HTML5 and video

There’s an entry on the W3C blog about the state of HTML5 video. The most significant point is that “we still don’t have a baseline video codec for HTML5.” Without that, it’s silly to talk about HTML5 as an alternative to Flash or any other kind of video presentation. Microsoft is pushing H.264, and IE9 will support only H.264 under HTML5. Mozilla is going with Ogg Theora. Both codecs have patent issues, limiting the opportunities for third parties to fill in the gap. Both have enthusiastic advocates.

The Browser Wars are back.