SoundManager 2 provides a easy to use API that allows sound to be played in any modern browser, including IE 6+. If the browser doesn't support HTML5, then it gets help from flash. If you want stricly HTML5 and no flash, there's a setting for that, preferFlash=false
It supports 100% Flash-free audio on iPad, iPhone (iOS4) and other HTML5-enabled devices + browsers
Use is as simple as:
<script src="soundmanager2.js"></script>
<script>
// where to find flash SWFs, if needed...
soundManager.url = '/path/to/swf-files/';
soundManager.onready(function() {
soundManager.createSound({
id: 'mySound',
url: '/path/to/an.mp3'
});
// ...and play it
soundManager.play('mySound');
});
// appending HTML5 Audio Tag in HTML Body
$('<audio id="chatAudio">
<source src="notify.ogg" type="audio/ogg">
<source src="notify.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">
</audio>').appendTo('body');
// play sound
$('#chatAudio')[0].play();