Troubling News About Mavericks, Quicktime and Video Formats

[smrpix]

Hey all, this affects mac users right now, but may have long term implications for the rest of us:

http://www.macworld.com/article/2058298/why-mavericks-movies-may-not-preview-properly.html

[Selur]

Isn't that normal ?
Unless you install decoders&co which extend the operation system you are limited to the decoders&co which ship with the operation system.
-> What is the news about this? That Mac OS X doesn't support some codec out of the box I have never used?

[racer-x]

It all comes down to not wanting to pay too many royalty fees. Windows systems have a plethora of stand alone video players like MPC-HC where this becomes a non-issue..............

[smrpix]

A couple of the things I find particularly disturbing are the automatic/involuntary transcode to Pro Res, and the limited codecs not simply as it impacts macs, but for any of us that make cross-platform content. Windows users will increasingly be compelled to play by Apple's rules.

[Selur]

a. the amount of codecs that Windows can play out of the box isn't really high
b. if you create cross-platform content and you have to rely on the formats the OS can play by itself there never has been much choice,..

That said, I find "the automatic/involuntary transcode to Pro Res" only interesting because it implies that Quicktime can decode the content.

[yoda313]

Windows users will increasingly be compelled to play by Apple's rules.

I haven't felt compelled.

You can spend your whole life using wmv if you wanted and never touch mp4 (not that mp4 is strictly apple but it evolved from appple).

[usually_quiet]

Mavericks sounds like the Mac equivalent of Windows 8, fewer built-in codecs plus desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones all running the same apps. If users prefer to continue with their familiar laptop/desktop software, its going to be a little harder to do that.

[Selur]

nope, Mavericks isn't as bad as Windows 8,...

[usually_quiet]

nope, Mavericks isn't as bad as Windows 8,...

LOL I have been using Windows 8 for a year. I'm getting used to the differences although some still grate on my nerves a bit. (Ribbon interfaces and the Start Screen.) Windows 8.1 is a little better in some respects.

[rumplestiltskin]

Perian.org for the "swiss army knife" of codecs. Many different codecs all rolled up into one. No longer developed but it's been essential since Leopard (10.5) and works fine all the way up into Mavericks (10.9).