Thiskoz

Q: Rented movies won't sync to latest gen iPod classic

I've been renting movies from iTunes and syncing them to iPod classics for years.  Yesterday I rented a movie in SD like I always do, connected my iPod to my Mac, clicked on the iPod when it popped up in my iTunes menu after it was connected, went to movies, moved the rented movie to my iPod, and clicked sync.  The movie moved to my iPod, the sync process lasted about a second, and then the movie moved right back to my Mac.  I thought there may be an issues with the movie I downloaded, so I rented another movie in SD and the same thing happened when I tried to move it to my iPod.  Up until just last week this has never happened to me before.  Anyone having similar issues?  Thanks.

iPod classic (120 GB)

Posted on Apr 2, 2016 11:22 AM

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Q: Rented movies won't sync to latest gen iPod classic

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 2, 2016 5:11 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 8 (38,253 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 2, 2016 5:11 PM in response to Thiskoz

    I assume there is enough free space on the iPod...  You don't get any error message?

     

    If all songs (and other content) on the iPod are stored in your iTunes library, you may want to do a Restore on the iPod using iTunes.  This erases the iPod, reinstalls its software, and sets it to default settings.  If there's data corruption on the iPod causing this problem, the Restore will resolve it.

     

    Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 4, 2016 4:40 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 4, 2016 4:40 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Thanks for the response.  I don't get any error message.  The sync process starts up when I move the movies to my iPod, it lasts less than a second, and then suddenly bounces the movies back to my Mac while stating Sync is complete.  Never had this happen before until now.  And I have space on my iPod for the movies.  Thanks for the suggestion regarding the Restore option, I don't want to delete everything but may have to try that out.

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 4, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 4, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Ok I figured this out.  The two movies I rented were high quality SD movies and my iPod was set to allowing such downloads.  I had no idea they were high quality SD when I rented them.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 4, 2016 8:16 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 8 (38,253 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 4, 2016 8:16 PM in response to Thiskoz

    What are "high quality SD movies"?  They are either Standard Definition (SD) or High Definition (HD), from what I've seen...  Can you show an example of a movie on iTunes Store that is offered in "high quality SD" format?

  • by KathrynFoxton,

    KathrynFoxton KathrynFoxton Apr 5, 2016 4:37 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPod
    Apr 5, 2016 4:37 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Yes, I have this issue also. Same as you, have been renting movies for years and transferring to my ipod classic. Like you I thought I'd downloaded the HD version so next one I made sure it was SD and I've got over 13gb available on the ipod.

     

    You seem to to have solved the mystery but like Kenichi, I thought there was only HD or SD—can you elaborate, as clearly Apple aren't interested in doing so. (I've tried to report the problem to get an answer but have had no response from Apple at all, and now I find I can't contact them via support as my email address is 'invalid', even though this is the one on my account and where they send me billing info, etc!)

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 5, 2016 5:08 PM in response to KathrynFoxton
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 5, 2016 5:08 PM in response to KathrynFoxton

    Kathryn I have no idea what "high quality SD videos" are either as I have never hear about them before last week.  I have set my iTunes to no longer download these videos.  (I went to Preferences, then store, then I unchecked a box that said "download high quality SD videos.")  I am going to email apple and hopefully they will address this.  Perhaps Apple is setting up iTunes so you can no longer download movies onto the iPod, or at least the iPod classic?

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 5, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 5, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Kenichi, see my above post to Kathryn, I have no idea what high quality SD videos are, I thought they were either HD and regular SD.

  • by KathrynFoxton,

    KathrynFoxton KathrynFoxton Apr 5, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iPod
    Apr 5, 2016 5:12 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Thanks, will do the same. Yes, I think they're getting rid of classic users too, then ipods no doubt. Just wish they'd communicate that they're no longer supporting rather than just ditching us—we're long time customers after all. Good opportunity to investigate other options.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 5, 2016 6:52 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 8 (38,253 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 5, 2016 6:52 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Thanks for pointing out that option in iTunes preferences.  If you still have one of your SD rentals (that doesn't sync to iPod) stored on your computer, can you do a right-click Get Info on it (in iTunes)?  On the Info window, go to the File tab.  What does it say there for dimensions (the movie's screen resolution)?  For example, I have an old purchased movie (in SD format) in my Movies library that has dimensions of 640x264.

     

    It's possible that the movie is called "SD" (because it's resolution is less than "HD"), but its resolution is higher than supported on iPod classic, which is up to 640x480 (according to its tech specs page).  So, if the dimensions numbers (either one) for the movie exceeds 640x480, iTunes will not sync it because it is too high-res to play on iPod classic.

     

    Also, if you uncheck that option in iTunes preferences (for Download high-quality SD videos), and then download a movie (in SD format), does that provide a download that you CAN sync to your iPod classic?  Assuming you have purchased or rented another movie since encountering this problem...

     

    NOTE:  If you contact the official Apple customer support for iTunes Store, they may reset the recent rentals so that you can download it again (with that setting disabled).  They did that for me a while back.

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 8, 2016 2:12 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 8, 2016 2:12 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    I have to double check but I believe the dimensions were something like 853x352.  iTunes did give me a refund on the movie rentals which I appreciate, but also suggested that the SD movies weren't downloading because I didn't have the latest updates to my iPod or ITunes.  I will check that out, although the message I am getting is that my iPod classic simply is not compatible with high quality SD videos.  Below is the relevant portion of apple supports' response:

     

    "This issue usually happens if the iOS device is not updated to the latest software. If you’re iPod isn’t running on the latest software, please update it.


    For more information on movie-rentals, see this page:"

     

    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201611

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 8, 2016 2:13 PM in response to KathrynFoxton
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 8, 2016 2:13 PM in response to KathrynFoxton

    Kathryn, see my above post to Kenichi regarding my response from Apple on this issue.  Hopefully what they are saying is true, although I thought everything was up to date with me when I checked.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 8, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Thiskoz
    Level 8 (38,253 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 8, 2016 3:06 PM in response to Thiskoz

    Your iPod classic does not run iOS; there is nothing you can do to update the iPod to play videos with resolution above 640x480.  That's a limitation of the iPod's hardware.  So updating iTunes on the computer will also not allow videos that won't play on the iPod to sync to it.

     

    If you DO "re-rent" one of those movies, and download it with that setting for Download high-quality SD videos disabled in iTunes preferences, please reply back again with the outcome.  I'd be curious to know if the movie is then able to sync to and play on an iPod (with the 640x480 max resolution limit).

     

    I don't have very many purchased movies in my iTunes library.  When I did a test (just now) with a purchased short film, it started out as one of these "high-quality SD" movies, with resolution of 853x460.  I unchecked the Download high-quality SD videos setting.  Then, I deleted the movie from my library and re-downloaded it from my iTunes Store Purchased screen.  It came back with the same 853x460 resolution.  So, based on that one test, iTunes Store does not supply a "lower-quality" SD video that is at or below 640x480, when the Download high-quality SD videos setting is unchecked.

  • by Thiskoz,

    Thiskoz Thiskoz Apr 12, 2016 12:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iPod
    Apr 12, 2016 12:21 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Kenichi, I may try out a test of my own by trying to rent a different movie.  However based on your recent test and my experience with the two newly released videos I rented, it sounds like all movies are going to be put out in the "high SD quality" format.  While I can understand why this would be favorable to those people who have apple products that can support such formats, unfortunately it seems like us iPod classic owners will no longer be able to move rented or purchased movies from iTunes to our iPods.