From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

PSA how to fix Windows explorer being blind to iPad sidecar .mov thumbnails

This is about iOS <-> Windows cross platform image/video compatibility.

BACKGROUND:
My phone, which names pictures using a sane algorithm, is broken so I'm
using one of my iPads to take Vine photos for my next set of reviews.

When copied over to Windows using Apple's asinine naming conventions, I get
202408_a
202412_a
202508_a
202512_a
... snip ...
202602_a

In that last folder are the files taken today which are saved under iOS' asinine naming conventions of
IMG_0509.JPG, IMG_0510.JPG, IMG_0511.JPG, etc. along with Live Photos IMG_0509.MOV, IMG_0510.MOV, IMG_0511.MOV, etc where doubleclicking on the
MOV files brings up MPC-BE which plays the Apple live-action sidecar file.

The problem is there are no thumbnails in Windows 10, by default, for the
MOV files, so I looked up how to add thumbnails to Win10 for MOV files.

Apparently Windows Explorer needs a decoder to extract a frame for a MOV thumbnail. Most people use MPC-BE on Windows to play short video sidecar
files, which can play the MOV file because MPC uses its own internal
codecs, but Windows 10 File Explorer can't show the thumbnails natively.

Apparently the .mov files from the iPad almost certainly use HEVC (H.265).
but it seems that Windows Explorer cannot decode HEVC without:
a. Either Microsoft's paid HEVC extension (yeah, right), or
b. A modern third-party thumbnail provider like Icaros 3.x

Given that most .mov files from iPads use HEVC (H.265) video, we need to
give Microsoft Windows 10 a way to generate thumbnails for HEVC.

It can't do that unless the proper codec is installed.
Without the codec, we get what I see which is
a. Blank icons
b. No preview in File Explorer
But the file still plays in MPC-BE (because MPC-BE has its own codecs).

The "official" fix from Microsoft is apparently to buy Microsoft's HEVC
Video Extensions (yeah, right), where the moment you pay even a single cent
for anything, you lose your privacy, so that's a dead end out of the box.

Since I've installed every file converter ever suggested on these
newsgroups, there's always the option to convert the .mov -> .mp4, using Handbrake or ffmpeg or the last-known-good-version of Super which is
version 2010.bld.42 (Nov 7, 2010) (but that's likely too old).

However, a better option, apparently, is to install a third-party thumbnail provider such as Icaros which is a part of the K-Lite Codec Pack that adds thumbnail support for .mov, .mp4, .mkv, HEVC, etc.

That's it. It's that easy.
No Microsoft account, no Store, no HEVC purchase. Privacy protected.

The last time I installed codecs appears to be way back in 2018 or so.

dir C:\software\editor\codec\

11/23/2018 09:18 PM <DIR> avicodec
03/14/2019 12:57 AM <DIR> codecinstaller
11/23/2018 09:19 PM <DIR> cole2k
03/07/2019 10:50 AM <DIR> gspot
11/23/2018 09:20 PM <DIR> klite
11/23/2018 09:20 PM <DIR> mediainfo
03/14/2019 12:55 AM <DIR> TechSmithScreenScaptureCodec_for_Camtasia
11/23/2018 09:20 PM <DIR> videoInspector

dir C:\software\editor\codec\klite

11/14/2018 12:13 PM 16,086,254 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Basic.exe
11/14/2018 12:13 PM 46,345,213 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Full.exe
11/14/2018 12:14 PM 57,367,629 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Mega.exe
11/14/2018 12:14 PM 39,878,984 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Standard.exe
11/14/2018 12:14 PM 17,291,837 klcp_update_1455_20181106.exe
03/23/2020 04:04 AM 17,980,609 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Basic.exe
03/23/2020 04:04 AM 50,086,779 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Full.exe
03/23/2020 04:03 AM 61,038,349 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Mega.exe
03/23/2020 04:03 AM 43,329,798 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Standard.exe

Almost certainly Windows Explorer won't get modern HEVC/H.265 thumbnails
from those so it's time I updated my codecs to handle this Apple crap.
<https://codecguide.com/>
<https://codecguide.com/download_kl.htm>
Options exist for Basic, Standard, Full & Mega but I only need Basic.
<https://codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_basic.htm>
<https://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1945_Basic.exe>
Name: K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1945_Basic.exe
Size: 22794319 bytes (21 MiB)
SHA256: D301046FEB19E3E5ED9FC08620F1CAAA66C3C43CFC62BB44B59277D79514504F

Once it's installed I'm supposed to
a. Open Icaros Configuration (Start Menu -> K-Lite Codec Pack)
b. Turn Thumbnailing ON
c. Make sure .mov is checked
d. Click Activate Icaros
And refresh my thumbnail cache if needed to make MOV thumbnails appear.

