iTunes 10.6.3 can't play 1080p anymore?

[Avenged110]

So I use iTunes 10.6.3 (why is irrelevant) to download movies and TV shows from the store. Sometime within the last few months, it stopped being able to download or even playback 1080p videos. 720p and all other parts of the app continue to work just fine. I've installed this version on 10.6.8, 10.7.5, 10.8.5, and 10.9.5 with the same results. Regardless of the settings, it will only download 720p and if I import a 1080p video downloaded with a newer version (11.x) and authenticate, it's just a black screen (but imported 720p has no issues).

This used to work without issue until something happened and it doesn't seem to be on my end as far as I can tell. Anyone know something I don't?

 

[chrfr]

So I use iTunes 10.6.3 (why is irrelevant) to download movies and TV shows from the store. Sometime within the last few months, it stopped being able to download or even playback 1080p videos. 720p and all other parts of the app continue to work just fine. I've installed this version on 10.6.8, 10.7.5, 10.8.5, and 10.9.5 with the same results. Regardless of the settings, it will only download 720p and if I import a 1080p video downloaded with a newer version (11.x) and authenticate, it's just a black screen (but imported 720p has no issues).

This used to work without issue until something happened and it doesn't seem to be on my end as far as I can tell. Anyone know something I don't?

I have to assume that Apple now requires a newer version of iTunes to protect against cracking the DRM which used Requiem and iTunes 10.6.3.

 

[Avenged110]

I have to assume that Apple now requires a newer version of iTunes to protect against cracking the DRM which used Requiem and iTunes 10.6.3.

Ya, probably. That occurred to me, it just seemed weird they would do something like that just for 1080p and not 720p or all video or something.

 

[Partron22]

With a little effort. you can run both iTunes 10.6.3 and 12.6.125 in the same user space on a single Mac. -There's threads on how to do it, but it's been a few years.
You might try downloading 1080 through 12.6, then transferring the file to 10.6.3.
Haven't tried it. I have both 10.4.and 12,6.125 running on my Mac, but usually do actual movie play through Roku or Samsung tablet.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

So it's not that it can't "play" 1080p but that the option to "rent" 1080p is removed. Or can it no longer play 1080p at all, even if its local content such as 1080p shot with an iDevice... or YouTube 1080p?

 

[Nermal]

You might try downloading 1080 through 12.6, then transferring the file to 10.6.3.

This has historically worked but I have a funny feeling that the encryption may have been silently changed. I haven't tried it either though!

 

[Rigby]

So it's not that it can't "play" 1080p but that the option to "rent" 1080p is removed. Or can it no longer play 1080p at all, even if its local content such as 1080p shot with an iDevice... or YouTube 1080p?

iTunes version 11.0.1 or earlier will no longer play content purchased or rented from the iTunes store in 1080p resolution:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207408

It's been like this since sometime around February. DRM-free files (i.e. your own recordings or encodings) still work. But obviously that's not the point of keeping an old iTunes version.

 

[E.Lizardo]

HA! Soo glad I don't buy from iTunes!

 

[Avenged110]

iTunes version 11.0.1 or earlier will no longer play content purchased or rented from the iTunes store in 1080p resolution:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207408

It's been like this since sometime around February. DRM-free files (i.e. your own recordings or encodings) still work. But obviously that's not the point of keeping an old iTunes version.

Wow, that was spot on. Thanks for finding that. Still rather strange that whatever Apple did only affects 1080p and not 720p or anything else.