Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iTunes store 1080p video won't play on iPad 2

xraydoc

xraydoc

Contributor
Original poster
Oct 9, 2005
11,375
5,953
192.168.1.1
When iTunes 10.6 was released last week, I set the video download format to 1080p (up from the old 720p-only option).

So yesterday, my machine automatically downloaded the new episode of Walking Dead in 1080p (and for whatever reason I haven't been getting the SD versions of the last several episodes).

Anyway, today after syncing my iPad, iTunes tells me that my iPad 2 cannot play the video format. Really?

So what's the point of Apple selling 1080p if the iPad 2 and, presumably, the iPhone can't play them? I haven't tried on my Apple TV version 2, either, so I have no idea if it'll play there, either.

I'm fully aware that the iPad 2 doesn't have the resolution to play 1080p at full res, but it should at least be able to downscale. Am I wrong???
 
ZBoater said:
I think you're supposed to buy a new iPad. I believe that is Apple's master plan for world domination... :apple:
Click to expand...

Already have... Being delivered on Friday. Nonetheless, what about my phone? I'm very surprised that iOS hasn't been updated to at least downscale purchased videos. And we know the iPhone "5" won't have a 1080p screen either.

I think I may change back to 720p downloads in iTunes if this is the case.

----------

So I just found this on Apple's support pages:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3209?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Apparently you have to go and manually download the SD version. Stupid.

I also can't see any way to get all 3 versions (1080p, 720p, SD). Stupid x 2.
 
ugp said:
Just download both 720p and 1080p.
Click to expand...

I don't see an option to specify the 720p version. I can go to the "purchased" section in the iTunes store and download the SD version or an "HD" version. But no way to specify which HD version.

Also, what about movies who's studio doesn't permit re-downloads. You get one download... and I presume it'll be the one specified in the iTunes preferences. So if 1080p is selected, there's no option to download the 720p version AFAIK (or vice versa).
 
Dubthedankest said:
Per Ars Technica (http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2...ooks-good-through-better-h264-compression.ars) 1080p content can only be played on the third-gen iPad and iPhone 4S.
Click to expand...

Actually, per Apple (posted above), not even on the iPhone 4S.

But again, if I download 1080p content for my iMac, 3rd gen. iPad or 3rd gen. Apple TV, I see no way whatsoever to also download a 720p version for my iPhone, iPad or previous gen. Apple TV.

Standard def., yes. 720p and 1080p, no.
 
You can download 1080p and 720p.

Download your item with 1080p selected as the preferred method for downloading. If the movie is available as iTunes in the Cloud you can switch the setting to 720p and go to your purchased menu and select movies and movies not on your computer. Also if you do the same on your phone or iPad you can download the HD version that supports your device.

On my iPad I downloaded a 720p version of a movie. When I went to download it asked me if I wanted HD or SD.

2a8p2bs.png


As shown above.

Also the Profile the 1080p version are using I believe the iPad 2 does not support. I may be wrong on this one... Not sure.
 
xraydoc said:
Actually, per Apple (posted above), not even on the iPhone 4S.

But again, if I download 1080p content for my iMac, 3rd gen. iPad or 3rd gen. Apple TV, I see no way whatsoever to also download a 720p version for my iPhone, iPad or previous gen. Apple TV.

Standard def., yes. 720p and 1080p, no.
Click to expand...

According to Apple's own website, the 4S should be able to play 1080p video. However, I just tried to add a 1080p video from the iTunes Store and it didn't work. I'm not on iOS 5.1, though, so that might help.
 
ugp said:
You can download 1080p and 720p.

Download your item with 1080p selected as the preferred method for downloading. If the movie is available as iTunes in the Cloud you can switch the setting to 720p and go to your purchased menu and select movies and movies not on your computer. Also if you do the same on your phone or iPad you can download the HD version that supports your device.

On my iPad I downloaded a 720p version of a movie. When I went to download it asked me if I wanted HD or SD.

Image

As shown above.

Also the Profile the 1080p version are using I believe the iPad 2 does not support. I may be wrong on this one... Not sure.
Click to expand...
Tried this. It does work... but digging in to the iTunes preferences, changing the download format and manually redownloading each and every video, then changing the preference back is hardly the elegant solution I would expect from Apple.

And what if the movie is not available as an "iTunes in the Cloud" option? I'm stuck I guess.

