Apple TV 4K: No support for 4K Videos from iCloud Photos!?

[MartyTannen1981]

Hello!

Today I set up my new Apple TV 4K and connected it to my iCloud Photo Library. My Videos from the last two years are in 4K and Apple says, the iCloud support 4K. So when I run any Video in the Photos App on the new Apple TV 4K, the Videos are only played in HD. The Info also shows up HD. The Quality seems like 720p.

I have a High speed Internet Connection and everything else works fine. The iTunes Store shows the 4K content and the picture is very good. The same with Netflix. They play back 4k immediately.

Only all Videos from the iCloud (recorded with iPhone 7 Plus) are shown only in HD!

Whats going on here?

Greetings

 

[MartyTannen1981]

So, after a long discussion with Apple, it seems that they also don't know if the Apple TV 4K supports 4K in the Photos App when playing back 4K content from the iCloud Photo Library.

I cannot believe it. So all Videos from the iPhone 7 plus (and so on) cannot be played back in 4K and only in HD. This is the same problem like the youtube App which not supports 4K. But the Videos from the iPhone? The files are in 4K in the cloud Apple said. But no playback on Apple TV 4K? Come on Apple! If this is confirmed it's a mega fail.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Have you tried dropping any one of those videos into iTunes and then streaming it from iTunes? I bet that will work.

 

[furbzv1]

That's a big and hopefully is something that Apple can "turn on"
The whole YT and Apple I can sort of understand since they are two different companies.. but you would expect that videos you took in 4k using an Apple device would work correctly

 

[MartyTannen1981]

Have you tried dropping any one of those videos into iTunes and then streaming it from iTunes? I bet that will work.

But this is clearly Not The was ist should work. The Photos App from The Apple TV is The was to geht in all your photos and videos. The way over the new iTunes is Not possible for this way and streaming via AirPlay does Not Support 4K.

The only way it need to work is over the photos App. All Videos are in 4K and it is a 4K set top box. So why it cannot stream the content from the iCloud Photo Library in 4K?

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Actually, video in iTunes makes much more fundamental sense than videos in Photos. Videos for TV started out as being available via iTunes in the very first generation. All of my own videos- including self-shot home movies- are tagged and stored in iTunes and play just fine. It's MADE to work like that. I don't have the 4K unit yet, so I can't test this for you to know for sure, but I suspect it will work just fine if you try it.

Yes, I understand that the Photos app has been an option in recent years too. But if it's not working for 4K video, you can:

1. whine about it but not resolve the issue or
2. try something else like dropping one of those videos into iTunes and see if it will play from there.

If 1, nothing happens. Apple is certainly not going to read this thread and drop everything to fix this problem.

If 2, you might be able to watch the problematic videos on your new TV within a few seconds of doing it.

If you are hunting for a playback solution, #2 might work. If you are just wanting to vent, mission accomplished.

 

[MartyTannen1981]

Actually, video in iTunes makes much more fundamental sense than videos in Photos. Videos for TV started out as being available via iTunes in the very first generation. All of my own videos- including self-shot home movies- are tagged and stored in iTunes and play just fine. It's MADE to work like that. I don't have the 4K unit yet, so I can't test this for you to know for sure, but I suspect it will work just fine if you try it.

Yes, I understand that the Photos app has been an option in recent years too. But if it's not working for 4K video, you can:

1. whine about it but not resolve the issue or
2. try something else like dropping one of those videos into iTunes and see if it will play from there.

If 1, nothing happens. Apple is certainly not going to read this thread and drop everything to fix this problem.

If 2, you might be able to watch the problematic videos on your new TV within a few seconds of doing it.

If you are hunting for a playback solution, #2 might work. If you are just wanting to vent, mission accomplished.

Thanks for the input. So the way over iTunes might work; but yes, this is not how it should work. I can do the same if I copy the 4K Videos from the Mac on an USB Stick and plug it into my TV. Yes, but this is not the way in 2017.

If Apple releases a 4K box and the content in 4K in the cloud from the iPhone cannot be played in 4K, that is a shame. And there is no reason why it should not work because the box now supports 4K. Sorry, but the way over iTunes is old school

So guys, can anybody confirm this Problem? No 4K playback from the iCloud Photo Library?

