KickApps Enables Web Video on iPhone

As of today iPhone users will be able to view our affiliates’ videos using the iPhone’s Safari web browser. Why is this so cool?

The Flash plug-in which most browsers use in order to play video on the web, is not included in iPhone’s Safari browser. Unfortunately, the absence of the Flash plug-in leaves the vast majority of the world’s user generated rich media (videos) unsharable by and inaccessible to one of the most exciting “gadgets” to hit the marketplace in a long time. We’ve solved this problem for our affiliates.

As of 8/22, all video uploaded by affiliates are automatically transcoded to H.264 and Flash. By adding some JavaScript, we’ll be able to detect which format is required and will deliver the video via a compatible format; in the case of the iPhone, videos accessed through its Safari browser are displayed via H.264 and Quicktime.

Also, we’re providing details that will enable affiliates to optimize their sites for the iPhone’s 3.5 inch widescreen display. You’ll be able to create iPhone specific pages that feature a singular, scrollable column in a fits nicely in the display. By adding a second stylesheet and some JavaScript in the header, the platform will be able to automatically detect if the user is on the iPhone and serve up the iPhone optimized pages. Check it out here: iPhone Tutorial.

We’ve created a demo site to show what’s possible: KickFlix.net