With all the recent noise about the iPad and its absence of Flash, I decide to run a test using the Vimeo HTML5 player against the Flash version of their player. I would like to make it clear these tests were performed on a modern MacBook Pro, and were not replicated in Windows. It is well understood Flash is better optimised for Windows, and no-doubt for various mobile platforms. Furthermore, the iPad will not have the video hardware in it, and these tests should not be considered an indicator for potential Flash performance on the device. However, it does make it clear that if you do look at Flash on the Mac as at least an indicator of potential problems, it does indicate potential problems with video playback performance. I played the following video in HD and non-HD in both the HTML 5 player, and the Flash player and sampled CPU activity every 20 seconds, and then averaged it out over the whole period (it’s a long clip). I did disable the dedicated graphics card in the Mac, I don’t expect the iPad will have a monster GFX card in it :-)
Vimeo with Flash: 60% CPU
Vimeo with HTML5: 22% CPU
HD Vimeo with Flash: 92% CPU
HD Vimeo with HTML5: 40% CPU
As you can see, Flash introduces almost double the CPU load that the HTML5 component does. In fact, running these tests and seeing Flash running has made me install a flash blocker. Yes, my battery life is noticeably longer now. Fewer crashes? Not that I’ve noticed.
