTML5 video. Microsoft and other browser providers see hardware support, customer and partner readiness, and intellectual property rights as key factors making H.264 an excellent choice for video encoding and playback. These posts generated a significant amount of support and suggestions. This feedback together with today’s industry announcements create a good opportunity to follow up and provide more information about HTML5 video support in IE9.

In its HTML5 support, IE9 will support playback of H.264 video as well as VP8 video when the user has installed a VP8 codec on Windows.

As we said at MIX recently, when it comes to HTML5, we’re all in. This level of commitment applies to the video codecs that IE9 will support as well. We are strongly committed to making sure that in IE9 you can safely view all types of content in all widely used formats. At the same time, Windows customers, developers, and site owners also want assurances that they are protected from IP rights issues when using IE9.

The key here, apparently, is that the user is responsible for installing the codec. So it's not as seamless as H.264 support.

Discuss this Article 11

jtdennis
on May 19, 2010
Microsoft includes the h.264 codec with 7, so I imagine that's why it's so easy for them to include support. I wish they'd add VP8 as a Windows Media Player update rather than depend on the end user to do it. The video tag should be as seamless as the img tag to end users.
rr0de74@live.com
on May 19, 2010
If Google owns it and is pushing it.....the free codec will be on www.google.com right next to the Chrome download option. It will of course track all media you view via a browser and report back to Google.....no thanks.
mhill36
on May 19, 2010
Does anybody know the advantages of VP8 over H.264? I thought H.264 was the clear standard.
Ocean
on May 19, 2010
rrode, you're ISP knows all that info already/
Waethorn
on May 19, 2010

"I wish they'd add VP8 as a Windows Media Player update rather than depend on the end user to do it."

This brings up an interesting point:

Why not just leverage DirectShow support for the video tag so that a developer could use whatever damn codec they want?

Sounds like they're going to keep VC-1 for Silverlight though.  Whatever.  Silverlight also does H.264 too.

"It will of course track all media you view via a browser and report back to Google.....no thanks."

That all depends on if the compiled version includes the same code as their documented source, and if the open source "community" puts it under a good microscope and doesn't just give Google an instant pass.

rr0de74@live.com
on May 19, 2010

@ocean, I know my ISP does, but the only thing they use that information for it process a subpoena.  I know, because I work for an ISP and we have gotten subpoena’s for phone records and internet data.  Outside of that...that data is locked down and leaking it could get you into jail pretty fast.

Google on the other hand, as far as we know will scan your data and match it to advertisers...as far as we know.

subzerohitman721
on May 19, 2010

Nice job Google & Microsoft. Microsoft is catering for the mainstream. Google wants something that truly open. This is a win-win for everyone.

aemarques
on May 19, 2010

Paul, I don't think this is a change of heart. MS always said that VP8 could be used through a plug-in.

Anyway, I found a *really* excellent article about VP8 that I think should be an eye opener for many (and proves why MS is not excitted about the format). You can check it out at x264dev.multimedia.cx.

chuckb84
on May 20, 2010

"At the same time, Windows customers, developers, and site owners also want assurances that they are protected from IP rights issues when using IE9."

There's no chance I'll use IE9, since it doesn't run on Macs, but what the devil does that statement mean? As an end user of the browser, just how and why do I need to be "protected from IP rights issues when using IE9"?

Gruber cites a telling commentary on VP8; the "standard" is copy/pasted C code.

"But first, a comment on the spec itself.

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

The spec consists largely of C code copy-pasted from the VP8 source code — up to and including TODOs, “optimizations”, and even C-specific hacks, such as workarounds for the undefined behavior of signed right shift on negative numbers. In many places it is simply outright opaque. Copy-pasted C code is not a spec."

"There’s no way in hell anyone could write a decoder solely with this spec alone."

Waethorn
on May 20, 2010

"Google on the other hand, as far as we know will scan your data and match it to advertisers...as far as we know."

It's part of their terms of use - terms which you agree to when you download their software.  So yes, Google is entirely entitled to do it at any time.  Whether they do or not is irrelevent.  They have to power to do it, so that's enough really.

"There's no chance I'll use IE9, since it doesn't run on Macs, but what the devil does that statement mean? As an end user of the browser, just how and why do I need to be "protected from IP rights issues when using IE9"?"

If Microsoft comes under fire from patent & IP disputes, you, as a user, can't be brought to litigation for using their software.  Microsoft will protect its users from facing litigation and will face the full brunt of any litigation.  Under standard patent laws, a company doesn't have to do that, but anybody could face legal action just for using the IP in question.

Waethorn
on May 20, 2010

One thing that's going to be bad about VP8:  Non-existant hardware support.

Every video card and the majority of onboard video supports H.264 acceleration (as well as VC-1).

Without hardware video acceleration, it's a crapchute.

If hardware vendors just turn on H.264 acceleration for VP8 instead of using something new, then there's a new argument against this being entirely "patent-free" like Google claims, too.

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