 

[DesertSilver]

Another point for the argument that Apple is releasing beta products lately.

Apple releasing a 4K Apple TV:
#1 - Should play 4K movies
#2 - Should easily play 4K videos taken from Apple's own devices!!!
#3 - Everything else

Ughh..

 

[MartyTannen1981]

Come on guys!

Can somebody test/confirm that the Apple TV 4K plays the content from the iCloud Photo library only in HD and not in 4K!?

I think that is a bigger problem than the one with the code in the youtube app because most of us can use the TV itself for streaming 4K with the Apps on the TV. But all the Videos from the iPhone (since 2 years in 4K) will only be played in HD over the Apple TV 4K?! I tried everything and Apple also don´t know whats going on.

 

[davechapfilms]

I'm still waiting on my Apple TV to arrive (UPS is always late), but this was something I was going to test right away. No review sites have said anything about 4K playback within the iCloud App at all—even though on stage they did mention "Memories playback in 4K."

I called Apple early this morning and had them dig around with people in the know and they said two things...

1. Airplay is only 1080p (so there's no way to airplay anything larger). I knew this already.

2. 4K Videos in iCloud Photo Library "should" definitely playback in 4K.

So this reassured me that when I get the Apple TV in, I'd be able to playback my 4K footage without having to jump through hoops. Currently, I would have to upload 4K content to YouTube and stream it through my Smart TV's YouTube App or connect my MacBook Pro directly via HDMI and use it as a second monitor to play it in 24Hz. Both of those options are pretty dumb.

 

[furbzv1]

I just picked up my Apple TV so ill check either tonight or tomorrow afternoon

 

[MartyTannen1981]

ok guys, thanks for the help.

I tested really everything. Also the memories. The Apple TV 4K says everytime: "HD". And it looks like HD...of course more than 720p...All other stuff works fine (Netflix and iTunes Movies in 4K are really played in 4K after 2-5 seconds. You can see it). But all Videos from the iPhone only in HD. I waited and tested every possible setting...but it will not work. And the tech guys from apple said that they don´t know if the iCloud Photo library should stream it in 4K...

 

[cardfan]

And so most iphone owners still have never seen their iphone videos in 4k. This Apple tv was finally going to solve that. Guess it's a feature coming soon. I have to say though it's a bit frustrating reviewers don't check this stuff.

 

[davechapfilms]

I've been trying too. So far, everything in iCloud Photo library plays in 1080p—even when the original is 4K. Either Apple has yet to make "stream-friendly" versions of all of our 4K videos stored in the cloud (which is entirely possible) or they don't plan on letting you watch 4K through the iCloud Photo Library app. I don't get how they sell 4K video on the iPhone and talk about editing 4K on iPhone and iPad in iMovie—and you can even export the project in 4K to your Photo Library. How do they expect you to watch it in 4K on your TV?

I'm still hoping they just haven't finished the backend portion of their 4K push and soon we will see our 4K videos play in 4K. Many of the Apps don't have 4K resolution icons either—so that proves they are still releasing things...

 

[upandown]

Although it stinks, it's important to remember.. this feature you want doesn't work 'yet'. It will. Just like 4k tvs and content, It doesn't happen overnight.

 

[DesertSilver]

Although it stinks, it's important to remember.. this feature you want doesn't work 'yet'. It will. Just like 4k tvs and content, It doesn't happen overnight.

Many features will be added over time but, to me, this is a comically simple, omitted feature for initial release. I mean, we've been able to record 4K videos for years and I can't imaging how Apple decided to push this ability to the side.

This should have been a headline feature. On Apple's website, it should be there at the top saying "VIEW ALL YOUR IPHONE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS IN 4K!!!", but here we are.

I've read several reviews that haven't mentioned this omission also but any website pointing out any flaw is an Apple-hater.

But whatever, I'll deal with it until Apple adds this feature and hope they don't make it a headlining item for only the ATV 4K2.

 

[upandown]

Many features will be added over time but, to me, this is a comically simple, omitted feature for initial release. I mean, we've been able to record 4K videos for years and I can't imaging how Apple decided to push this ability to the side.

This should have been a headline feature. On Apple's website, it should be there at the top saying "VIEW ALL YOUR IPHONE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS IN 4K!!!", but here we are.