Doubleclicking the installer exe pops up a UAC because it needs to register shell extensions and then it asks for the Installation Mode of
(o)Normal
(_)Advanced
Then it asks for the preferred media player
[Media Player Classic (MPC-BE)
[VLC Media Player]
[Something else]
And the preferred audio player
[Media Player Classic (MPC-BE)
[VLC Media Player]
[Something else]
[x]Create file associations
[x]Thumbnails, Disable cache removal by Windows Maintenance

I took all the defaults because the one thing that I'd change doesn't
exist, which is to put the codecs where I want to put them on my PC.

Unfortunately it's a Stone-Age installer that doesn't go where you want it
to go (as it goes into the asinine Program Files (x86) garbage bin, but it
is what it is because K-Lite is 32-bit by design because Explorer's
thumbnail handler is 32-bit. So apparently it's required for compatibility.

Seconds later, my dummy browser trap caught the installer phoning home to
[Fri 02/13/2026 19:42:21.13] Attempted launch: C:\data\sys\batch\dummybrowser.exe "http://www.codecguide.com/configuration_tips.htm?version=1945"

Voila!

Explorer finally stops acting blind and instantly started showing
thumbnails for the MOV sidecar files from my iOS iPad.

I was surprised that the installer auto-activated Icaros since I had
thought we'd have to open Icaros manually and click Activate.

But in my case, apparently the installer saw that:
a. this was a fresh install (not an upgrade)
b. thumbnailing was enabled in the setup options
c. no previous Icaros registration existed
So, apparently, the installer registered the Icaros thumbnail handler automatically during installation. Kewl. It just works.

That's why everything "just worked" the moment the installer finished.

Apparently the K-Lite installer auto-activates Icaros if:
a. We check "Thumbnails" during installation
b. No previous Icaros registration exists
c. The system doesn't already have a conflicting thumbnail handler
I met all three conditions.

Apparently Windows Explorer immediately starts using the new handler.
Once registered, it seems Explorer doesn't care whether we opened the GUI.
It just sees a new thumbnail provider and starts using it.

Since my MOV files were HEVC, the difference was instant as the moment
Icaros was active, Explorer finally had a decoder -> thumbnails appeared.

Voila!
It just works.
--
Had I known how it works, I would have written up a tutorial instead since
I'm a rare breed of person who delights in edifying everyone around me.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 02/13/2026 9:13 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

PSA how to fix Windows explorer being blind to iPad sidecar .mov thumbnails

This is about iOS <-> Windows cross platform image/video compatibility.

BACKGROUND:
My phone, which names pictures using a sane algorithm, is broken so I'm
using one of my iPads to take Vine photos for my next set of reviews.

When copied over to Windows using Apple's asinine naming conventions, I get
-a202408_a
-a202412_a
-a202508_a
-a202512_a
-a... snip ... -a202602_a

In that last folder are the files taken today which are saved under iOS' asinine naming conventions of IMG_0509.JPG, IMG_0510.JPG, IMG_0511.JPG,
etc. along with Live Photos
IMG_0509.MOV, IMG_0510.MOV, IMG_0511.MOV, etc where doubleclicking on the
MOV files brings up MPC-BE which plays the Apple live-action sidecar file.

The problem is there are no thumbnails in Windows 10, by default, for the
MOV files, so I looked up how to add thumbnails to Win10 for MOV files.

Apparently Windows Explorer needs a decoder to extract a frame for a MOV thumbnail. Most people use MPC-BE on Windows to play short video sidecar files, which can play the MOV file because MPC uses its own internal
codecs, but Windows 10 File Explorer can't show the thumbnails natively.

Apparently the .mov files from the iPad almost certainly use HEVC (H.265). but it seems that Windows Explorer cannot decode HEVC without:
a. Either Microsoft's paid HEVC extension (yeah, right), or
b. A modern third-party thumbnail provider like Icaros 3.x

Given that most .mov files from iPads use HEVC (H.265) video, we need to
give Microsoft Windows-a-a-a-a 10 a way to generate thumbnails for HEVC.
It can't do that unless the proper codec is installed. Without the
codec, we get what I see which is
a. Blank icons
b. No preview in File Explorer
But the file still plays in MPC-BE (because MPC-BE has its own codecs).

The "official" fix from Microsoft is apparently to buy Microsoft's HEVC
Video Extensions (yeah, right), where the moment you pay even a single cent for anything, you lose your privacy, so that's a dead end out of the box.

Since I've installed every file converter ever suggested on these
newsgroups, there's always the option to convert the .mov -> .mp4, using Handbrake or ffmpeg or the last-known-good-version of Super which is version-a 2010.bld.42 (Nov 7, 2010) (but that's likely too old).

However, a better option, apparently, is to install a third-party thumbnail provider such as Icaros which is a part of the K-Lite Codec Pack that adds thumbnail support for .mov, .mp4, .mkv, HEVC, etc.

