Apple abandons QuickTime for Windows

[Davidk]

The ripples on this "event" are spreading . . .
This link http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/04/22 ... quicktime/
is to a page on the software component of a highly used independent IT website. The focus on this page is the impact of the "event" on Adobe's software: it really doesn't do much more than repeat the causal detail, but there are some interesting formats/codecs listed there that affect adobe, esp video programs, listed in it. Adobe's intent is clear, but long term.

We've already canvassed and lambasted Corel re VS, has anyone with logins to the Cyberlink/PowerDirector and Pinnacle forums seeing anything like this yet? I have no doubt there are/will be other makers in a like boat. And the remarks about Tim Cook et al are - again - both a repeat and well taken.

Davidk

[RobertOZ]

The vulnerability problems are with Quick Time Player only, NOT QT codecs, this is the general opinion on many web sites

What they are saying is to uninstall QT, then reinstall QT, select Custom Install and disable QT Player installation, if the player is not available, then it cannot be hacked,
For the moment, that is what I have done until advised otherwise, so whilst I no longer have access to QT player, Video Studio can import MOV including those from Detonation Films requested by JaRo for us to check and can be rendered to MOV

[Davidk]

Robert's solution summary seems to be simple quick and works. I never render to .mov, but regularly need to import and edit .mov files from a variety cameras, so that solution fits me.

Pity Corel seems to be so silent on this issue.

Davidk

[JaRo]

The vulnerability problems are with Quick Time Player only, NOT QT codecs, this is the general opinion on many web sites

What they are saying is to uninstall QT, then reinstall QT, select Custom Install and disable QT Player installation, if the player is not available, then it cannot be hacked,
For the moment, that is what I have done until advised otherwise, so whilst I no longer have access to QT player, Video Studio can import MOV including those from Detonation Films requested by JaRo for us to check and can be rendered to MOV

Good morning RobertOZ,

When QuickTime install Window opens, it gives me picture 1. I changed QuickTime Player as you'll see in picture 2, but what about the three functions that were already checked as to « not install » ? Should we intall them or which one should ?

[asik1]

No Jaro definitely not. Those are the 3 major havoc makers .

[TonyP]

As for the Pinnacle forum. Basically zero talk about Quicktime. First, QuickTracks (originally with Premiere way back when) is not used for Smartsound play/use. We use Smartsound's Express Tracks. Far better than QuickTracks.
As for MOV files that are Quicktime based, I might have one or two somewhere to test (I use MediaInfo for seeing what's in a file), but I also use HANDBRAKE to transcode any problematic video file I have to something both Pinnacle and VS like.
I've read how people are jumping on Corel about not doing nothing, Corel did not create this mess. Apple did. To come up with a "substitute" is not as easy as everyone might think. The same with "fixing" the problem of playback of previously created files with QT embedded. I never used QT or WMP to play back anything. I use VLC on my desktop an in Firefox.
So, the blame for all of this is Apple. And we all know Apple is not going to do anything about it. How can a company circumvent another companies patents to play back files created with it?

[JaRo]

For your information.

Last week, I uninstalled QT. My mov clip opened with Windows Media Player which is the next best option. Mov and gif clips didn't play in VS, but did in CyberLink PowerDirector 13. SmartSound in CyberLink didn't play audio clip in Library, but did on the timeline.

I've reinstalled QT following RobertOZ and asik1 advices (only QuickTime essential). When I double-click on one mov clip, it opens with Windows Media Player (which is normal), so it means QT is not, if there, in control. I also inserted one of mov clip in VideoStudio : it plays. Same thing with a gif. In CyberLink, I can now play an audio in the Library.

So, from all this (with my little technology knowledge), it seems that everything works perfectly without having to care about an attacker to take control of a system running QuickTime. Am I right and, mostly, safe ?

[lata]

Hi JaRo

Just trying to catch up with these issues a lot been going on… as far as I can tell it’s the Web players that are causing the security issues.

Over the past 24 hours or so I have uninstalled and re-installed QT just to see what effect it had on Video Studio.

Mov files would not play in VS, trying to modify add a Mov template caused the program to crash.
Share - Custom options for Mov were greyed out

Installing CVSX9 prompted me to install QT as (Quicktime is required to play 3GP, Mov, and MPEG4 videos)

As for videos opening in Windows Media Player, that is because your PC files associations are set to launch Windows Media Player, you can change that to any appropriate player including QT.

I have QT installed

[aljimenez]

So, from all this (with my little technology knowledge), it seems that everything works perfectly without having to care about an attacker to take control of a system running QuickTime. Am I right and, mostly, safe ?

Without any confirmation from Apple and other websites like TrendMicro, it is only wishful speculation that you are safe with what you have done. There has been no official statement that anything short of un-installing QT keeps the vulnerabilities away. I want to be proven wrong, but I remain totally free of QT. I will adjust other programs and I will stop generating mov files. Fortunately, I use a Panasonic LUMIX GH4 that can be set to avoid generating mov files.

[JaRo]

Hi JaRo

As for videos opening in Windows Media Player, that is because your PC files associations are set to launch Windows Media Player, you can change that to any appropriate player including QT.

I have QT installed

Hi Trevor,

Before uninstalling QT, mov files automatically played with QT player as the file was associated to it. Now, it is playing with Windows Media Player and it is OK with me.

My only concern about QT right now is : Is my computer safe the way I re-installed it as suggested by RobertOZ and asik1 ? I guess it is also what most people are wondering. We all want a safe computer and the two known critical vulnerabilities are terrifying us.

[canuck]

I uninstalled QuickTime for a test and found out that I could no longer play some mov's using VLC or WMP. Some of the mov's I could still add in VS (as well as other programs) but most no longer work. The ones I could add were also the ones tha VLC and WMP played.

It seems that not all mov's are created equal.

[TonyP]

I have many QT MOV motion backgrounds. After removing QT, WMP will not play them, but VLC 2.2.1 does.
Pinnacle Studio plays the files fine. VideoStudio doesn't even want to import them. I get the error message "File Format Mismatch". No big thing. I can convert with Handbrake if I need them.
I guess this is why there is no talk about the removal of QT in the Pinnacle forum...

[RobertOZ]

What has not been mentioned as yet, is if QT is completely uninstalled, how is it possible to edit videos taken with an iPhone, firstly, can they be downloaded from the phone to the computer, if so, will it be necessary to convert them to another format for editing. At the moment with QT Essentials only installed, I can import and edit but at some stage it will be necessary to completely uninstall QT

[TonyP]

Now THAT is a great question Robert! Since I don't have anything Apple, including source footage, I have no way of testing. I do know that Pinnacle does have an iPad editing app where you can upload to the cloud, download to your computer and continue editing with Pinnacle. I have no clue as to what format it saves in and if it is possible once you remove QT.

[TonyP]

Followup to Robert's question about the iPhone usage. In Pinnacle, the program is "certified" to work with the iPhone 6. The moderator in Pinnacle said he has no problem with footage from it on a computer that has never seen Quicktime, which further reinforces Pinnacle not needing Quicktime installed.

To "me", this is a major issue for VS. Take your chances with QT or not. Or, convert using the free converters out there to a file format VS can use.