1. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium configured with data and with instructions that when executed by at least one processor causes the processor(s) to perform a process for providing a video playback on a low-power device, the low-power device configured by a runtime, a video service, a system compositor, a shared surface to receive decoded video frames, and an application which has a video object and an application-specific compositor, the process comprising the steps performed on the device of: the runtime handing the video object to the video service for rendering; the video service rendering the video object onto the shared surface; the application-specific compositor manipulating the shared surface; the system compositor compositing the manipulated shared surface with other data; and the device displaying attendant rendered, manipulated, and composited video frames; the foregoing process utilizing only a single copy of the shared surface in memory.