Okay, so are we there yet? This is the question I find myself asking when trying to determine whether or not we are going to see HTML5 deliver on the promise of a new means of offering video anytime soon.
Despite the fact that I have seen more times than I can count, working HTML5 video offerings in action, this HTML5 article points out that we are still waiting on some key technologies to catchup before HTML5 can really make a serious debut.
At the end of the day, despite its lack of DRM support plus other shortcomings, it would appear that HTML5 is going to be adopted in a staggered format whether the world is ready for it or not. Personally, I don’t consider a lack of DRM a problem. But the media industry is likely to disagree.
Microsoft is getting behind it in a big way, both because Internet Exploder 9beta is slightly ahead, instead of completely behind, the pack, and also because it has perhaps seen, with the departure of Ozzie and the loss of half of Ballmer’s bonus, that it must be more nimble, and lead by example, instead of by sales figures.
It is totally too early to get very worked up about it though, because as of now it’s impossible to code to a standard when there isn’t one. I’m certain that is yet another reason for the Microsoft interest – the Microsoft fingers need to be in the pie early on, establishing the standard, simply based on Microsoft hubris.