Apple unveiled OS X 10.10 Yosemite yesterday at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2014. It comes with a radically different user interface as well as countless new features. One of the improvements that Apple made to Safari is the implementation of premium video extensions which allow playback of premium video content without needing extensions. What this means is that once Yosemite is released users won’t need a SliverLight plugin for HTML streaming. The video streaming service is now inviting beta testers to try out Safari Netflix HTML5 streaming.
Today Netflix announced on its official blog that Netflix streaming in HTML5 is now available in Safari on OS X Yosemite. They’ve been working together with Apple for the implementation of premium video extensions, which also implemented media source extensions.
This allows Netflix subscribers to watch 1080p video without it “hogging” the CPU or draining the battery. Plugins like Microsoft SliverLight were previously required for adaptive streaming and digital rights management. Safari doesn’t need them anymore.
Since OS X Yosemite is only available to registered developers right now, and will be offered to select users in the public beta program over the summer, everyone else will have to wait. Those who get access to Yosemite can try Safari Netflix HTML5 streaming right away by simply logging in through the Netflix website.
Filed in . Read more about Netflix, OS X Yosemite and Safari.