how do I play .avi files on itunes

Cause the most popular file is AVI, the player VLC.org work on android, why don't on apple.

Why android trust the world ? it's for this reason, the system is more open.

Cause the most popular file is AVI,

And will likely remain so until the average mutimedia user becomes better educated and more selective in targeting the best combination of features for their particular container and compression format requirements for multimedia use and/or distribution.

the player VLC.org work on android, why don't on apple.

Development of VLC player apps is the perogative of the Videolan project team. They have already developed apps for a number of operating systems. Since Apple is not involved in this project, its tasks, or their prioities, you would have to as the VideoLan people why an IOS player version has not been developed. If you are asking why Apple does not create its own AVI specific player, then I refer you to the above explanation regarding the fact that Apple is in the process of moderizing its multimedia applications and not trying to attain compatibility with technology that is crippled by two decades of multimedia evolution nor are they in the business of supporting a file container developed and then abandoned by Microsoft.

Why android trust the world ? it's for this reason, the system is more open.

You lost me on this one. If you are asking why Apple developed its own operating system for its own mobile devices, then you would have to go and ask Apple. If you are asking why IOS is not more open to the public, then I suggest you become an IOS deveoper.

What sort of talk is this? I want to watch a movie, I dont care about compression and variable bit rate, all I know is Apple devices can not do natively what every other device out there can do, and that makes me feel cheated. Keep telling yourself that you are doing the noble thing by not touching "legacy compression", soon enough apple will be legacy. Be customer oriented, not technical oriented, if the customers want it, give it to them.

Jon Walker wrote:

Cause the most popular file is AVI,

And will likely remain so until the average mutimedia user becomes better educated and more selective in targeting the best combination of features for their particular container and compression format requirements for multimedia use and/or distribution.

the player VLC.org work on android, why don't on apple.

Development of VLC player apps is the perogative of the Videolan project team. They have already developed apps for a number of operating systems. Since Apple is not involved in this project, its tasks, or their prioities, you would have to as the VideoLan people why an IOS player version has not been developed. If you are asking why Apple does not create its own AVI specific player, then I refer you to the above explanation regarding the fact that Apple is in the process of moderizing its multimedia applications and not trying to attain compatibility with technology that is crippled by two decades of multimedia evolution nor are they in the business of supporting a file container developed and then abandoned by Microsoft.

Apple doesn't accept a gpl app , it's why the vlc are not present.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/no-gpl-apps-for-apples-app-store/8046

Why android trust the world ? it's for this reason, the system is more open.

You lost me on this one. If you are asking why Apple developed its own operating system for its own mobile devices, then you would have to go and ask Apple. If you are asking why IOS is not more open to the public, then I suggest you become an IOS deveoper.

We need only the OS accept this functionnality or itunes convert automatically the file on drag and drop.

You make this , iphone ll win a lot of customer.

I want to watch a movie, I dont care about compression and variable bit rate, all I know is Apple devices can not do natively what every other device out there can do, and that makes me feel cheated.

If all you want to do is play the in the container and compression format you want to use then puchase software or devices that are compatible with those files. The Apple site lists the capabilities of its software and devices so you know what you are getting before you buy. Why do you insist on buying something that won't play the files you want to play and then complain that the manufacturer cheated you—caveat emptor.

Keep telling yourself that you are doing the noble thing by not touching "legacy compression", soon enough apple will be legacy. Be customer oriented, not technical oriented, if the customers want it, give it to them.

I tend to feel the best customer is an informed customer. I do not believe people should go through life pretending to be blind, dumb, and disabled just so they can expect others to cater tho their every want or desire. As to not touching "legacy compression," I am not sure what you are trying to say here. I re-enabled the native "legacy" video formats I use on a regular basis as soon as Apple disabled them. As to other common "legacy" formats, I keep a basic set installed for use with classic QT apps. I cannot, however, install those that were never ported over from PC platforms to Mac, those that are only compatible with older 8, 9, or X PowerPC operating systems, or those never adapted to Mac Intel platforms. In short, if you wish to have fully PC compatible software and devices, then purchase and use equipment designed and manufactured for this compatibility and let Apple sink or swim on its own as the case may be. And if you really want to make recommendations regarding changes to QT and QT based applications, why aren't you sending these suggestions and recommendations directly to Apple using the Product Feedback forms provided instead of posting here?