That's it. It's that easy.
No Microsoft account, no Store, no HEVC purchase. Privacy protected.

The last time I installed codecs appears to be way back in 2018 or so.

dir C:\software\editor\codec\

-a-a 11/23/2018-a 09:18 PM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a avicodec
-a-a 03/14/2019-a 12:57 AM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a codecinstaller
-a-a 11/23/2018-a 09:19 PM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a cole2k
-a-a 03/07/2019-a 10:50 AM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a gspot
-a-a 11/23/2018-a 09:20 PM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a klite
-a-a 11/23/2018-a 09:20 PM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a mediainfo
-a-a 03/14/2019-a 12:55 AM-a-a-a <DIR> TechSmithScreenScaptureCodec_for_Camtasia
-a-a 11/23/2018-a 09:20 PM-a-a-a <DIR>-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a videoInspector

dir C:\software\editor\codec\klite

-a-a 11/14/2018-a 12:13 PM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 16,086,254 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Basic.exe
-a-a 11/14/2018-a 12:13 PM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 46,345,213 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Full.exe
-a-a 11/14/2018-a 12:14 PM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 57,367,629 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Mega.exe
-a-a 11/14/2018-a 12:14 PM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 39,878,984 K- Lite_Codec_Pack_1455_Standard.exe
-a-a 11/14/2018-a 12:14 PM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 17,291,837 klcp_update_1455_20181106.exe
-a-a 03/23/2020-a 04:04 AM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 17,980,609 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Basic.exe
-a-a 03/23/2020-a 04:04 AM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 50,086,779 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Full.exe
-a-a 03/23/2020-a 04:03 AM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 61,038,349 K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Mega.exe
-a-a 03/23/2020-a 04:03 AM-a-a-a-a-a-a-a 43,329,798 K- Lite_Codec_Pack_1540_Standard.exe

Almost certainly Windows Explorer won't get modern HEVC/H.265 thumbnails
from those so it's time I updated my codecs to handle this Apple crap. <https://codecguide.com/>
<https://codecguide.com/download_kl.htm>
Options exist for Basic, Standard, Full & Mega but I only need Basic. <https://codecguide.com/download_k-lite_codec_pack_basic.htm> <https://files2.codecguide.com/K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1945_Basic.exe>
Name: K-Lite_Codec_Pack_1945_Basic.exe
Size: 22794319 bytes (21 MiB)
SHA256: D301046FEB19E3E5ED9FC08620F1CAAA66C3C43CFC62BB44B59277D79514504F

Once it's installed I'm supposed to a. Open Icaros Configuration (Start
Menu -> K-Lite Codec Pack)
b. Turn Thumbnailing ON
c. Make sure .mov is checked
d. Click Activate Icaros
And refresh my thumbnail cache if needed to make MOV thumbnails appear.

Doubleclicking the installer exe pops up a UAC because it needs to register shell extensions and then it asks for the Installation Mode of
(o)Normal
(_)Advanced
Then it asks for the preferred media player
[Media Player Classic (MPC-BE)
[VLC Media Player]
[Something else]
And the preferred audio player
[Media Player Classic (MPC-BE)
[VLC Media Player]
[Something else]
[x]Create file associations
[x]Thumbnails, Disable cache removal by Windows Maintenance

I took all the defaults because the one thing that I'd change doesn't
exist, which is to put the codecs where I want to put them on my PC.

Unfortunately it's a Stone-Age installer that doesn't go where you want it
to go (as it goes into the asinine Program Files (x86) garbage bin, but it
is what it is because K-Lite is 32-bit by design because Explorer's
thumbnail handler is 32-bit. So apparently it's required for compatibility.

Seconds later, my dummy browser trap caught the installer phoning home to [Fri 02/13/2026 19:42:21.13] Attempted launch: C: \data\sys\batch\dummybrowser.exe-a "http://www.codecguide.com/ configuration_tips.htm?version=1945"

Voila!

Explorer finally stops acting blind and instantly started showing
thumbnails for the MOV sidecar files from my iOS iPad.

I was surprised that the installer auto-activated Icaros since I had
thought we'd have to open Icaros manually and click Activate.

But in my case, apparently the installer saw that:
a. this was a fresh install (not an upgrade)
b. thumbnailing was enabled in the setup options
c. no previous Icaros registration existed
So, apparently, the installer registered the Icaros thumbnail handler automatically during installation. Kewl. It just works.

That's why everything "just worked" the moment the installer finished.

Apparently the K-Lite installer auto-activates Icaros if:
a. We check "Thumbnails" during installation
b. No previous Icaros registration exists
c. The system doesn't already have a conflicting thumbnail handler
I met all three conditions.

Apparently Windows Explorer immediately starts using the new handler.
Once registered, it seems Explorer doesn't care whether we opened the GUI.
It just sees a new thumbnail provider and starts using it.

