Flash video meets H.264

On November 1, 2007 Adobe released a pre-release of it’s Flash 9 player that incorporates the H.264 codec and the High Efficiency AAC audio codec. Incorporating H.264 was a logical step for Adobe to take advantage of it’s HD quality video and align itself with a codec that is becoming the standard for all device platforms. We have all seen the clarity of H.264 on Apple’s HD Quicktime offerings for everything from movie trailers to music videos. Combine this with the Flash video format (FLV) and you have a win win situation.

The Flash player is found on over 94% of browsers and video service providers and media sites are quickly adopting the technology to provide great user experiences and drawing audiences online to watch their favorite shows. Whether you are going to NBC.com to watch the latest episodes of Heros, Life or the Bionic Woman or heading to Discovery.com, MTV.com or Heavy.com a great video experience awaits. All because the technology Adobe has helped develop and promote.

Adobe introduced the Flash video format employing the Sorenson Spark codec followed by the transition to the On2 VP6 codec which was a vast improvement. File sizes were smaller and the image quality was very good. The On2 codec and the Flash 8 player upped the ante for video on the web and that is when Flash video began to overtake Windows Media Videos and Quicktime videos as a format. On2 will introduce it’s new On2 Vp6-S codec shortly.

The Flash 9 player’s improved streaming and interactive abilities helped push it further as the obvious choice for media presentations and video. Now with H.264 we can look forward to more sites like Hulu.com, Joost.com, Ooyala.com and thehdweb.com. The line is being blurred between TV and Web. The computer is now the portable on demand video player of all things video from Broadcast to Film to YouTube.