Apple doesn't accept a gpl app , it's why the vlc are not present.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/no-gpl-apps-for-apples-app-store/8046

Interesting article. Thanks for the link. I must agree with your disappointment in Apple's apparent discriminatory "control" practices which take obvious precedence over all other issues. My major regret here is that I don't normally keep up to date on App Store offerings and so missed an opportunity to download a copy for my mobile devices since VLC is one of the few alternative player packages I use on a daily basis on my main system. I guess the question becomes, "Can a separate but similar commercial/non-GPL version be merchandised?"

You are missing the point Mr. Appleismymother,

If I bought a phone and took it home only to realise that it cannot make international calls, and that this is actually listed on the company site, I will not be able to sue the manufacturer, but will I be happy with my pruchase?...NO. That is all I am trying to say, I am not happy with my purchase, I cannot sue Apple, but you bet this is the last apple device I buy, thanks to your advice.

Now I'd like to play some music, is there anything special I should know? Should I start googling the downsides of MP3? any special software I should purchase?

If I bought a phone and took it home only to realise that it cannot make international calls, and that this is actually listed on the company site, I will not be able to sue the manufacturer, but will I be happy with my pruchase?...NO. That is all I am trying to say, I am not happy with my purchase, I cannot sue Apple, but you bet this is the last apple device I buy, thanks to your advice.

And you again make my case. Why would anyone buy an iPhone without first ensuring the carrier provided voice and/or data plans for the country of interest or which carrier partners are supported in that country or checking on the cost of additional fees or charges that might be incurred or how to reset the phone for international use? The laws of most countries support the principal that the buyer must assume, in whole or in part, some responisbility for non-fraudulant purchases he or she makes.

Now I'd like to play some music, is there anything special I should know? Should I start googling the downsides of MP3? any special software I should purchase?

By default, most software player apps and devices are compatible with the default options available for iTunes import and if not, can be sync'd to older, non-compatible devices as part of an internal conversion/sync process. The native encoder compression formats are AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3, and WAV. Since you did not indicate how you plan to source your music or play your music, I can make no specific recommendations at this point. As a "rule of thumb," I would normally recommend you import content at the highest available quality, use iTunes as the content manager, and then, only if necessisary, downconvert for most efficient use as you may desire for a specific player, device, or other use—e,g. creating MP3 Audio discs, posting to web pages, streaming to internal home or external targets via the internet, etc. Sourcing of content could impact software purchases and library requirements may impact hardware purchases depending on how large a library you have or plan to build—e.g., spreading content across single or multiple libraries on single or multiple extenal drives, or single or mutiple RAID devices.

I agree with the person above who suggested MPEG Streamclip. That app is fantastic, and you can create a batch list of all the files you want to change, and then go away and come back in 20 mins and everything will be done. I can't see the point in using handbrake because you'll just lose quality in the conversion. Handbrake is great but it's not needed here. You just want to change the container format as outlined above.

my personal preference was to utilise iTunes mostly for the sorting of video files. (although SO slow at times)

specifically TV shows. for the use of a 3rd party media server named Plex.

basically im not all together impressed with much fo the media apps that mac produce.

Plex plays very nearly ANYTHING.

but back to iTunes, i used it to sort tv shows into titles, seasons and episodes so the files were handled cleanly and easy to find.

now ive read about AVI. being old technology and thats the excuse for the lack of support.