Since my MOV files were HEVC, the difference was instant as the moment
Icaros was active, Explorer finally had a decoder -> thumbnails appeared.

Voila!
It just works.

Why does MS have to change? It is Apple's iOS that is using a non
standard video format that is used on the majority of computers

The situation is similar to Bluetooth. I use Bluetooth to make all of
my transfers of files between my phone, my laptop, my desktop, and other peoples computers in meetings etc. It is native to Windows.

For IOS to do the same you need to go through the cloud or add a piece
of software.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia wrote:

PSA how to fix Windows explorer being blind to iPad sidecar .mov thumbnails

This is about iOS <-> Windows cross platform image/video compatibility.

No, it isn't, but don't worry, later you get it sort of 'right'.

[...]

The problem is there are no thumbnails in Windows 10, by default, for the MOV files, so I looked up how to add thumbnails to Win10 for MOV files.

Here you go! It's not a Windows 'problem', but a Windows *10*
'problem'. Figure *that*, a 10+ year old out-of-active-support OS lacks
some minor feature! Shame on you, Microsoft!

[...]

The "official" fix from Microsoft is apparently to buy Microsoft's HEVC
Video Extensions (yeah, right), where the moment you pay even a single cent for anything, you lose your privacy, so that's a dead end out of the box.

You *do* realize that you can use a 'throw-away' Microsoft Account,
just for the Microsoft Store, don't you!? No need for a Sign-in
Microsoft Account. But yes, it will cost you 99 cents. A disaster!

[...]
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Maria Sophia wrote:

PSA how to fix Windows explorer being blind to iPad sidecar .mov thumbnails >>
This is about iOS <-> Windows cross platform image/video compatibility.

No, it isn't, but don't worry, later you get it sort of 'right'.

[...]

The problem is there are no thumbnails in Windows 10, by default, for the >>> MOV files, so I looked up how to add thumbnails to Win10 for MOV files.

Here you go! It's not a Windows 'problem', but a Windows *10*
'problem'. Figure *that*, a 10+ year old out-of-active-support OS lacks
some minor feature! Shame on you, Microsoft!

[...]

The "official" fix from Microsoft is apparently to buy Microsoft's HEVC
Video Extensions (yeah, right), where the moment you pay even a single cent >> for anything, you lose your privacy, so that's a dead end out of the box.

You *do* realize that you can use a 'throw-away' Microsoft Account,
just for the Microsoft Store, don't you!? No need for a Sign-in
Microsoft Account. But yes, it will cost you 99 cents. A disaster!

[...]

Hi Frank,

While it's obvious you're not correcting facts but attempting to reframe
the purposefully helpful PSA so that you can slide in veiled insults, I
will not respond directly to your incessant never-ending personal attacks
other than to analyze your presumptive "attack strategy" as follows.

1. You pretend I said something that I clearly & obviously never said
2. You shift the topic from my technical explanation to a personal jab
3. You desperately try to force me into defending claims I never made
4. Where you use mock surprise to imply that it is I who is confused
5. In your attempt to drag me into a defense for your own amusement

The original post is a heart-felt kind and helpful PSA regarding the
issues that I ran into and resolved between the iPad & Windows 10.

I posted to the Windows 10 newsgroup, and not to the Windows 11 ng.

My post clearly described a Windows 10 Explorer limitation with HEVC
based .mov thumbnails from iOS devices. I never mentioned Windows 11
and, in fact, I repeatedly mentioned my tests were only on Windows 10.

The point was simple. Windows 10 Explorer cannot generate HEVC
thumbnails without either Microsoft's paid extension or a third-party
thumbnail provider. Installing Icaros from the K-Lite package solves
that specific problem without requiring a Microsoft Store account.

If you have a better solution that preserves privacy & dollars,
then please strive to add value in your response to this reply.

You suggested using a throwaway Microsoft Account. That is a valid
option for people who want it but even then, as far as I know, the product
is not needed and it costs money (but I didn't delve further).

My post explained why I prefer not to use the Microsoft Windows Store when Icaros itself is freeware distributed at no cost with K-Lite packs.

It was clear from my directory commands that I have a long history of using K-Lite codec packs, as do most people on these newsgroups, so it was
natural for me to suggest that freeware solution for others to benefit.

Even though your "mock surprise" and desperate attempt at chastisement was
to your own strawman argument, if you truly believe any technical detail in
my explanation are incorrect, feel free to point to the specific part.

I am always willing to correct factual errors.
But I will advise you that personal remarks do not help the discussion.
--
Doing my part to ignore insults from those who can never add value,
but who feel desperate to post something (anything!) for some odd reason.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

knuttle wrote:

Why does MS have to change? It is Apple's iOS that is using a non
standard video format that is used on the majority of computers

The situation is similar to Bluetooth. I use Bluetooth to make all of
my transfers of files between my phone, my laptop, my desktop, and other peoples computers in meetings etc. It is native to Windows.

