HTML 5 Video Gets More Support from Vimeo

After yesterday’s announcement that YouTube announced an experimental version of an HTML5-supported video player, Vimeo has joined the mix with support for HTML 5 videos on their website. Vimeo’s video player is an alternative to the familiar Flash player, and it looks and works almost exactly the same way.

Brad Dougherty from Vimeo stated that “We’re rolling out a new beta test today: the HTML5 player! What’s the HTML5 player, you ask? Simply put, it’s an alternative to our current Flash player…what are the benefits? 90% of videos uploaded in the last year will work in the new player. All told, about 35% of our total videos will still require the standard Flash player. In this case, Vimeo will automatically switch for you. It should just always work.”

Some of the impressive features of the HTML 5 player include the fact that the player loads right away–no more waiting for it to load. Additionally, you can jump anywhere in the video, without having to wait for it to buffer. It also features a smoother, less jumpy playback.

That said, there are some limitations to the new HTML 5 player, as with the YouTube version. It only works for users running the latest versions of Safari, Chrome, or IE with the Chrome Frame installed. Also, it cannot go full screen. Vimeo is working on adding at least full-window support in the next day or so.

To enable the HTML5 player, click the “Switch to HTML5 player” link below any video on Vimeo.com.

Vimeo is ready for the complaints to begin about the various aspects of HTML 5 video, requesting that users “don’t comment here extolling the virtues of open source or unencumbered codecs. The simple fact is right now h264 allows us the most flexibility to display on many devices and many players with the same file. When that changes, so will we. That’s all there is to it, thanks for your understanding!”