HTML5 and Flash in a Video Cage Match

[Hooch Tan]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.streaminglearningcenter.com/articles/flash-player-cpu-hog-or-hot-tamale-it-depends-.html' target='_blank'>http://www.streaminglearningcenter....t-depends-.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Since the comparative efficiency of Flash vs. HTML5 seemed easy enough to quantify, I endeavored to do so, using YouTube's new HTML5-based player as the test bed. Specifically, I played a YouTube video in the same browser twice, once via HTML5, once via Flash, and measured CPU utilization during playback."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com//dht/auto/1268246977.usr20447.gif" style="border: 0px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>The results of Streaming Learning Center's tests shuld not be considered exhaustive but it does indicate that HTML5 is an viable all around solution for streaming video to web browsers that support it.&nbsp; The results also show the huge difference between implementations for the Mac version of Flash compared to Windows.&nbsp; I imagine that Linux tests would more closely emulate the results seen on the Mac compared to Windows as well.&nbsp; It should signal to Adobe that it has a lot of work to do in terms of optimizing Flash for OS X and Linux if it wants to remain relevant in today's web.&nbsp; Unfortunately, while Flash also offers a lot of flexibility to allow designers to create more interactive websites more easily, or to develop games, probably the biggest strike against it is that advertisers currently really favor the format as well.&nbsp; Of course, as HTML5 matures and becomes more universally supported, advertisers will begin to design HTML5 based ads, which may end up becoming a horror story in itself.</p>

[Macguy59]

I'm not a fan of Flash at all but in fairness to Adobe . . . Apple refuses to give them direct access to the hardware (API's). Makes a difference. I still think it has more to do iTunes $$

[ptyork]

I'm not a fan of Flash at all but in fairness to Adobe . . . Apple refuses to give them direct access to the hardware (API's). Makes a difference. I still think it has more to do iTunes $$

Huge difference when you can't access the GPU for hardware decoding. I think the Linux versions are fine (assuming you can get a supported combination of hardware and drivers.

Obviously Google doesn't have access to those API's either since they get such abysmal results decoding h.264.

I also find it amazing how many Mac folks have stability problems with Flash. I've never had a crash of a browser attributable to Flash (except, of course, when using Firefox on my MacBook). Again, I think this is an "access to the hardware" thing, and why the Apple community seem to be the ones with the stick up their bums about getting Flash out of their browsers.

[Phillip Dyson]

Hmm.. very interesting. I remember back in the day when Apple's claim to fame was how well Adobe Photoshop ran on Macs.
But now that the two companies are competitors (Flash vs. Quicktime) Apple turns on them. They openly bash Adobe for flash when all along its Apple that has been holding back their APIs?

[Hooch Tan]

I'm not a fan of Flash at all but in fairness to Adobe . . . Apple refuses to give them direct access to the hardware (API's). Makes a difference. I still think it has more to do iTunes $$

I can almost buy that protecting the APIs help keep OSX more stable and secure, however, I have to agree with you. Apple seems very interested in protecting its revenue sources. I can't blame them; they are a for profit business after all. But I think they have to acknowledge that Flash is a part of the current web, ads and all. With other tablets coming out that will support Flash, I am curious how attractive the iPad will be. That being said, when it comes to video, it looks like HTML5 or Flash, it won't make a difference.