For IOS to do the same you need to go through the cloud or add a piece
of software.

This PSA mixed digital-photo tricks with Windows 10 tricks to solve issues. (I'm not sure if Win11 ships with an HEVC decoder for thumbnails though.)

As such, this PSA was mainly to let others know a simple, free, privacy protecting & effective method to generate iOS-sidecar thumbnails on Win10.

Since I never disagree with any sensibly logical point of view, I heartily agree with your broader point about Apple choosing formats & workflows that
we feel do not interoperate as well as other platforms do with Windows 10.

Hence, I agree with your overall point that when Apple does things
differently (like when they broke Linux compatibility) they can't just act
as if no other operating system exists but Apple's ecosystem.

It's their profitable strategy not to interoperate, not a technical excuse.

Being a daily user of Apple, Windows & Android devices myself, I agree with
the interoperability concept in general, where it's actually something to
crow about when we finally do get Apple products to "play nice" in the real world (which includes all the common consumer platforms, including Linux).

What I ran into on Windows 10 was that the file explorer did not (and could not) decode HEVC based MOV files unless a suitable codec or a third
party thumbnail provider is installed. MPC-BE can play them because it
uses its own internal decoders, but Explorer cannot generate thumbnails
without help.

Interestingly, specific to the topic of digital photos, today I found a practical use for those Apple-created MOV sidecar files. I was testing
a free hundred-dollar LED clock for an Amazon Vine review. The still
images could not capture all LED segments at once, but the MOV sidecar contained one or two frames that did. By stepping through the MOV I was
able to save a clean frame that no still image could capture.

So the MOV sidecar file has its place.

Who knew?
Not me.
Now I do.

In keeping with the purposefully helpful nature of this PSA, if anyone on Windows wants to extract a still frame from a Live Photo MOV using MPC-BE, these are the steps I employed.

1. Doubleclick on the MOV file which opens in MPC-BE.
2. Quickly hit the pause key (as they're only about 3 seconds long)
3. Press the Control+arrow keys to step forward/backward 1 frame
4. When the desired frame is visible, use File, Save Image.
5. Choose PNG or JPG and save the frame for the Vine review.

On the interoperability of iOS with Windows, nobody would ever say it is
even in the least interoperable, especially when using USB-C cables.

I used a USB-C cable. It works, but only one way. Windows can pull files
from the iPad, but iOS will not easily accept files pushed from Windows.
That is an Apple design choice. Windows 11 does not change that behavior.

Your Bluetooth point is understood. Bluetooth is native to Windows and
works well for small file transfers. The PSA was not about transfer
methods though. It was about what happens after the files are already
on the Windows system and Explorer cannot display thumbnails for HEVC
based MOV files.

So the intent was to document a Windows specific fix for a Windows
specific problem (yes, "caused" by Apple's file format decisions), and not
to argue that Microsoft should change anything about Bluetooth or file
transfer workflows. Besides, it's easy enough to run OFF Live Capture.

I hope this clarifies the scope of the PSA and why the MOV sidecar
files can be useful in real world photography tasks, and I do agree
with your logically stated assessment that Apple has no intention
of ever "playing nice" with any other platform unless forced at gunpoint.
--
It used to be that Apple only told the truth in court, but in 4/2025 Judge Gonzalez Rogers referred Apple for possible criminal contempt after finding Apple's sworn testimony "replete with misdirection & outright lies". <https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/01/apple-vp-criminal-contempt-outright-lies-epic-case/>
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia wrote on 2/14/2026 1:50 PM:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

Maria Sophia wrote:

PSA how to fix Windows explorer being blind to iPad sidecar .mov
thumbnails

This is about iOS <-> Windows cross platform image/video compatibility.

a No, it isn't, but don't worry, later you get it sort of 'right'.

[...]

The problem is there are no thumbnails in Windows 10, by default,
for the
MOV files, so I looked up how to add thumbnails to Win10 for MOV files.

a Here you go! It's not a Windows 'problem', but a Windows *10*
'problem'. Figure *that*, a 10+ year old out-of-active-support OS lacks
some minor feature! Shame on you, Microsoft!

[...]

The "official" fix from Microsoft is apparently to buy Microsoft's HEVC
Video Extensions (yeah, right), where the moment you pay even a
single cent
for anything, you lose your privacy, so that's a dead end out of the
box.

a You *do* realize that you can use a 'throw-away' Microsoft Account,
just for the Microsoft Store, don't you!? No need for a Sign-in
Microsoft Account. But yes, it will cost you 99 cents. A disaster!

[...]

Hi Frank,

While it's obvious you're not correcting facts but attempting to reframe
the purposefully helpful PSA so that you can slide in veiled insults, I
will not respond directly to your incessant never-ending personal attacks other than to analyze your presumptive "attack strategy" as follows.

