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Better than relying on Flash or HTML5 for Twitch: just skip the Twitch website entirely and use https://github.com/chrippa/livestreamer with VLC.

The resource (and battery!) usage for "native" streaming is so much lower than the browser version. You can freely leave it in the background while doing other things. Plus, you can force a 1080p feed. (All without paying.)

Twitch has had a HTML5 player that doesn't require having turbo to use for a while.

The issue is that the source is HLS which most desktop browsers (with the exception of Edge and Safari I believe) don't support. I've used twitch with flash disabled on Edge but there's often problems.

Presumably the new beta html5 player (which requires turbo subscription for now) works around HLS in some way.

I've seen issues in MS Edge with HLS on other services as well. Safari seems to have excellent HLS support. Haven't had any issues with Safari and Twitch.

Apple created HLS, so it makes sense their implementation is solid. :)

Not on browsers that support HLS.