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Can't edit photo imported from iphone 4S

After importing my photos to my PC (Windows 7) from my iPhone, I'm unable to edit them (for example, rotate, crop). I get the following error "this photo can't be saved because of a problem with the photo's file properties"

I check the properties, but they seem fine - all the right permissions, not read-only etc.

Occasionally, I will be able to edit a photo. Say 1 out of 10 of those imported. I can see no differences between these files.

I've also tried using different photo editors/viewers with no luck.


Any ideas?


Thanks!

iPhone 4S, iOS 5

Posted on Oct 28, 2011 6:15 PM

Reply
248 replies

Jan 11, 2012 10:39 AM in response to TizzyFurry

Okay just got off the phone with Apple Support - They claim to know nothing of this problem. When I told them I read post after post on their website, they say they do not have time to be aware of problems posted here. Funny I read other post where the poster said they called Apple to report the problem - still no acknowledgement. Seems like denial. Best part was the rep said they are technical support but they do not work for Apple. Great. I am starting to regret my purchase this Christams. Still time to take it back under warranty.


Anyway... just a post to say don't waste your time contacting Apple tech support. They said it had to be an issue with the other program. Funny I use Windows Live Gallery to download....thought it was very basic and it has always worked with any device I used. They say I need to contact Windows.


Good luck with the work around crew... I'm taking my phone back and getting a Droid. Hopefully it will download fine. Heck I might even get a tech support that says they actually work for the product they support.

Jan 11, 2012 2:58 PM in response to SandyJef

I've found about half the Apple people I've talked to, including supervisors, DO know about the ridiculous inexcusable glitch that on many (but unfortunately, not ALL) 4s phones, the photos don't download correctly to a PC. I also found that even with the ones I was able to rotate with the Lossless jpeg rotator, when I try to ATTACH them to an email, they rotate wrong yet again. It is absurd that this isn't being fixed quickly. I talked to one supervisor whose own mother was having this problem. Everyone I've talked to says they will pass the information on to their higher ups. One supervisor assured me that they really do care about PC users, and that 80% of iphone owners actually use PCs, not Macs. So, it gives me hope. Meanwhile, I try not to take very many photos, because it's so darn frustrating. I DID contact Dell, and spent 3 hours talking to them. They said they had fixed it, but what they actually accomplished is that, before that, even the Lossless rotator hardly worked, and after they made some adjustments, it now works most of the time.

Not exactly a FIX. It's an APPLE PROBLEM. Come on Apple! Read these posts!

Jan 11, 2012 3:10 PM in response to clofromdavis

I rang up Apple about this problem about two weeks after receiving 4S (release day), and the person I spoke to said that he had not heard about this problem. He didn't really seem to understand what I was explaining to him, but assumed my problem was due to my windows software. But I can defiantly say that it isn't down to windows, as I've also got a 3GS running iOS 5.0.1 which transfers all photos perfectly fine without any problems, whereas my 4S is still having the same problems running the same iOS and the same laptop.


On another note I have downloaded the Jpeg Lossless Rotator program and that's working a treat, far better then using paint individually, but still not good enough on Apples part.

Jan 11, 2012 3:33 PM in response to clofromdavis

Yes, 80 percent of Iphone users are using a PC, but out of that 80 percent the hobbiest that actually wants an organized digital collection that shows off the home entertainment system to its fullist is maybe a fraction of those.


They absolutely must know of the problem and yes they did create some sort of different JPEG. I would have never went this direction because the number one feature of my picking out a phone is the camera and multimedia functions. I will probably never carry camera that is not a phone also for the rest of my life, well, except I do like my waterproof Kodak for the summer time.


The newest Apple add says, "this is the only camera you need" The add is part of a huge campaign. The camera does not have a timer, you have to take the back case off for flash photos, you can not shoot photos in widescreen 16x9, then once edited on the Iphone the changes do not transfer over to Windows 7. People keep telling me they can take non blurry photos and video with one hand holding the Iphone sideways. The one and only way is to hold the phone upside down, then you need to rotate them on a PC later which is a pain.