90% of the files i have are AVI, and still commonly used.

unfortunately for me my original mac mini i was using as my media server has kicked the bucket.

at the time of setting it up as a server i searched through many foums to get an understanding of how things work.

for importing (not necessarliy playing) i discovered the handiest app that handled file types and could change avi. container info into (from memory) an mpg4 or mov container.

unfortunately what frustrates me the most is that i cannot remember the title of this app and trying to find it leads me in circles and back to these forums re. importing.

but it was the perfect solution, iTunes would import it just fine and no file conversion was required. this worked with MKV files also though importing time was a lot longer.

since i was using iTunes for sorting and not necessarily playing videos i cant comment on the capabaility of iTunes in playing various formats. basically i feel iTunes/Front Row are crap and there are plenty of other options out there with much better features. (Seriously check out Plex)

SO... now im on the latest mac mini trying to nut out how to get my system back into a workable media server, discovering all of the new and exciting ways in which mac limit our abilities in makinig our own needs met.

if anyone knows what im speaking about and can let me know what the name of this "file typer" app may be, id appreciate the information.

i discovered a little item named "file buddy", this did ring a bell. but as yet i havnt been able to get a version of this that will even open up for me in OS 10.8.2

so around we go... i guess id prefer nto to have to sort my files into folders etc. by hand.

for importing (not necessarliy playing) i discovered the handiest app that handled file types and could change avi. container info into (from memory) an mpg4 or mov container.

unfortunately what frustrates me the most is that i cannot remember the title of this app and trying to find it leads me in circles and back to these forums re. importing.

but it was the perfect solution, iTunes would import it just fine and no file conversion was required. this worked with MKV files also though importing time was a lot longer.

If the data wrapped in the file container (AVI, MKV, etc.) already conforms to MPEG-4 Chapter 2 or MPEG-4 AVC Chapter 10 video standards and MPEG-4 (AAC) audio standards, then there are several applications than can copy the data from "supported" third-party file types to MOV, MP4, and/or M4V file containers which are compatible with newer versions of iTunes that no longer support the AVI (or other) third-party file containers. Unfortunately, this does not work for proprietary or open codecs which produce hybridized Profile/Level combinations of media which require third-party codecs for proper playback.

1) For instance, the oldest QT app that can do this would be QT Pro. In the case you would simply use the "Save As..." option to copy the source data to a standard MOV file container without recompressing the data.

2) A better option would probably be the free MPEG Streamclip app. It also uses the "Save As..." File menu option to copy source data from one file container to your choice of either an MOV or MP4 file container without data conversion. Be advised, however, that targeting an MP4 file container limits the data which which can be transferred to MPEG-4, MPEG-5 AVC, and AAC data. Other data tracks are normally "filtered" out and ignored during the copy process.

3) Another app sometimes used would be Subler. It has the ability to remux compliant H.264, AAC, AC3, and Chapter tracks to an M4V file container, correct anamorphic aspect ratios for both old and new technology players, "lie" about Profile/Level settings if desired but may require a two-step work flow for many container types.

Other commercial apps (as previously discussed at different points in this forum) are also available which can automsatically copy data without conversion if possible or convert the data if the app determines conversion to be required.

2) A better option would probably be the free MPEG Streamclip app. It also uses the "Save As..." File menu option to copy source data from one file container to your choice of either an MOV or MP4 file container without data conversion. Be advised, however, that targeting an MP4 file container limits the data which which can be transferred to MPEG-4, MPEG-5 AVC, and AAC data. Other data tracks are normally "filtered" out and ignored during the copy process.

Should have read:

2) A better option would probably be the free MPEG Streamclip app. It also uses the "Save As..." File menu option to copy source data from one file container to your choice of either an MOV or MP4 file container without data conversion. Be advised, however, that targeting an MP4 file container limits the data which which can be transferred to MPEG-4, MPEG-4 AVC, and AAC data. Other data tracks are normally "filtered" out and ignored during the copy process.

honestly for my needs I think I'm going to just avoid iTunes all

together. and manage my files by hand. as I have said plex catalogues and plays every file I have.

i like how itunes is set out and how it runs but its far too limited and seems to be getting less user friendly for the all

important commercialization of ITunes Store. great for shopping but practically useless.

