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HTML5 is a new version of HTML4, XHTML1, and DOM Level 2 HTML addressing many of the issues of those specifications while at the same time enhancing (X)HTML to more adequately address Web applications.

Besides defining a markup language that can be written in both HTML (HTML5) and XML (XHTML5) it also defines many APIs that form the basis of the Web architecture. Some of these APIs were known as “DOM Level 0″ and were never documented before. Yet they are extremely important for browser vendors to support existing Web content and for authors to be able to build Web applications.

HTML5 is the main focus of the WHATWG community and also that of the W3C HTML Working Group.

What is WHATWG?
The Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WHATWG) is a growing community of people interested in evolving the Web. It focuses primarily on the development of HTML and APIs needed for Web applications.

The WHATWG was founded by individuals of Apple, the Mozilla Foundation, and Opera Software in 2004, after a W3C workshop. Apple, Mozilla and Opera were becoming increasingly concerned about the W3C’s direction with XHTML, lack of interest in HTML and apparent disregard for the needs of real-world authors.

What are the benefits?
There are many. One will be the way we play Videos online. For example, when we play music videos on Youtube, depending on your internet connection, for slower internet connections, it may buffer the video before you can play since the flash file is big. In HTML5, the video is browser-based and is downloaded all at once and one can play it in HTML5 player – it is lightning fast.

Try Youtube videos for instance.

Youtube html5 is currently compatible with the following browsers:

• Chrome (get here),
• Apple Safari (version 4+), – Click to get.
• Microsoft Internet Explorer with Chrome Frame installed (Get Chrome Frame)

Open anyone of the above browsers and go to www.youtube.com/html5 and at the bottom portion of the page you will see this the following page:

Youtube HTML5 homepage

You are not currently in the HTML5 beta.
– Join the HTML5 Beta ——

Click Join the HTML5 Beta..

and you will see the following change:

Youtube HTML5 leave option

You are currently in the HMTL5 Beta. Do not leave.

Now Scroll Up and click Youtube Homepage or open any youtube video. Or watch American Idol – Pants on the Ground

You will see the following sign initially:

HTML5 Video Player at Youtube

Within few seconds, you will see the following:

Youtube HTML5 fast video

Within few seconds your video starts and if you want to forward, you can pull the play progress indicator. Many youtube videos are now supported in HTML5. Do take the advantage html5 is offering. Remember, you are suppose to browse Youtube html5 page in the supported browsers mentioned above.