vlc for iOS is coming back (2015)

[Eug]

The vlc team has resubmitted the iOS version of the software to Apple. I believe version 2.4.

I suspect it will still be software decode for h.264 though which means slow and stuttery on slow iPads and more power usage than other video players (eg. Infuse Pro) on more recent iOS hardware.

But hey, free is free.

EDIT:

Now available, but it's lost AC3 support.

 

[TreVader]

I never understood how their android app worked when I had a Galaxy S4 so it doesn't surprise me it took them (what, 8?) years to code an app for iOS that the App Store would accept.

I'm a fan of their OS X app but I am liable to think this is a case of monkeys with keyboards typing one decent app.

 

[Eug]

I think there were two issues:

1) GPL licencing
2) vlc developers were irritated with Apple's iTunes Store and DRM policies.

It was not really about their abilities in coding it per se, although I admit the last version of vlc on iOS is pretty rough around the edges, and doesn't use hardware H.264 acceleration.

 

[Rakehellion]

doesn't use hardware H.264 acceleration.

Why?

 

[hellfire88]

While not directly related to VLC, can someone recommend me a great video player for iOS? I am used to "MX Player" (free version) on the Android-side which has been working great for me (handles all file types I've tested and subtitle support is great as well). I have the old VLC for iOS saved on my desktop PC which I loaded on my iPhone 6 Plus, but it doesn't work that great.

At this point, I'm even willing to pay for a great video player app. Also, in iOS the apps are "sandboxed" right? Meaning if I load a bunch of videos into one video player app?, I can't open the same videos using a different video player app? Versus in Android all apps share the same file system so videos would go in the "Movies" folder for any app to access.

Thanks for your time, I'm trying to give iOS another try after using Android for the past few years.

 

[JAG87]

While not directly related to VLC, can someone recommend me a great video player for iOS? I am used to "MX Player" (free version) on the Android-side which has been working great for me (handles all file types I've tested and subtitle support is great as well). I have the old VLC for iOS saved on my desktop PC which I loaded on my iPhone 6 Plus, but it doesn't work that great.

At this point, I'm even willing to pay for a great video player app. Also, in iOS the apps are "sandboxed" right? Meaning if I load a bunch of videos into one video player app?, I can't open the same videos using a different video player app? Versus in Android all apps share the same file system so videos would go in the "Movies" folder for any app to access.

Thanks for your time, I'm trying to give iOS another try after using Android for the past few years.

Correct about the sandboxing (to an extent...)

Download Infuse 3 and pay for Pro. That's all you need.

 

[Eug]

While not directly related to VLC, can someone recommend me a great video player for iOS? I am used to "MX Player" (free version) on the Android-side which has been working great for me (handles all file types I've tested and subtitle support is great as well). I have the old VLC for iOS saved on my desktop PC which I loaded on my iPhone 6 Plus, but it doesn't work that great.

At this point, I'm even willing to pay for a great video player app.

I use Infuse Pro, but it's US$9.99.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/infuse-pro/id893249751?mt=8

There is also a free version that's removed a bunch of the functionality.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/infuse-3-elegant-video-player/id577130046?mt=8

You can upgrade from the free version to Pro for $9.99, but I just paid for the Pro version up front.

The good news is the app is compatible for both the iPad and the iPhone. Works fine even on my lowly iPad 2, but I generally use an iPad Air 2 (and sometimes an iPhone 5s).

Also, in iOS the apps are "sandboxed" right? Meaning if I load a bunch of videos into one video player app?, I can't open the same videos using a different video player app? Versus in Android all apps share the same file system so videos would go in the "Movies" folder for any app to access.

Yes, on iOS, they're mostly sandboxed on a per app basis. The good news is you don't have to sync through iTunes anymore. Apps like Infuse can download the files over SMB for example, into their sandbox. Or you can just stream off a NAS or something.

 

[hellfire88]

Thank you JAG87 and Eug, I will give Infuse a try. Might take awhile for the new VLC to come out so don't want to wait that long.

 

[Eug]

Interesting. The new Infuse 3.2 beta includes Chromecast support.

 

[shadow_k]

Thank you JAG87 and Eug, I will give Infuse a try. Might take awhile for the new VLC to come out so don't want to wait that long.

You can email Fkuehne for a beta invite for VLC 2.4.1 if you want early access to VLC.

Hardware decode will be part of 2.5

 

[Eug]

You can email Fkuehne for a beta invite for VLC 2.4.1 if you want early access to VLC.

Hardware decode will be part of 2.5

I wonder how long it will take for 2.5 to land. 2.3 came out almost a year ago.

 

[Phynaz]

Never had a problem with 2.3 on an iPad Air. You just have to make sure your iPad doesn't think it's in the United States.

 

[shadow_k]

I wonder how long it will take for 2.5 to land. 2.3 came out almost a year ago.

After 2.3 was removed from app store. Development stopped for IOS for a long time.

https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/roadmap - You can use this website to have a idea when the next version will come out and also see what features will be added.

Just waiting for Apple approval now for VLC 2.4.1.

 

[hellfire88]

Quick question, I've been testing a few different iOS video players (VLC 2.3, Infuse 3, etc) with some video files with subtitles. I noticed that the font used for the subtitles in all the apps are like really thin and hard to read (especially on lighter backgrounds).

Versus when I was using MX Player for Android the font appeared more "bolded" and easier to read. I have no basis for this assumption, but I have a feeling this has to do with some low-level iOS font issue? Anyone have any idea how to change the font on subtitles for video files in iOS? Thank you.

Edit: Nevermind, I just found some subtitle font options in VLC 2.3. I'll play around with it some more, but so far changing some settings doesn't do anything. Maybe it doesn't affect subtitles in MKV files?

 

[Phynaz]

Holy crap, they removed AAC support from 2.4.

 

[mavere]

AAC? Did you mean AC3? Because the former would be bizarre.

 

[Eug]

Uh oh. I just looked this up.

Native AC3 (not AAC) support has been removed from vlc (2.4, on iOS) and MXPlayer (1.7.33, on Android).

 

[HN]

Just waiting for Apple approval now for VLC 2.4.1.

i have 2.4.1 now on my phone (non-jailbroken). I had an earlier version before but never used it so i deleted it. VLC wont' show up in the app store in a search, but i went to purchased --> not on this iphone, re-downloaded it from there, and that turns out to be version 2.4.1.

 

[Eug]

i have 2.4.1 now on my phone (non-jailbroken). I had an earlier version before but never used it so i deleted it. VLC wont' show up in the app store in a search, but i went to purchased --> not on this iphone, re-downloaded it from there, and that turns out to be version 2.4.1.

Have you tried any files with AC3 and DTS?

 

[HN]

Have you tried any files with AC3 and DTS?

not sure if i have any applicable files. i'll dig around and see what i can throw at it.

 

[Phynaz]

AAC? Did you mean AC3? Because the former would be bizarre.

Oops, yeah AC3.

I'm guessing Dolby didn't like them not having a license. I turned off auto-updates so my version 2.3 doesn't get messed with, but that's just a temporary fix. Gonna have to find a new media player .

 

[Phynaz]

Devs confirmed no AC3 support until the patents expire.

 

[Eug]

So, 2017 for the US of A.

 

[ViRGE]

Uh oh. I just looked this up.

Native AC3 (not AAC) support has been removed from vlc (2.4, on iOS) and MXPlayer (1.7.33, on Android).

So tablets are useless for MKVs now. Great.:|

 

[Eug]

So tablets are useless for MKVs now. Great.:|

Infuse Pro licenced AC3 and DTS.