Please let it be true:
Hulu is rumored to be working on an iPad-friendly version of its site which could be ready by the iPad’s March launch date.
According to TechCrunch, popular video site Hulu is already at work developing a way to deliver its content to the iPad platform outside of its normal Flash-based site.
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I’ve only used Hulu once or twice, and I’m not exactly sold on the iPad as a TV. So what’s my dog in this fight? I hate Flash. Hate it. Hate hate hate it. When the iPad was announced a couple weeks ago, I wrote:
There’s no Flash in the web browser? And people are complaining? That’s like getting upset when you’re told that your new car won’t come equipped with a toothless vagrant who sits in the backseat, screaming at you.
And I was probably being too kind. Whatever Flash can do, HTML5 and H.264 can do better. Faster. And without being so god-awful buggy.
Anyway, if the iPad drives a stake into Flash’s heart, it’ll be the Product That Save the Web.
I agree in principle, but…
What about Homestar Runner?
Allegedly, Steve Jobs told employees during their recent private “Town Hall meeting” that a significant percentage of Mac instability was attributed to Flash, and the impression is that he deeply despises the product.
In the security world, its track records is distinctly unimpressive, so it’s plausible that he’s not exaggerating. Insecure code is usually buggy and poorly written.
I agree. I use Hulu quite a bit and that player sucks monkey nuts. I’ll have a full video buffer and all the sudden it will stop playing and the full buffer goes *poof*. Mas annoying.
Yep. Cuz 4:3 aspect ratio, commercially-interrupted vids are the wave of the future.
Or is that the past?…
Is that Steve Jobs great vision? To re-create network TV on the web?
…And we should thank for this effort?
Just askin’.
P.S. Isn’t Hulu still United States-specific right now?
Casey –
Hulu is great for those that don’t yet have a Tivo and want to watch a show or shows we missed like I watched Lost last night. Definitely worth watching ONE 15 to 30 sec commercial. And frequently, Hulu lets you watch a 1 to 2 min commercial up front and watch the rest of the show commercial free. And you don’t actually have to watch the commercial. Have another browser tab open to something else, flip over during the commercial and flip back when over.
And aspect ratio is the same as what aired, so if it was widescreen on air, it’s widescreen on Hulu.
First kill Flash, and then Java, and I’ll be happy!
What about PJTV and Flash??
Garrett – It’s nice to hear that Hulu only forces you to watch one commercial.
Me, I prefer to download episodes off the web for the shows I wish to follow.
As for the aspect ratio issue (I know I bug Stephen on this), one of Apple’s big talking points about the iPad is its the basis of some sort of fantastic new video revolution. But the iPad itself only displays old-school 4:3 format.
It’s kinda like hyping a brand-new revolutionary video display which will overwhelm SVGA, but only supports 640x480x512 colors.
Stephen’s main point with respect to HTML5 and H.264 is accurate, but the question remains how quickly will the web society convert from flash-format to new-format? The switch from .GIF to .JPG was forced by idiotic licensing demands, as was the earlier switch from .ARC to .ZIP.
Apple obviously prefers the HTML5 and/or H.264 format, there are at least a few arguments of a technical nature which would support that view? But when does mere tech-spec superiority defeat public favor? Before you answer, let us recall the Beta vs. VHS war…
My prediction is that Apple will, within 18 to 24 months from now, produce a “widescreen” format of the iPad, in the same way they produced the original iPod, the “enhanced” iPod, the original iPhone, the “enhanced” iPhone, and so on.
If nothing else, Apple demonstrates the effectiveness of “vital” future upgrades. No matter what the product, Apple will show you something better, later. At a premium. A healthy one. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Apple is all about selling product, in the most profitable way possible for the Apple company. Not that there’s anything wrong with that… 
Recently here on Vodkapundit we compared Wintel to GM, in terms of complacency, hardening of the arteries, and being too big to fail. What was not deeply examined was Apple’s role as rebel, although I did compare them to modern Republicans, in that both parties were absolutely certain that no one would vote for (or pick) the other side. Alas for Apple, most folks still prefer Wintel, and alas for the GOP voters aren’t going for the “we suck less than the Democrats” approach.
Apple has had the chance to act as the computer-equivalent of the Tea Party movement, but they’ve chosen to emulate the Washington, D.C. beltway crowd as the “better, smarter, and more expensive” crowd.
That didn’t work for Bush ’43, either. Just sayin’.
Casey –
I was unaware that the iPad only displays in 4:3. Pretty dumb IMHO. Maybe I’m an aberration, but I NEVER buy a DVD in 4:3 if it’s available in widescreen. If it was filmed in widescreen then that’s how it was designed to be viewed as far as I’m concerned. I won’t own an iPad until it can do widescreen.
And just to be clear, Hulu pushes one commercial during each break and each commercial is anywhere from 15 to 60 secs in duration. During those breaks I flip over to PJTV or Instapundit or whatever and read or watch during the break. So given that I miss a lot of TV that I wanna watch because of work, Hulu is pretty awesome, except for the aforementioned crappy Flash issues.
Me, I’d be happy if they’d just unblock Hulu on the PS3. Apparently, the TV execs are worried that if you can watch Hulu on a TV-connected device, they’ll lose TV audience.
So I connect my laptop to my TV.