Google took to their company-owned Social Network, Google+, today to announce improvements to video chat in Google Hangouts, putting an emphasis on improved video quality.
Within the next few weeks, Google are giving all users the ability to use 720p HD-quality video for their video conferences. Some users already have the ability; for others, it’s a waiting game as Google perform a gradual roll-out of the service. Up to 10 people can be in a single call using 720p video – though of course, RAM usage is likely to sky-rocket quickly with larger conferences if everyone uses HD.
However, some browsers may find themselves left by the wayside. Also announced by Google and somewhat overlooked by the mainstream press, Google have announced that Hangouts will also be dropping support for the H.264 Video Codec for their own WebM (also known as VB8) video codec, in what appears to be another move to push through Google’s own vision for what the HTML5 specification should be like.
Without boring you with the details, the WebM format was taken up by Google after buying it from On2; and is a fast, lossless video code that is designed for the internet. Google want all the major browsers to adopt it so that it becomes standard for HTML5; this way, browsers don’t need plugins to show video and will “just work” in any browser with just a link to the video placed in a HTML video tag.
What does this mean to you? Well, if you use Firefox, Seamonkey, Google Chrome, Opera, Konqueror or Web/Ephiphany as your main Browser, or you have an Android phone – congratulations! These support WebM built in at least in current releases, so enjoy your HD Hangouts! Use Safari on a Mac OS computer, or Internet Explorer on any device? Sadly, these don’t support WebM by default, but don’t panic! You can download WebM plugins by searching for them online; and if you install one, your browser should be able to join in afterwards.
However, if you use an iPhone or iPad – bad luck. Apple is firmly against playing in Google’s court; so prepare to lose your ability to use Video in hangouts.
Chalk another one up to Google.
