14 DAY TRIAL // Internet Explorer 9 enables users to watch HTML5 video encoded with the industry-standard H.264 format out of the box, but also offers support for WebM, an emerging technology introduced by Google, with support from Mozilla, Opera, Adobe, etc. As IE9 RTW downloads went live earlier this week, Google released the WebM Components for IE9 (Preview), a plug-in which provides users of the latest iteration of IE with support for WebM HTML5 videos.
Even when IE9 was still in development, the Redmond company announced that the browser would play well with WebM, provided that users install a third-party coded in Windows.
Dean Hachamovitch, Corporate Vice President, Internet Explorer reassured customers of Microsoft’s commitment to support WebM, but also highlighted a few unanswered questions related to the technology.
“As an industry, we still face many legitimate, unanswered questions about liability, risks, and support for WebM, such as:
◦Who bears the liability and risk for consumers, businesses, and developers until the legal system resolves the intellectual property issues?
◦When and how does Google genuinely make room for the Open Web Standards community to engage?
◦What is the plan for restoring consistency across devices, Web services, and the PC?”
WebM is, at least for the time being, free to use by all, unlike H.264. Although H.264 can also be leveraged free of charge in certain scenarios, companies that take advantage of the codec in their products need to pay royalties for the technology.
Microsoft itself does, even though it’s part of the group that oversees the coded, also receiving royalties for the technology. The company made it clear in the past that the money it pays for the use of H.264 far surpasses any financial gain from the coded.
The software giant built two H.264 plug-ins for Chrome and Firefox it’s offering free of charge to customers running the two rival browsers.
“The people who build and use the Web deserve practical and consistent video support rather than ideology. Working through these questions is part of moving the Web forward. The Open Web is a product of consensus and open dialog. This post is part of the dialog to move the Web forward,” Hachamovitch added.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows 7 and Windows 7 SP1 is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows Vista SP2 64-bit edition and Windows Server 2008 SP2 64-bit edition is available for download here.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 RTW for Windows 7 64-bit edition, Windows 7 SP1 64-bit edition, Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit edition and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 64-bit edition is available for download here.