1. You pretend I said something that I clearly & obviously never said
2. You shift the topic from my technical explanation to a personal jab
3. You desperately try to force me into defending claims I never made
4. Where you use mock surprise to imply that it is I who is confused
5. In your attempt to drag me into a defense for your own amusement

The original post is a heart-felt kind and helpful PSA regarding the
issues that I ran into and resolved between the iPad & Windows 10.

I posted to the Windows 10 newsgroup, and not to the Windows 11 ng.

My post clearly described a Windows 10 Explorer limitation with HEVC
based .mov thumbnails from iOS devices. I never mentioned Windows 11
and, in fact, I repeatedly mentioned my tests were only on Windows 10.
The point was simple. Windows 10 Explorer cannot generate HEVC
thumbnails without either Microsoft's paid extension or a third-party thumbnail provider. Installing Icaros from the K-Lite package solves
that specific problem without requiring a Microsoft Store account.

If you have a better solution that preserves privacy & dollars, then
please strive to add value in your response to this reply.

You suggested using a throwaway Microsoft Account. That is a valid
option for people who want it but even then, as far as I know, the product
is not needed and it costs money (but I didn't delve further).

My post explained why I prefer not to use the Microsoft Windows Store when Icaros itself is freeware distributed at no cost with K-Lite packs.

It was clear from my directory commands that I have a long history of using K-Lite codec packs, as do most people on these newsgroups, so it was
natural for me to suggest that freeware solution for others to benefit.

Even though your "mock surprise" and desperate attempt at chastisement was
to your own strawman argument, if you truly believe any technical detail in my explanation are incorrect, feel free to point to the specific part.
I am always willing to correct factual errors. But I will advise you
that personal remarks do not help the discussion.

Damn! They are all against you Mary!

Does it ever feel like the world is closing in while you are attempting
to provide valuable adult content, yet remain a top secret operative?

Your next incarnation should be as "Maria Sophie .007", Shaken AND
stirred. LOL

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Setting aside the personal commentary, all I ask of posters is that they
add technical value to the topic, or at least show an understanding of it.

Given the purpose of the PSA was to helpfully document a reproducible, free privacy-keeping fix for a very specific interoperability gap in the
specific case when Windows 10 Explorer cannot generate thumbnails for HEVC-encoded MOV sidecar files produced by iOS devices unless a compatible decoder or third-party thumbnail handler is present.

This helpful thread explained Windows 10 File Explorer's limitation is codec-based, not file-system-based, and that MPC-BE's ability to play the
files on Windows 10 does not imply Explorer can extract preview frames.

To add further value for anyone following along, it's worth noting that the thumbnailing issue is not limited to iOS Live Photos.

Any HEVC-encoded MOV or MP4, whether from drones, mirrorless cameras, or
screen recordings, will likely have its thumbnails appear blank in Windows
10 Explorer unless the system has a registered HEVC decoder that exposes a DirectShow or Media Foundation interface.

That's because Explorer's thumbnail generator relies on those APIs.
Explorer's thumbnail generator does not typically rely upon user-installed application-bundled codecs, which is why MPC-BE can play the file but
Windows 10 File Explorer cannot generate a thumbnail preview.

A second technical nuance we can further learn from is that Icaros does
more than simply "add thumbnails." It registers a custom property handler
that exposes embedded metadata (duration, resolution, codec, bitrate) to Windows 10 File Explorer's Details pane.

This means that once Icaros is active, Windows 10 can sort and filter HEVC videos by technical attributes that were previously invisible.

Who knew?
Not me.
Now you do too!

For photographers and reviewers in the digital-photo newsgroup, that's
could help with meaningful workflow improvements beyond thumbnails alone.

The purposefully helpful summary for this PSA (so far) is that if someone
with iOS and Windows devices desires HEVC thumbnails, metadata visibility,
and Explorer integration without using the Microsoft Store or paying for
the HEVC extension, then the Icaros freeware remains the most complete and privacy-preserving solution that has been suggested to date in this thread.
--
I strive to make every post on Usenet add value that wasn't there before.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia wrote on 2/14/2026 5:05 PM:

Setting aside the personal commentary, all I ask of posters is that they
add technical value to the topic, or at least show an understanding of it.

That's great news Mary. You always add value, and I'm glad you plan to continue, and to set aside your many, many personal grudges. Fighting
with people for no sane reason is something you should leave to an
expert, like donald trump!

I can't say I have an understanding, though. Perhaps because I'm not a
pure genius of your caliber. And I am also not fixated on an older, discontinued, unsupported version of windows.

I realize that is your true forte, Mary, and I wish you the best
providing the value that is your trademark, ever since your early arlen
days before your sex change operation.

Good Luck Mary Sophia.

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

People who are intelligent can always add on-topic technical value where
those who are kind hearted spread the word so that everyone benefits.

