Google has pulled the plug on its legacy Flash video player, which means that the YouTube app is no longer available on Smart TVs from 2012 and earlier.

Transitioning from Flash to HTML5
YouTube in 2012 introduced a HTML5-based video player to replace its Flash-based video player. This transition has been ongoing for several years, which has already forced Sony and others to remove the app.

The transition is now complete, Google has announced. YouTube’s Flash video player has as of this week reached “end-of-life”, which will affect a number of devices.

- “In 2012, YouTube and our device partners started distributing an HTML5 version of the YouTube app for TVs. This app has many new features and other improvements that are not available on the older Flash app. We now think it is the right time to end-of-life this app because as we continue to roll out new features to the current YouTube on TV app the legacy devices using the Flash app cannot get them,” the company wrote.

The company adds that; “if your TV model is from 2012 or earlier, you likely have this older version of the YouTube app which looks like this”. Besides Smart TVs, it will also affect other devices that have been using the Flash player.


Google suggests alternatives
Google says that the YouTube app will continue to be functional on Smart TVs from 2013 and onward as well as PlayStation 3 & 4, Xbox 360 & One, and Wii U.

If you do not own any of these devices, Google suggests that you buy a Chromecast or a media player based on Android TV. You can of course also use non-Google devices such as Apple TV, Roku or Amazon Fire TV.

This is certainly not the first time an app has been discontinued on a Smart TV. This announcement follows a long string of other end-of-life announcements that we have been covering in detail here on FlatpanelsHD.

- Source: Google