I've read several reviews that haven't mentioned this omission also but any website pointing out any flaw is an Apple-hater.

But whatever, I'll deal with it until Apple adds this feature and hope they don't make it a headlining item for only the ATV 4K2.

I agree man.

 

[richardamp]

Before worrying about the Photos app supporting 4K, they should focus on getting the existing image quality to look something that resembles HD. Streaming videos from Photos looks like garbage today compared to the actual video quality recorded.

 

[davechapfilms]

I may have an update this week from the Apple TV Dev Team. In the meantime, I've learned some things...

When you add a 4K video into iCloud Photo Library:
- A 1080p version is made (possibly for viewing on Apple TV 4th Gen and below)
- A 640x360 version is made for iCloud.com viewing (looks horrible on a Retina display)

When viewing on an iPad or iPhone *that can play 4K*:
- The 4K version is downloaded (even though you can't "see" the 4K file as 4K)

When editing the video in iMovie:
- The 4K version is used

Since the 4K file is used in other ways, I think it was just something left undone with the Apple TV 4K. Since iCloud makes a 1080p file (assuming just for the older Apple TVs to play), I bet they just forgot or left that unfinished for the new 4K TV. If they can easily add in a way for the new Apple TV 4K to play the source and not the scaled down 1080p file, then all is solved. Hopefully this is the solution that I hear back this week.

 

[opmisk]

davechapfilms, what about 4K video stored locally and streamed over HomeSharing to the ATV 4K; do you know if this has been tested and/or verified by Apple? This would seem like a common use case for Apple users who have accumulated iPhone 4K Home video over the last two years. Would love clarification that locally stored 4K video is streamed and rendered in full 4K on the new ATV.

 

[davechapfilms]

davechapfilms, what about 4K video stored locally and streamed over HomeSharing to the ATV 4K; do you know if this has been tested and/or verified by Apple? This would seem like a common use case for Apple users who have accumulated iPhone 4K Home video over the last two years. Would love clarification that locally stored 4K video is streamed and rendered in full 4K on the new ATV.

Yes, Home Sharing from a local computer will display in 4K—if the file is 4K.

 

[Ennox]

Most recently, I talked with someone from AppleCare about that problem. He didn't know any solution and wanted to talk to me again as soon as he hears something from an engineer. It was the main reason for me to buy the Apple TV 4k, because I finally wanted to stream my 4k videos, so it's all very annoying.

 

[cardfan]

Apple moves very slowly. We can now view 4k on tv's but only certain things streaming. No downloads. And STILL cannot view 4k video taken on iphone in 4k. This is simply bizarre. It's just one example but if we're paying premium we should get premium. So is it really worth getting that new iphone for 4k and 60fps?

 

[cynics]

Apple moves very slowly. We can now view 4k on tv's but only certain things streaming. No downloads. And STILL cannot view 4k video taken on iphone in 4k. This is simply bizarre. It's just one example but if we're paying premium we should get premium. So is it really worth getting that new iphone for 4k and 60fps?

Definitely, however its mostly great for editing. Downsample to 1080p with chroma subsampling without the need to compromise on FPS while shooting is awesome. You'll always want to start off with the best captured content you can before editing and thanks to the new iPhones you can.

IMO its kind of pointless to just shoot in 4k60hz for quick videos of friends and family that you only plan to keep on your phone and/or in iCloud Photo Library.

Apple is actually doing a pretty impressive job with their implementation of capturing 4k 60fps. It is captured using h265 and since most devices can't actually play that back when you share it from the iPhone it is transcoded so the receiving phone can play it. The fact no one is noticing this fairly large hurdle is a testament of how good of job Apple is doing.

The ATV4K is still a relatively new product however iCloud Photos is the issue. And its not going to be something they can just flip a switch to get the ATV4K playing 4k 60fps directly from. There are plenty of ways to get your 4k content on an AppleTV using 3rd party apps though.

 

[priitv8]

...And STILL cannot view 4k video taken on iphone in 4k. ...

Why not? What exactly is the problem there?

...And its not going to be something they can just flip a switch to get the ATV4K playing 4k 60fps directly from. ...

As far as I can tell, aTV 4K does not play back 4K@60fps at all. I have not managed to get any 60fps 4K clips to play back, I only get the "not supported format" message on the screen.