So that's it we amalgamate HTML5 video and H.264 already ?

What does the codec have to do with the player?

There is no "'HTML5' VIDEO".

AAPL and GOOG can use VIDEO tag for H.264-encoded video.

Mozilla and Opera can use VIDEO tag for Ogg Theora encoded video.

There are two distinct implementations: VIDEO/H.264 and VIDEO/Theora. Neither supports the other.

You got suckered by the "'HTML5' VIDEO" talk. Not your fault; even its proponents didn't address such video basics until it became too late.

OK, but I don't see why the player needs to be tailored to the codec. Why wouldn't this player work for Theora as well?

Good point: Could you use the Sublime HTML/JS set for other codecs? Probably could -- the codec would make less of a difference to transport control functionality than the browser's varying support for JavaScript and VIDEO APIs would be.

Yes, all that's necessary is for the content author to provide a Theora encoded version of the video.