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hankkosovo

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 23, 2009
48
0
As you know the ipad, and iphone have different resolutions.

So I was wondering if it's possible to have the same video file with two different resolutions in itunes, one for ipad, one for iphone, to allow them to be played over airplay?
 
I'm assuming that you mean for video files that you create or rip yourself.

I can think of two ways.

1. Use a file/meta data app that allows you to edit the ContentID of your videos. Use the same ContentID number for the high and low res files. Then, when you sync the files to the iPad and iPhone, adjust the syncing options to direct which resolution file goes to which device.

2. If you don't want to mess with that, then just label the videos with a marker, such as (SD), on the low res file. You'll have two entries in iTunes to mess with for meta data, but it's easier than Option #1. Then just use Smart Playlists for your filter your videos for HD and SD. Choose which playlist to sync on the iPhone and iPad accordingly.
 
As you know the ipad, and iphone have different resolutions.

So I was wondering if it's possible to have the same video file with two different resolutions in itunes, one for ipad, one for iphone, to allow them to be played over airplay?

Assuming you are referring to the iPhone 4, why create two separate files when you can create one that will play on both? Any encodes made with the :apple:TV presets on Handbrake are also playable on both the iPhone and iPad. I encode all of my media at 720p knowing the resulting file can be played on my iPhone, iPad, :apple:TV, or Mac Mini. The only time I need to create a duplicate version is for my kids movies to be played on their 2nd gen. iPod Touches.
 
Assuming you are referring to the iPhone 4, why create two separate files when you can create one that will play on both? Any encodes made with the :apple:TV presets on Handbrake are also playable on both the iPhone and iPad. I encode all of my media at 720p knowing the resulting file can be played on my iPhone, iPad, :apple:TV, or Mac Mini. The only time I need to create a duplicate version is for my kids movies to be played on their 2nd gen. iPod Touches.


Ahh thats great, thanks for the info.

What about 1080p though, if I wanted a 1080p file to play on the television, and then a 780p to play on the iphone/ipad?
 
Ahh thats great, thanks for the info.

What about 1080p though, if I wanted a 1080p file to play on the television, and then a 780p to play on the iphone/ipad?

as of right now, you currently can't play 1080P files through the ATV - only 720P. 1080P is rumoured to be coming as the current ATV apparently has the power to make it happen.

i just use the universal setting in handbrake. works for everything.

good luck,
keebler
 
as of right now, you currently can't play 1080P files through the ATV - only 720P. 1080P is rumoured to be coming as the current ATV apparently has the power to make it happen.

i just use the universal setting in handbrake. works for everything.

good luck,
keebler

I haven't tried it myself so don't quote me on it but I believe I recall reading in other threads here that the :apple:TV can accept 1080p files but only outputs it in 720p. I'm sure someone else with experience can chime in to either confirm or deny.

Ahh thats great, thanks for the info.

What about 1080p though, if I wanted a 1080p file to play on the television, and then a 780p to play on the iphone/ipad?

I do encode some films in 1080p for viewing on my Mac Mini HTPC but don't import them into iTunes since none of my portable devices can play the files and I view all of my media on the Mini via PLEX. Otherwise, to group my HD and SD versions into one listing in iTunes, I include a common value in the CNID (Content ID) field when tagging both versions in iDentify2 so that upon import into iTunes, there is one listing with HD-SD identifier included in the listing. When I sync an iDevice, iTunes automatically syncs the file compatible with the device (HD versions for iPhone 4 and iPad, SD version for iPod Touch 2nd gen or iPhone 3GS).
 
So if the max output of ATV is 720, then why does Handbrake have a preset for iPad and ATV1 and ATV2? I realize HB isn't specific to Apple, but what's the difference between the presets in terms of resolotion?
 
So if the max output of ATV is 720, then why does Handbrake have a preset for iPad and ATV1 and ATV2? I realize HB isn't specific to Apple, but what's the difference between the presets in terms of resolotion?

There are some features in the encoding software that can be used on the iPad, iPhone 4, and AppleTV 2 that cannot be used by the hardware in the old AppleTV 1. Also the AppleTV 1 will not play video @ 1280x720 @ more than 25 fps. Therefore the AppleTV 1 preset will shrink 29.97 video (ie alot of television) to a resolution of 960x540.

I use the AppleTV 2 preset for everything, which works fine on my iPad too.
 
I haven't tried it myself so don't quote me on it but I believe I recall reading in other threads here that the :apple:TV can accept 1080p files but only outputs it in 720p. I'm sure someone else with experience can chime in to either confirm or deny.

I can confirm that the ATV2 will decode 1080p files, not sure what the upper limit on bitrate is, but it plays everything I've ever converted to BD-5 format (blu-ray container for 4.7GB DVD-Rs) and then transcoded to mkv and/or m4v. It does only output 720p to a display, but I preserve 1080p on my rips on the off chance that either an iOS update for the current ATV or a new model of ATV will output 1080p so I don't have to go back and re-rip everything.
 
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