"HTML5 defines a standard way to embed video in a web page, using a video element. Support for the video element is still evolving, which is a polite way of saying it doesn't work yet. At least, it doesn't work everywhere. But don't despair! There are alternatives and fallbacks and options galore."
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-05-02
Yea, but it still takes somewhat more effort than just a simple "Save as...". Not every site is as easy as YouTube to get the files from (where you can even find them in the browser cache). Some sites keep switching streaming methods, and new tricks to mislead the video saving tools are certainly still invented. What's more, there is (AFAICT) not one free, well known video saving app and/or extension that works perfectly for all sites, so while it's not impossible to save the content to disk, it sometimes requires some effort on part of the user, so the pseudo-protection probably achieves its goals.
I also guess that e.g. TV stations are under the pressure to do their best to protect third parties' contents, e.g. if MTV.com shows music videos, the record labels would not want to see their DVD sales decrease because everyone watches them in good quality on MTV.com and saves them to disk. Also, the ad partners of MTV.com (who show their ads directly before the actual music videos) certainly want to be sure that it's not ridiculously easy to by-pass their ads by saving the video permanently to disk. Similar requirements might also apply from the part of performance rights organisations, such as GEMA in Germany.
So however crappy and useless such protection measures might be, I believe the content providers often have no choice but to apply them.
Member since:
2005-11-10
Nope, because you can already save Flash videos to disk easily already. There are any number of sites, apps and extensions to do this. The answer is but a Google away.
What HTML5 video might do is wake up content providers to the idea that jumping through DRM hoops not only doesn't work, but is actually a detriment to them, their brand, and their product. Just giving people the video straight will do them many favours.