The BBC is reporting that Adobe is releasing new player software which will allow websites that use their Flash video player (such as YouTube) to force viewers to watch ads before the video they selected will play. The new software should also allow video to be played offline, whether on computers or portable devices. Flash is used on websites such as YouTube, the Google-owned video sharing site dogged by rows over the use of copyrighted material. The launch comes as Microsoft took the wraps off its own competing online media platform, Silverlight.  The product - formerly dubbed WPF/E - also includes copyright protection. The software giant has long wanted to take on Adobe's dominance of online video, and has signed up several content providers including Netflix and Major League Baseball.

Surprised? The Internet is cyclical: Someone comes up with a new idea, builds a site, popularity explodes, someone tries to control and monetize it (either the original owner or someone who bought it for way too much money), the attempts at control end up smothering the product, popularity declines, someone comes up with another new idea, and so on....Looks like I have to launch my own YouTube-like player (for TechAmok only) to be able show you videos w/o advertisement....