It’s always exhilarating when a new browser update rolls out, especially when it promises a myriad of new features and enhancements. Safari 17.0 is no exception. Among the slew of features and improvements that accompany this new release, a substantial number are dedicated to WebRTC. As proponents of real-time communication, we are excited to dissect these enhancements and provide insights into what they mean for developers and users alike.
WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is not a newcomer to the world of web communications. It’s a powerful tool allowing you to execute real-time communication, such as voice, video, and chat. Over the years, its importance has surged, especially with the rise of remote work, online collaboration, and digital social interactions.
With Safari 17.0, Apple appears to be fortifying its commitment to make real-time communication even more streamlined and user-friendly.
Safari 17.0 and WebRTC: What’s New?
The major advancements introduced in Safari 17.0 concerning WebRTC:
- support for AV1 video has been added for devices equipped with hardware decoding capabilities, notably including the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The AV1 video codec introduces an additional choice for web-based video delivery, adeptly striking a harmony between excellent quality and reduced file dimensions. Utilizing hardware for encoding and decoding ensures the codec operates efficiently, avoiding an undesired impact on battery life.
- WebKit now supports USB cameras on iPadOS 17. Once you connect a USB camera to an iPad, it’s included in the output of enumerateDevices and can be chosen using getUserMedia, just like the integrated cameras.
- support Managed Media Source. The Managed Media Source is a cutting-edge, energy-efficient solution tailored for sophisticated video streaming demands. Adaptive bitrate streaming is a technique for switching between media data formats on the fly, to ensure delivery of the best-possible video quality based on the speed of the internet connection and capabilities of the device. This means, in scenarios where there’s a dip in network speed, adaptive streaming could shift from 4k to HD, to prioritize playback without lag over higher-visual-quality.
- support for WebCodecs temporal scalabilityMode for software codecs, including parsing and error handling.
- additional support for low-power mode and optimizing video streaming by tone mapping HDR video to SDR.
Why It Matters
The enhanced WebRTC capabilities in Safari 17.0 open up exciting possibilities for web developers and users alike. Real-time communication applications, such as video conferencing, online gaming, and collaborative tools, will benefit from these improvements, offering a more reliable and secure user experience.
So, whether you’re building the next big video conferencing platform or just a fan of seamless online interactions, Safari 17.0’s WebRTC enhancements are sure to pique your interest.
Stay in the Know
To get the most out of these exciting updates, keep an eye on the latest Safari release notes and developer documentation
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/safari-release-notes/safari-17-release-notes
How to start with ConnectyCube WebRTC
To ensure a smooth and straightforward initiation, we recommend beginning with these essential links:
Web
Multiparty Video Conferencing API
React Native
Multiparty Video Conferencing API
Cordova
Multiparty Video Conferencing API
Flutter
Multiparty Video Conferencing API
Keep experimenting, stay curious, and soon, you’ll be able to harness the full power of WebRTC for your projects!
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