Q. What is HTML5? I understand that it's supposed to replace Flash videos on the Web. Will I have to download new software? As soon as I get something straight, it changes! —Ali in Santa Fe, NM, listens on KTRC 1260 AM
A. Things do change quickly on the Internet. Think back to the early 1990s. The fanciest site you could find had blinking text. Today, we chat with friends, watch movies and play games. Yes, the Web moves fast.
HTML is the language used to build Web sites. HTML5 is the next major version. Among other things, it changes how browsers can handle video. HTML5 video is an alternative to Adobe Flash.
The majority of streaming video you watch online is done in Flash. When you visit YouTube, Hulu or a thousand other sites, you're seeing Flash. It's the de facto standard for video online. All popular Web browsers support the Flash Player.
For most people, Flash works fine. But it has problems, too. For one, it's resource intensive. Try running multiple programs and then visit YouTube. Unless you have a powerful computer, you'll see choppy video.
Flash often causes browser crashes. It's also commonly exploited by malware. It's important to stay up with the latest patches. But to be honest, that's true for many popular programs.
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