HTML5 Video Compatibility | Online Video Formats/Technologies | WebTV Solutions

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DISCLAIMER: Although we try to keep this document as up to date and error free as possible, please note that due to the huge amount of variables (tablet/mobile device brands/models, operating system versions, Web browser variety/versions, etc.) it is very hard to cover all possible scenarios and combinations; therefore, we do not guarantee this document is free from errors nor covers all possible scenarios, additionally, there may have been issues not detected yet (thus not detailed in this document). In case of finding any issue not covered by this document (or error), please report it so we can include it here (or correct it).

HTML5 Video

Requirements

• Web browser with HTML5 and H.264/WebM video support (older versions of Mobile Opera and Mobile FireFox, as well as Opera Desktop, only support WebM video format therefore they will not playback videos in H.264 format).
• PC/Smartphone/Tablet with H.264/WebM video support.
Check the compatibility chart bellow for more info.

NOTE: WS.WebTV works, by default, with H.264-only videos. If you also want to work with WebM video format, you must enable WebM support through the WebTV configuration file; additionally you will need to upload the corresponding WebM files for each Quality/Clip.

General "Issues"

Since HTML5 is an evolving standard, and it is not implemente the same way across all Web Browsers, some Web browser might have issues when displaying HTML5 video:

Autoplay
On most desktop browsers, autoplay is enabled by default; however, some of them are becoming more strict on the required conditions to allow it. For example, Chrome, since version 66, only allows autoplay if the video is muted or if the visitor has previously interacted with the Website. Firefox 62 will also implement an autoplay policy similar to the one of Chrome 66. Safari, since version 11, also requires muted video to allow autoplay.
On the other hand, autoplay is disabled by default on most mobile browsers; therefore, many times a touch/click will be necessary in order to start playing back a video. Although the previous, recently, mobile browsers are allowing autoplay if the playback is started without sound (muted).
Is WS.WebTV prepared for this?
- Yes, since WS.WebTV 3.0 it is possible to mute the audio by default in order to allow autoplay on a wide range of browsers.
More info regarding autoplay policy on browsers:
- Chrome 66: Autoplay Policy Changes
- Safari 11: Auto-Play Policy Changes for macOS
- iOS 10 (Safari): New <video> Policies for iOS
- Firefox 62: Firefox in 2018: We'll tackle bad ads, breach alerts, autoplay video, says Mozilla
- Autoplay on mobiles: HTML5 video autoplay on mobile revisited

Full screen
Full screen feature depends on the Web browser capability; if the Web browser does not support full screen mode, the WS.WebTV player will expand to fill the browser window. Please note that when embedding the video player in another Website (using the WebTV Iframe code) full screen won't work on devices/Browsers which do not support "full screen" mode like iPhone/iPad or the Native Android Web Browser (Android versions prior to 5).

Distortion
Dolphin HD and the native Android Browser (prior to 4.1 Jelly Bean) may distort the video depending on the screen size and orientation.

iOS: iPhone/iPod Touch limitations

In general
Please note that iPhone devices with iOS 9.x or older use the integrated video player for video playback; that means that when you press the "play" button, the video will be played back "outside" the WebTV (full screen). Because of the previous, all the special features of the WS.WebTV video player won´t work (like video interactivity, PlayerLogo extension, etc.). Our recommendation is you to take a look at our demo WebTV from one of these devices so you can see the actual behavior.

Autoplay
- iOS 10+: Autoplayback can be achieved by muting the audio by default. This is possible since WS.WebTV 3.0.
- iOS 9.x and older: Autoplayback will not work on iPhone and iPod Touch. This implies that, when playing a Channel's playlist, the video playback will be interrupted when the current video ends; and in order to continue playback, you will need to press Play again. Additionally, every time you select a Video/Channel, it will be necessary to (also) press "Play" in order to start playback: Apple document (Read the "Warning" note).

Embedding
See "full screen" note on "Issues" (above).

