Youtube: unsupported video format

Question

Level 1

71 points

Youtube: unsupported video format

I just came across a video on youtube that my iPad wouldn't play. It said the video format was not supported. It's a video that was just uploaded today so I assume it's a new feature in the compression that the iPad doesn't understand (yet).

The same video plays just fine on any normal computer even on my Linux box running Firefox.

The interesting thing: now my iPad will not even list this video any more, even though I subscribed to the uploader's account. It seems to filter it from my view. If you want to give it a try here is the video.(it's just a short dance performance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX3rEqssLso

iPad 32, WiFi + 3G

Posted on Jul 15, 2010 3:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jul 15, 2010 3:20 PM in response to David_o99

It has not been formated to be played on the iPad. new uploads are often like this until youtube can process the video for mobile devices. Also when you upload a video you have the option of blocking it from mobile and embeds. This means if people want to watch they have to be on a desktop client.

Reply

Answer 2

David_o99 Author

Level 1

71 points

Jul 15, 2010 3:33 PM in response to a Mac user

thanks! That makes sense. It was just uploaded so I guess youtube is still processing it. It's just odd that it's hidden now. I'm sure the person did not block mobile devices, all his other videos are listed and play fine. I guess it's an iPad thing hiding 'broken' videos.

Reply

Answer 3

David_o99 Author

Level 1

71 points

Jul 28, 2010 10:01 AM in response to David_o99

I'm not sure the issue is youtube taking a little longer to process videos to play on mobile devices. This video still doesn't play on the iPad. It's two weeks now.

The Youtube app is also sneaky in a way that it hides the video from view once it finds out it can't play it.

Reply

Answer 4

David_o99 Author

Level 1

71 points

Jul 28, 2010 10:03 AM in response to a Mac user

The video still doesn't play in the iPad so I doubt it's a delay in processing for mobile devices. The same user uploaded a few videos around the same time and the other videos play fine.

The Youtube app is also sneaky by just hiding unsupported videos from view (on the iPad). That's not a reasonable way to deal with an incompatibility issue.

Reply

Answer 5

Jul 28, 2010 12:25 PM in response to David_o99

When you upload a video you can set if you want to allow viewing via the mobile site or device. Some views are blocked from mobile viewing on user preference.

Reply

Answer 6

David_o99 Author

Level 1

71 points

Jul 29, 2010 6:48 PM in response to a Mac user

I think I found out why. Even when you set the syndication to all it might still be restricted to mobile devices because of copyright issues. The video in question is a dance and the music is probably what has caused it to be restricted. I was able to confirm that with one of my videos as well.

I wish the error message was not as misleading. It makes it sound the device doesn't support the format when it's really completely different issue.

Reply

Answer 7

Jul 29, 2010 7:11 PM in response to David_o99

I was going to say the something about copyrighted music in a YouTube video. YouTube will allow copyrighted music in a video if the holder of the copyright allows it. But there's a catch to this... The copyright holder attaches a link to buy the music. For some reason this link makes the video unplayable on the iPad.

I haven't investigate to why this is so... The link might be flash or java base and the iPad doesn't support these formats. And YouTube won't let you circumvent this... So, no video.

Isn't the digital age fascinating!

Message was edited by: David M Brewer

Reply

Answer 8

David_o99 Author

Level 1

71 points

Jul 30, 2010 9:04 AM in response to David M Brewer

Maybe the deal with the copyright owner is that they allow the video only if there is a direct link to a store where you can buy it. I think that's what most mobile devices are not supporting hence they block the video for those. There is no iTunes on mobile devices nor Amazon's downloader.

Let's hope the Youtube app will support that soon. After all the iPad comes with iTunes so a direct link to a music purchase would work. I have to say I did buy a lot of songs through those links after watching videos on Youtube.

Reply

Answer 9

Jul 30, 2010 9:14 AM in response to David M Brewer

David, thanks for that insight. I just looked into it and found a few videos that have labeled with music will not play. This should be submitted to youtube to see if it can be resolved.

Reply