Caching larger flv files 5mb +

Question

I'm using flowplayer, and told .htaccess to cache flv files for 30 minutes. When the files are under 5mb it caches, if over that, it doesn't. How do I force cache like youtube does?

5mb from what I've found out is a browser default. If youtube is able to bypass that, I should be able to as well. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Even if you could bypass browser limits, doing so would be bad net citizenship. Basically, that would be setting out to use more of the user's resources than the user has authorized. Don't do it.

I don't think YouTube is locally caching more than your browser is allowing. I view a large HD video file and reload the page and the video is not preloaded. I don't see what you say you're seeing in the comment on your question.

Of coures, that behavior may be browser-dependent. This post shows cache sizes for different browsers as of last year and they are certainly as large or larger now.