iPhone can not play mov videos exported from iMovie using QuickTime

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iPhone can not play mov videos exported from iMovie using QuickTime

Here is my export settings:
http://skitch.com/an00na/nq38b/movie-settings

I've checked it against the specs http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html, and it seems supported.

However, I can't play it in Mobile Safari on my iPhone 3GS. Here is the failure screenshot:
http://skitch.com/an00na/nq38k/voodo-video-play-problem-on-iphone

What's wrong with my video then?

iPhone, iPhone OS 3.1.2, iMovie 09

Posted on Jan 10, 2010 5:23 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 10, 2010 5:31 AM in response to an0

The supported way to play videos on the iPhone is to Share to iTunes in iPhone or Mobile size and then to sync your phone, with the movie selected for syncing.
You could also use YouTube or similar service.

Then you watch the video from the iPod part of your phone.

Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

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Answer 2

an0 Author

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Jan 10, 2010 5:40 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Thanks for your suggestion.

However, I need to publish the video on the web, not just upload to my iPhone.

And what's more important, exporting using QuickTime seems to produce better quality videos. So I am asking why the video exported in my way can be played on iPhone, and how to adjust the settings to make it work (still by "Export using QuickTime").

Or are you saying that videos produced via "Export using QuickTime" definitely can't be played on iPhone? If so, could you show me a reference for that?

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Answer 3

Jan 10, 2010 5:41 AM in response to an0

The first thing I see is the total lack of compression on the audio portion of the file.
Can't see what settings you used for the data rate of the video track. It could also be a cause.

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Answer 4

Jan 10, 2010 5:57 AM in response to an0

Here are the specs for iPhone/iPod,

Looks like the dimensions should be 480x320.

If you read on there is a separate spec for videos to be streamed over 3G or Edge.

[specs|http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/technotes/tn2007/tn2188.html#TNTAG 18]

Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

Message was edited by: AppleMan1958

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Answer 5

an0 Author

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Jan 10, 2010 5:54 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

The source videos' FPS is 25, and I selected "Current fps" for Frame Rate in export settings, so fps should not be a problem.

The info of the produced video(got in QuickTime Player) is as follows:
http://skitch.com/an00na/nq3e1/inspector

It seems the data rate is OK, too.

Is it the Linear PCM audio format that caused the problem?

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Answer 6

Jan 10, 2010 6:03 AM in response to an0

Use some compression on the audio portion of the file (AAC).
This will drop the entire data rate of the file.

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Answer 7

an0 Author

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Jan 10, 2010 8:08 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Compressed with AAC, but still to no avail:(

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Answer 8

Jan 10, 2010 9:20 PM in response to an0

You are out of spec on the video.
You need 3:2 aspect ratio. 480x360 if through iTunes or on WiFi. 900 Kbps data rate.
Audio stereo AAC at 128 Kbps.

For 3G or Edge, try 176x144 at 15 frames per second. Data rate of 56 Kps. Audio should be mono AAC at a low bit rate.

Also, setting the fast start compression for internet streaming parameter may be an issue. Once you get everything else in spec, if it still does not work, uncheck this box.

Or you could use the presets and do this automatically.

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Answer 9

an0 Author

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Jan 10, 2010 10:16 PM in response to AppleMan1958

But the http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html says it can be "up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second". And I did successfully play videos of size 600 x 416 on other web sites. So 480x320 should not be the upper limit of video size.

Besides, my video's fps(25), data rate(< 0.8 Mbps), audio(AAC stereo, 44.1 kHz, 128kbps) are all in the supported range.

I'm really frustrated.

Have anyone successfully exported mov videos of size 640x480 from iMovie 09 by "Export using QuickTime" that can be played on iPhone 3GS? What's your settings?

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Answer 10

an0 Author

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Jan 10, 2010 11:32 PM in response to AppleMan1958

I tried exporting a m4v video via "Export Movie..." -> "Mobile"(480x320), the result can be synced to iPhone and played in iPod app; however, it still can't be played in Safari on iPhone from the web.

Here is the very simple html5 code for the video:
<video width="480" height="320" controls="controls">
<source src="/video/Voodo Demo.m4v" type="video/mp4" />
</video>

What's wrong with it?

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Answer 11

Jan 10, 2010 11:45 PM in response to an0

An iPhone 3GS will make movies through the video camera feature. These movies are 640x480. This is probably the spec you are reading.

However, the iPhone screen is only 480x360. So if you want to play your movies on the iPhone, this is the max.

Good luck. I'm done.

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Answer 12

an0 Author

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Jan 11, 2010 12:26 AM in response to AppleMan1958

In fact, I've just produced a mov video of size 640x480 via "Export using QuickTime" and successfully synced to iPhone and played in iPod app. (I haven't tested it on MobileSafari yes. Uploading.)

On the other hand, I tried exporting a m4v video via "Export Movie..." -> "Mobile"(480x320), the result can be synced to iPhone and played in iPod app; however, it still can't be played in Safari on iPhone from the web.

Here is the very simple html5 code for the video:
<video width="480" height="320" controls="controls">
<source src="/video/Voodo Demo.m4v" type="video/mp4" />
</video>

What's wrong with it?

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