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Google To Push WebM With IE9, Safari Plugins

Posted by timothy on from the first-one's-free dept.

surveyork writes with this "new chapter in the browser wars: 'Google in a defense of its decision to pull H.264 from Chrome's HTML5 revealed that it will put out WebM plugins for Internet Explorer 9 and Safari. Expecting no official support from Apple or Microsoft, Google plans to develop extensions that would load its self-owned video codec. No timetable was given.' So Google gets started with their plan for world-wide WebM domination. They'll provide WebM plugins for the browsers of the H.264-only league, so in practice, all major browsers will have WebM support — one way or the other. Machiavellian move?"

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  1. Even more IE plugins from Google? by suv4x4 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So.. I guess Chrome Frame was a success then? Strangely how the stats don't reflect that at all.

    so let's see how the future will play out then...

    On one side of the ring: H.264

    * Solid native support on the default browser of Windows - IE9.
    * Solid native support on the default browser of OSX - Safari.
    * Solid support on the rest of the browsers via the ubiquitous (95%+) and well known by the public Flash player.
    * Native support on mobiles.
    * Formally approved standard by ISO and IEC
    * Guaranteed free distribution on the web for free content, minor free for paid content.
    * Vast amounts of existing H.264 content, widely used in video editing apps, broadcasting, recording motion cameras and so on.

    On the other side of the ring: WebM

    * No native support on the default browser of Windows - IE9.
    * No native support on the default browser of OSX - Safari.
    * Solid native support on the rest of the browsers.
    * Spotty support on only some mobiles (don't expect it on Apple devices, Microsoft is on the fence).
    * Not formally approved standard by anybody, just an open code dump at this point.
    * Free to use, but questionable future if challenged by MPEG LA and others.
    * Almost no existing WebM content, spotty or missing support in video editing apps, not used in broadcasting, not used in motion cameras and so on.

    So uhmm, yeah, Google. I wish you guys good luck.