YouTube videos won't play---"This movie could not be played."

[hikeNM]

Hello all. Got a problem.

When I click on the YouTube application and choose a video to watch, I get an error message saying that "This movie could not be played."

But when I go to the YouTube website through Safari, I can watch videos, although they're much grainier. Also, others with an iPhone can watch videos with the YouTube application. So it's not a problem with the network.

There seems to be something wrong with the app.

Anybody got any ideas.

Thanks in advance.

 

[kas23]

I have been getting this message A LOT over the past 3 days. Previous to this, I never had this problem. It has also been occurring on the wife's phone too, so must be a YouTube problem.

 

[hikeNM]

I have been getting this message A LOT over the past 3 days. Previous to this, I never had this problem. It has also been occurring on the wife's phone too, so must be a YouTube problem.

Very very interesting. My wife's phone seems to be normal. Her's is a 16 GB and mine is an 8. This is strange.

 

[QuarterSwede]

The iPhone plays YouTube videos in H.264 which is why they look a lot better than on the web site in Flash. You'll only get that message on videos that aren't also available in H.264.

Example:
On the iPhone go into YouTube > Search > type in "Apple Commercial"

Play the first video (should be the 1984 commercial). It'll load.

 

[hikeNM]

The iPhone plays YouTube videos in H.264 which is why they look a lot better than on the web site in Flash. You'll only get that message on videos that aren't also available in H.264.

Unfortunately, I've been getting the message on videos that have previously played. Something has changed.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Unfortunately, I've been getting the message on videos that have previously played. Something has changed.

Strange, works for me still. I've just tried several by random search. They all loaded quickly and played fine.

 

[hikeNM]

Strange, works for me still. I've just tried several by random search. They all loaded quickly and played fine.

Hmm. Is there any way to search for H.264 videos only?

 

[Macman756]

I don't think H.264 is the problem, I would watch a Youtube video, bookmark it, and come back to it. I played it fine about a week ago, just checked now, "THis Movie cannot be played" Something is going on.

 

[Four20]

Hmm. Is there any way to search for H.264 videos only?

sadly there isn't. it's something that Apple asked Google/YouTube to do, and they convert the videos when they're able to. This is why you'll get this error on a lot of the brand new videos(they haven't had time to convert it yet).

 

[QuarterSwede]

Hmm. Is there any way to search for H.264 videos only?

From what I gather, anything on the non-iPhone YouTube site in High Quality is H.264. This link may explain further.

 

[hikeNM]

I don't think H.264 is the problem, I would watch a Youtube video, bookmark it, and come back to it. I played it fine about a week ago, just checked now, "THis Movie cannot be played" Something is going on.

Yes. Same here.

 

[kdarling]

From what I gather, anything on the non-iPhone YouTube site in High Quality is H.264. This link may explain further.

Hmm. Where does it reference H.264 in that article? Thanks!

FWIW, people have been complaining in other forums lately. And I've got some favorites that won't play any more.

 

[Yves2]

I recently uploaded a vacation video on youtube to share with friends. Showed it to many people on my Iphone. Two days ago I started receiving the message "this movie could not be played" (I am still able to watch certain clips but not others). Went to my account on Youtube and the video clip is fine. Not sure what to make of it...

 

[cherrybomb]

I have this problem far too often. They need to work on providing a better application. I hardly use it, because it hardly ever works...

 

[hikeNM]

I have this problem far too often. They need to work on providing a better application. I hardly use it, because it hardly ever works...

Well, I at least I'm not alone in this.