Adobe Flash: HD Quality in a Browser

You might have heard about Adobe’s recent update to its Flash player. Now at version 9.0.60.184, the most notable upgrade is support for H.264 videos. However, did you know that there are other useful features that all users can look forward to?

Of course, with better video, the folks at Adobe had to boost the audio quality as well. You’ll find support for the HE-AAC (High Efficiency AAC) codec, the same technology that will power the next iteration of iChat in Leopard. Apparently, the quality of HE-AAC was so good that it received an “Excellent” rating, in a scientific test conducted by the European Broadcasting Union. MP3, in contrast, received a “Poor”.

I’ve never really appreciated the way Flash handled fullscreen videos, especially when browsing several of my favorite video blogs on YouTube. The video rendering used to be done in software, but thankfully the company has got its act together. The performance is much better now thanks to native hardware acceleration. Adobe says this works on Mac OS X 10.2 and later.

Things are beginning to make sense now, especially when we think about YouTube converting its flash (.FLV) videos into the H.264 format. By moving their videos over to the H.264 format, the company will not only offer a higher quality and better viewing experience, but also be compatible with Apple’s products like the iPhone and Apple TV.

And now, with Adobe providing the last piece of the puzzle, you’ll certainly be getting the same experience on your computer. Ah, the joys of internet video. Download Adobe’s Flash Player today.