Recent developments in JavaScript Libraries such as jQuery have enabled designers and developers to achieve many things in “good clean code” that used to reserved for those building in Flash, however there was still a place for Flash – the most of common being video content. Just about every video service, including YouTube, provides video embedding via the use of Flash. Or did…

YouTube recently announced it’s decision to experiment with HTML 5 Video Embedding, an alarming sign for Adobe and Flash. HTML 5 video embedding (when more widely supported) will enable developers to embed video into a web-page without the need for Flash.

Furthermore, Adobe have faced additional criticism and pressure from Apple Supremo, Steve Jobs. Apple have refused to support Flash on the iPhone since it’s launch more than two years ago – and an alleged recent outburst at the Wall Street Journal goes some way to explaining why: Steve Jobs “called Flash a ‘CPU hog,’ a source of ’security holes’ and a dying technology. ‘We don’t spend a lot of energy on old technology,’ Jobs said.”

While Jobs is renowned for being an innovator, might he be looking a bit too far forward this time?

HTML5, is (currently) plagued with issues, not least the fact that most browsers do not have HTML5 support (the only browsers that can play Youtube’s HTML5 demo videos are Google Chrome, Apple Safari 4 and Internet Explorer 8 (with Google Frame). And even with the aforementioned browsers, Youtube’s video plays like a slide show.

In addition, Flash is so widespread that any change away from the standard will take years. Even if Apple, YouTube and (probably) Google throw their significant, collective weight behind the move, it will still be nigh on impossible to make the move any time soon.