Very un-Apple-like.

----------
jason221 said:
According to Apple's own website, the 4S should be able to play 1080p video. However, I just tried to add a 1080p video from the iTunes Store and it didn't work. I'm not on iOS 5.1, though, so that might help.
Click to expand...

That's not what it says on the link I posted above.
Per Apple:
Additional Information
1080p content is not compatible with iPhone 4S or earlier, iPad 2 or earlier, or iPod touch (4th generation or earlier).
Click to expand...
 
xraydoc said:
And what if the movie is not available as an "iTunes in the Cloud" option? I'm stuck I guess.
Click to expand...

I refuse to buy anymore movies until they are available with iTunes in the Cloud. I never really bought movies before incase of data loss of some sort. Most of my movies are Digital Copies from a Blu-ray. Out of around 68 movies only 45 are available to re-download for me. I still wanna see how the quality is when I get my AppleTV with 1080p. I am keeping my 2nd Gen AppleTV is why I download the 720p version as well. On a 32" TV 1080p isn't going to make a difference.

They are working for the rest of the movies to be available. I wish an option to update SD movies to HD was available or redeem a Digital Copy of a Blu-ray I currently own some how.
 
Peace said:
I'm guessing the 1080P movie you tried playing on your iPhone 4S was in Dolby 5.1 audio. The iPhone 4S won't play a 1080P movie that has 5.1 audio.
Click to expand...

Well, that's idiotic. I don't have enough hard drive space to keep 720p and 1080p copies of everything I have. Besides, I'm pretty sure that videos from iTunes also have an AAC 2.0 audio track. Why couldn't the phone recognize that?
 
jason221 said:
Well, that's idiotic. I don't have enough hard drive space to keep 720p and 1080p copies of everything I have. Besides, I'm pretty sure that videos from iTunes also have an AAC 2.0 audio track. Why couldn't the phone recognize that?
Click to expand...

I dunno. It used to be when you purchased a movie from iTunes you got two versions. One for the Apple TV/iPhone and one for your computer.
 
They should have included a simple preference to downlaoad each one. 3 little checkboxes would solve this problem.

I have a mix of devices so I'll need more than 1 version.

For curiosities sake I downloaded all of Game Of Thrones season 1 in SD, 720p, and 1080p. The total size of the season is just over 60GB.
 
xraydoc said:
Actually, per Apple (posted above), not even on the iPhone 4S.

But again, if I download 1080p content for my iMac, 3rd gen. iPad or 3rd gen. Apple TV, I see no way whatsoever to also download a 720p version for my iPhone, iPad or previous gen. Apple TV.

Standard def., yes. 720p and 1080p, no.
Click to expand...

I just downloaded and watched a 1080p keynote from itunes on an ipad 2.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9B179 Safari/7534.48.3)

5.1 update allows me to play 1080P on all supported devices.
 
Wow didn't expect this at all. :eek:

So anyone who wants the 1080p experience has to buy the new Apple TV or iPad 3. Oh well thankfully I sold my Apple 2 for the 3 :D
 
homeboy said:
Wow didn't expect this at all. :eek:

So anyone who wants the 1080p experience has to buy the new Apple TV or iPad 3. Oh well thankfully I sold my Apple 2 for the 3 :D
Click to expand...

The AppleTV version 2 (and version 1) doesn't support 1080p video. Fine. I have no problem with that.

The iPad & iPad 2 don't support 1080p video (screen isn't 1080p anyway). Fine. I can deal with that.

What I find truly annoying is that I have to go thru serious machinations to download SD, 720p and 1080p copies when either they should all three be downloaded automatically or we should at least be given an option of which ones of the three to download (i.e., 720p AND 1080p both).

And for videos that aren't offered as "in the Cloud" options - like movies from certain studios, what am I supposed to do??? If I buy the 1080p version, I can never, ever watch it on my iPad 2 or older Apple TVs (unless I settle for the SD-only version) - since I can't forcibly re-download the 720p format!

I used to actually buy a lot of stuff off iTunes. Guess not any more until this is addressed.
 
The issue with the other Studios not participating with iTunes in the Cloud should be up soon. Until then you will have to sit tight. And like most things with Apple when they release something they make changes down the road when enough customers make requests upon something. Best thing would be to voice your opinion to Apple. Apple does listen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back