I was outside of my return date before I ever started editing my photos and really was never worried because all the old Iphones had typical JPEG files.


I get the experts telling me to buy apps to do simple things like widescreen photos or timers, that is funny. The quickstart buttons on the Iphone 4s were why I bought the phone. There is nothing worse than waiting for someone trying to take a photo going though apps and settings. The window for a good photo is about 1 second, past that it simply looks posed.


Thank you so much for not making me feel alone, that has been Apples trick for way too long. They have so many cheerleaders, quite a crazy group. I call it the Gratefull Dead group for gadgets. When you see a customer complaining at a Genious Bar they are treating those guys like they are a local preacher of something. Its like, thank you Apple. I had the opportunity to take time off work or my family to have this wonderful experience of coming to the Apple Store. Simply it is weird. Yes, though, they do give great service once at the Genious Bar though. I see all these customers shaking hands, saying thank yous, all because some kid replaced there phone. The customer just lost important calls for the two days prior and everything on his phone since the last back up was lost for ever, but, thank you Apple.

Jan 11, 2012 3:40 PM in response to Microsoft_Harold

ya, there is not enough time in the day. My editing really only consists of changing all photos to 16x9 and it needs to be done quickly. I agree with first using paint, open and save as JPEG, click yes when it wants you to replace file. Then come back to Windows Live Photo Editor and edit away, next, next, next


Its that Paint step that wrecks the whole thing.


The widescreen thing is laughed at me alot because it is still sort of new. My guess it though in the next 5 years there will be no such thing as a 4x3 digital photo. There is zero reason. Even billboards need widescreen photos. I get the arguement of what about magazines. Haha, like those wont be 100 percent digital soon and they will certainly be designed to look better on a widescreen. 10 years from now there will be no more square displays at all.


Thank you for your fix though, it really does work if you have enough time.

Jan 14, 2012 3:18 AM in response to ecbtx

Thanks everyone for confirming it's not my lack of knowledge or skills that is causing this issue. I went into apple yesterday, they claim they have never heard of the issue. The straw that has broke the camels back for me is that you use apple functionality to crop and remove red eye, only for this to be ignored when you retrieve the photo on your PC.


Shame, I was looking at moving all Laptops and PC's to apple, this has now been shelved now that I realise that apple are not willing to develop a product that aids people in sharing their photos with non apple product users.


Just called apple re returns policy, I will be taking my phone back on Monday and going back to my old HTC

Jan 14, 2012 7:35 AM in response to Crumimur

I have banned off 10 boards already for bringing up this issue. I have simply said that the Apple version of a JPEG is different than anything I have ever used. It should be called IJPEG. or QuicktimePhoto. Then I would have known and not purchased my Iphone in the first place. The camera mode is the most important feature in my Iphone and I say it is the most used feature of any smart phone. All the other apps combined like star finder, tetris, wobble my whatever are great features but end of the day most people take a few photos, send a few texts or emails and make a few calls.

Jan 14, 2012 10:00 AM in response to Crumimur

Great fix but I have pretty much been scared off of using any photo programs other than the ones provided by Microsoft through Windows.


Especially if they are free. Who has time to have an attorney read the fine print before you install the software. It would be so easy to give one of these programs rights to your photos. It would also be easy to find out years later that there program is not compatible. Haha, similar to Iphone JPEG now.

Jan 14, 2012 3:01 PM in response to lsafley

that sounds horrible... seems this is something apple wants to bury, iam sure they are aware of the issue, just pretending not to know. It is a shame if they incorp much needed features from android and fix up the small little problems they would be unstoppable... But interms of the problems now I will wait until 5.1.0 and see if that fixes things.

Fixing this photo thing, plus clearing up the pixels in the pictures, and being able to delete pictures off the photo stream (NOT CAMERA ROLL) are the big things i am looking foward to, hopefully.

PLUS fixing up end user experiences such as, no network/noservice message fixes, imessage lag, imessage pictures not sending, allowing multiple attachments, downloading of files etc etc

Hopefully, but if not then google should take a page out of this and hopefully capitalize on apple's follies... Because I want permanent solutions not work arounds.

Can't edit photo imported from iphone 4S

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