Microsoft mostly sides with Apple in HTML5 fight
updated 09:15 am EDT, Fri April 30, 2010
MS likes HTML5 but still sees Flash as important
Microsoft late Thursday said it largely sided with Apple in the dispute over Flash. The Windows developer's General Manager for Internet Explorer, Dean Hachamovitch, argued that HTML5 was the future of the web and cited the same problems with Flash mentioned by Apple's Steve Jobs. "Reliability, security, and performance" are all issues with Adobe's plugin, Hachamovitch said.
He added that Internet Explorer 9 will support HTML5 from the outset and will only support H.264, the same video format Apple recognizes for its own implementation. Its role as a widespread standard is important as video recorded from a camcorder or another device can be put on the web and played without having to switch codecs, the Microsoft executive said. H.264 is also hardware-accelerated on both Apple and Microsoft devices.
Mozilla and many open-source advocates have been trying to promote Ogg Theora as the default HTML5 video standard, but it has relatively little support outside of Firefox.
Hachamovitch wasn't as hostile towards Flash as Jobs and said the plugin "remains an important part" of the web as it is today. However, he didn't expect Adobe's technology to remain in that position forever.
"The future of the web is HTML5," he said.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
Ouch
You know your technology is out of date when even Microsoft starts dissing it. Adobe is trying to milk their investment in Flash purchase with Macromedia (now looks to be big mistake). Not only did they buy a technology that has a expiration date stamped on it they alienated a bunch of loyal customers for Macromedia and their own. Dropping Golive, killing Freehand and the invention of the CS suites were painful money grabs which did not go unnoticed. I hate when tech companies go corporate and loose track of what they are doing. Anyone planning on giving Adobe money for CS 5 or any of its parts? Not me.