Below is a slightly more detailed breakdown of WHY Windows 10 fails to
display thumbnails for iOS-generated MOV files and WHY the fix required
more than simply "install a player such as MPC-BE that can open the file."

Q: Why do iOS MOV sidecar files break Windows 10 thumbnails?
A: Because iOS MOV containers use the HEVC (H.265) video codec
(with Apple-specific tags linking the MOV to the still image)

Q: Why doesn't Explorer use VLC, MPC-BE or any app-bundled codecs?
A: Explorer relies on:
i. Media Foundation decoders
ii. Registered Shell Thumbnail Providers
Which, if not found, result in
a. Blank thumbnails
b. No Details pane metadata
c. No preview frame extraction

Q: So why does Microsoft charge for the HEVC tools?
A: Most likely it's because HEVC is patent-encumbered
(although apparently some PCs ship with HEVC support maybe)

Q: Why not use the Microsoft Store to buy the tool?
A: Free tools do as well (or better) with preservation of privacy.

Q: Why did installing the Icaros free tool instantly work?
A: Icaros registers
a. Shell Thumbnail Provider
b. Shell Property Handler
c. LAV Filters for HEVC decoding
Which itself enables
a. Thumbnail extraction
b. Duration, resolution, bitrate metadata
c. Sorting and filtering by technical attributes

Q: So what is the privacy-aware recommended fix that I proposed in this
PSA?
A: First, install the free K-Lite Codec Pack (Basic is fine)
a. Includes Icaros
b. Includes LAV Filters
Then, during installation
a. Enable "Thumbnails"
b. Ensure ".mov" is selected
c. Allow Icaros to register its handler

Q: Why did my setup instantly work without additional user interaction?
A: Most likely I met the key auto-activation conditions
a. Thumbnailing enabled
b. No previous Icaros registration
c. No conflicting handler present

Q: What was my result as a result of running the actions in this PSA?
A: Voila! Everything instantly started working as God had intended.
a. Explorer instantly switched to the new provider
b. Thumbnails appeared without reboot

Following this PSA resolves the interoperability gap cleanly and
reproducibly.
--
Twelve Networking Truths <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1925>
(8) It is more complicated than you think.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/15/2026 12:05 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

The purposefully helpful summary for this PSA (so far) is that if someone with iOS and Windows devices desires HEVC thumbnails, metadata visibility, and Explorer integration without using the Microsoft Store or paying for
the HEVC extension, then the Icaros freeware remains the most complete and privacy-preserving solution that has been suggested to date in this thread.

Years ago I installed a free codec from Microsoft on Win10 :

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n4wgh0z6vhq

But now it seems not to be available in all countries.


You can download an old version from archive.org, but I don't
know if it is updated automatically by Windows update:

https://archive.org/details/microsoft.-hevcvideo-extension-2.0.61931.0-neutral-8wekyb-3d-8bbwe_20231114

To Install unzip the file and open powershell as admin.
Run the following command
Add-AppxPackage "Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.0.61931.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxBundle"


Or you can download the current version for example from: https://hevc-video-extensions-from-device-manufacturer.de.uptodown.com/windows



--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Herbert Kleebauer wrote:

Years ago I installed a free codec from Microsoft on Win10 :

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n4wgh0z6vhq

But now it seems not to be available in all countries.

You can download an old version from archive.org, but I don't
know if it is updated automatically by Windows update:

https://archive.org/details/microsoft.-hevcvideo-extension-2.0.61931.0-neutral-8wekyb-3d-8bbwe_20231114

To Install unzip the file and open powershell as admin.
Run the following command
Add-AppxPackage "Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.0.61931.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxBundle"

Or you can download the current version for example from: https://hevc-video-extensions-from-device-manufacturer.de.uptodown.com/windows

Hi Herbert,

Thank you for that added information because I was unaware of those ugly details, but using your information above, I found a few articles on the subject backing up exactly what you just helpfully explained to the team.

*Can you get HEVC codec for free on Windows 11?* <https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/07/16/can-you-get-hevc-codec-for-free-on-windows-11/>
*HEVC Video Extensions Don't Work Anymore* March 2024 <https://www.elevenforum.com/t/hevc-video-extensions-dont-work-anymore.23632/>

As you know, there are 2 fundamental "categories" related to this topic...
1. Playing HEVC video on Windows, and,
2. Generating HEVC thumbnails in Explorer.

But we're both only talking about #2 above, the thumbnail generator addon.

When we boil out the fact that the OEM extensions are being "recycled" and
when we bring into the complexity that Microsoft is doing its utmost to
break them, it turns out there are only two real Microsoft HEVC codecs
1. The paid Store version
2. and the OEM version.

The archive.org file and the 'from Device Manufacturer' listing you and I found are apparently just different ways of distributing the OEM codec.