Android Kitkat (4.4x): Choppy video playback

Keep in mind that the "Kitkat" version of Android (4.4x) has video playback issues (choppy playback) and does not offer the smooth playback experience of previous versions.

If you (or the users of your WebTV) have devices running Android 4.4x it is very likely that your videos won't playback smoothly on those devices. On top of the previous, there are several reports on Internet about problems with HLS playback. Just keep this in mind in case you are experiencing this problems or in case you have received playback issue reports from your users.

Android (Xiaomi): Issues related with the native MIUI browser

Native interface (UI) always visible disables most features of the WebTV video player.

According to the HTML5 standard, in order for the Web browser to display its native video playback interface it is necessary to add the "controls" attribute to the <video> element. If that attribute is not specified then the browser should not display its native interface. The Xiaomi native Web browser displays/overlays its interface regardless of the existence or inexistnce of the aforementioned attribute. What does this imply? It implies that almost all features offered by the WebTV video player will be lost.

Compatibility Check

In order to check if your device/browser supports HTML5 video, please, visit the following Website (from your device/browser) and look for the "Video" section results: http://html5test.com/

Compatibility Chart

Platform	Browser	Result	Notes
Android	Native Browser (Chrome-based) Version: 6.x and higher	OK	No issues reported so far.
	Native Browser Version: 5.x	OK	No issues reported so far.
	Native Browser Versions: 4.1 - 4.4	OK*	*Real "Full Screen" mode is not supported.
	Native Browser Versions: 2.2 - 4.0x	OK*	*Video stretching issues. *Real "Full Screen" mode is not supported. NOTE: Some Android devices might not support H.264/HTML5 video; most newer devices support them.
	Chrome	OK	No issues reported so far.
	Dolphin HD	OK*	*Video stretching issues. *Real "Full Screen" mode is not supported. *When using Jetpack, Full Screen button will not work.
	Firefox	OK*	*H.264 support since version 17. WebM required for previous versions.
	Opera	OK*	*H.264 support since version 15. WebM required for previous versions. *On the first playback, the Browser will playback the video with the native device video player. *The Full Screen button will not work on some versions.
Android (Xiaomi)	Native MIUI Browser	Not recommended	The browser always overlays its interface which disable most features of the WebTV video player.
iOS (iPad)	Mobile Safari (Native Browser)	OK*	* Since real "Full screen" mode is not supported; that mode is simulated by resizing the video player to fill the maximum possible area of the Web browser.
iOS (iPhone)	Mobile Safari (Native Browser) iOS Version 10 +	OK*	* - In order to display the WebTV video player interface, the "playsinline" option of the HTML5 <video> element is used. - Since real "Full screen" mode is not supported; that mode is simulated by resizing the video player to fill the maximum possible area of the Web browser.
	Mobile Safari (Native Browser) iOS Version 9.x and older	OK*	* The WebTV video player interface will not be visible as the video will be played back -in full screen- with the native device video player.
Windows	Internet Explorer 9+ / Edge	OK*	*Real "Full Screen" mode is not supported. NOTE: Internet Explorer versions prior to 9 do not support HTML5 video
Windows/Mac	Chrome 15+	OK	No issues reported so far.
	Firefox	OK*	*H.264 support since version 21. WebM required for previous versions.
	Opera	OK*	*Only WebM compatible.
	Safari 5+	OK	No issues reported so far.
Windows Phone (Smartphones)	Internet Explorer Mobile 10+ (Edge)	OK	No issues reported so far.
	Internet Explorer Mobile 9+	OK*	*The WebTV video player interface will not be visible as the video will be played back with the native device video player.
BlackBerry	BlackBerry Browser	?	Not tested. According to the BlackBerry online documentation HTML5 video playback is supported on Phone: OS 4.2.2+ and BlackBerry Browser 7.0+ Tablets: OS 1.0+ and BlackBerry Browser 1.0+

NOTE: The table is supplied as a reference. The list is parcial and not exclusive, as we have only been able to perform tests on a limited number of devices. We do not guarantee that the information is free from errors.