I agree with dannyml here...

the users are not interested in te specifics... we all want plug and play why else would we buy Mac?

apple will push consumers away from their products if they expect us to have a better understanding of how things work...

i use Mac and windows computers at home, and you do have to pay more attention with windows and have some degree of tech knowledge to over come what isn't handed to you for your needs.

I guess I trust apple to concentrate on use friendly systems, I've certainly felt its been steered that way for consumers.

but such an obvious shortcoming with media is one **** of a let down for the "lazy people's" system of choice.

fine, we want simple support on older/all media files, go windows! end of story.

the users are not interested in te specifics... we all want plug and play why else would we buy Mac?

But you seem to be missing a few salient points here. AVI was develpoed by and for use on Microsoft operating systems. It has a vested interest in maintaining compatibility with both the file type and codecs commonly used in such files. Apple doers not. Apple neither developed the file type nor does it make any attempt to support many of the PC/Windows developed codecs used in these files which may or may not even be available for the Mac platform. Apple has elected to go with the H.264/AAC compression format as jointly defined as the ITU-T H.264 and ISO/IEC MPEG-4 AVC standard as its primary multimedia format. As such Apple is actively involved in the seamless integration of its software applications and hardware device design with this standard. What I do not understand is why, if your goal is the playback of media specifically designed for use on a Microsoft system, you would buy a Mac in the first place and then insist that Apple modify its applications to support Microsoft media that Microsotf itself no longer actively supports rather than Apple's own media formats, Apple's own media software, and Apple's own devices in which Apple currently has its a vested interest.

As to knowledge or interest "in te specifics," that is only necessiary if you fail to use work flows that are supported by and for Apple products and want to know why your files don't work or are incompoatible with certain versions of certain applications under certain Mac operating systems or certain Apple devices. If you don't really want to know why they don't work or how to make them compatible, don't ask the questions that require some knowledge regarding these subjects.

apple will push consumers away from their products if they expect us to have a better understanding of how things work...

That may well be, but let Apple suffer for its own mistakes—not yours.

i use Mac and windows computers at home, and you do have to pay more attention with windows and have some degree of tech knowledge to over come what isn't handed to you for your needs.

But you insist on continuing on using your your PC/Windows developed work flows on a Mac and then imply that Mac systems sould automatically correct for any mistakes you might make while simultaneously stating you don't expect Microsoft systems to do this.

I guess I trust apple to concentrate on use friendly systems, I've certainly felt its been steered that way for consumers.

This element of trust only works if your work flows remain part of Apple's media-software-hardware pattern of integration. When you fail to use natively supported media formats or use third-party software/hardware, then the components of this integration may no longer be proerly supported.

but such an obvious shortcoming with media is one **** of a let down for the "lazy people's" system of choice.

Possibly an "obvious shortcoming" for you but not for many of us. Many users like to buy or rent their content directly through their devices/applications. For them this is usually not a problem since the files are already supposedly system/device compliant. For them iTunes AVI non-compliance is not an issue. I create new or update older files on a daily basis. For me, and those like me, AVI non-compliance is not a problem since I/we can create chaptered anamorphic H.264/AAC/AC3 iTunes compliant files just as easily as I/we can create an iTunes non-compliant AVI file. In fact, based on the reseach you made, I am a bit suprised that you would purchase a Mac for the viewing of AVI files since even Perian has decided that keeping up with such support requires more effort than the project was worth based on Apple's current path of QT X evolution—or what you might consider its "path of QT X de-evolution."

fine, we want simple support on older/all media files, go windows! end of story.

Then basically you currently have two main options. The first would be to use an older Mac system having a version of iTunes that is still AVI file format compliant and which is supported by a version of "classic" QT 7 allowing iTunes to access third-party codecs that might be used in your AVI files and which are available for installation on such a Mac system. The other option would be to use a PC/Windows operating system that seamlessly integrates your AVI media files with your choice of player hardware/software—i.e., as you said, "Go Windows! End of story."