The specific problem that I had run into where Explorer thumbnails depend
on the Media Foundation HEVC decoder, not the playback codecs used by
MPC/VLC, is why this PSA explains why some people still need the Microsoft extension even if they can already play HEVC video.

And to make things worse, even the official paid version sometimes breaks
on Windows 11, so results vary. That's why tools like Icaros exist as they bypass Microsoft's thumbnail pipeline entirely using legal methods.

I'm not a lawyer, where from what I can ascertain, Icaros doesn't need to
pay HEVC royalties because it never decodes HEVC video itself. Apparently
the HEVC patents apply only to software that actually performs HEVC
decoding or encoding, and Icaros does neither.

Instead, Icaros acts as a Windows shell extension that asks the operating system (or any already-installed codec, such as Microsoft's HEVC extension
or third-party Media Foundation decoders) to provide a decoded video frame.

Icaros then turns that frame into a thumbnail, but the patented HEVC
decoding work is done entirely by the existing codec on the system. Since Icaros never implements or distributes HEVC technology, it falls outside
the scope of HEVC patent licensing and remains fully legal and
royalty-free, which preserves our privacy as we don't need to buy anything.

For those who care about privacy, make sure you add a trap for installers
which phone home (or simply install the Icaros/K-Lite offline instead).

Many thanks to Herbert for helping us better understand the complexities.
--
On Usenet, people help others out of their kindness and generosity.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/15/2026 5:01 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

it turns out there are only two real Microsoft HEVC codecs
1. The paid Store version
2. and the OEM version.

There is only one Microsoft HEVC codec. If delivered to the
end user by Microsoft, the end user has to pay the patent
licensing fee, which Microsoft forwards to the patent holder.
If delivered to an OEM, the OEM is responsible for paying
the fee to the patent holder and therefore Microsoft doesn't
want any money. But as an end user, you always can copy and
install the OEM version for free, but not from the Microsoft
store (but there are enough downloadable copies out there in
the internet).

If you live in a region where the patent doesn't apply
(or use VPN), you maybe can also download the OEM version
directly from Microsoft:

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n4wgh0z6vhq



--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Herbert Kleebauer wrote:

On 2/15/2026 5:01 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

it turns out there are only two real Microsoft HEVC codecs
1. The paid Store version
2. and the OEM version.

There is only one Microsoft HEVC codec. If delivered to the
end user by Microsoft, the end user has to pay the patent
licensing fee, which Microsoft forwards to the patent holder.
If delivered to an OEM, the OEM is responsible for paying
the fee to the patent holder and therefore Microsoft doesn't
want any money. But as an end user, you always can copy and
install the OEM version for free, but not from the Microsoft
store (but there are enough downloadable copies out there in
the internet).

If you live in a region where the patent doesn't apply
(or use VPN), you maybe can also download the OEM version
directly from Microsoft:

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n4wgh0z6vhq

Hi Herbert,

Thank you!

YOU ARE CORRECT, and my organization was, well, it wasn't wrong, per se,
since it looked at who gave it to whom, but the OEM got it from Microsoft,
and the OEM does pay the royalties, so I appreciate the clarification.

I apologize if I lead anyone astray with saying there were two MS codecs. There's only the one that Microsoft gives us or that Microsoft gave to OEMs (which found its way onto the Internet in the form of separate archives).

When you kindly first posted that helpful link, I had tested it, but of
course, as you warned, it says
*"This product is unavailable in your market"*
HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer
Microsoft Windows
3.4, 8 ratings
System Components
Play High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) videos in any video
app on your Windows 10 device. These extensions are designed
to take advantage of hardware capabilities on some newer devices
including those with an Intel 7th Generation Core processor
and newer GPU to support 4K and Ultra HD content. For devices
that don't have hardware support for HEVC videos, software support
is provided, but the playback experience might vary based on the
video resolution and PC performance. These extensions also let
you encode HEVC content on devices that don't have a hardware-based
video encoder

Taking note that this is the "encoder" (which is a different entity), but
more importantly taking note of the extremely tiny number of reviews,
what I didn't write then, but I will state now, is I *tested* that link
with over a dozen free VPNs (I have thousands), in addition to at least a
half dozen privacy-aware web browsers, all of which gave the same error.

I cannot prove my tentative assessment, but I suspect there's a good chance that the listing is not available anywhere (but I need to be clear I am
basing that suspicion only on a dozen or so countries' VPN IP addresses).
--
On Usenet, wizened old men discuss topics of interest, where we each add
our own flavor of value so that the group, as a whole, benefits greatly.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia wrote:

Interestingly, specific to the topic of digital photos, today I found a practical use for those Apple-created MOV sidecar files. I was testing
a free hundred-dollar LED clock for an Amazon Vine review.

Note that your Amazon browsing history tells you what you've been offered.
<https://www.amazon.com/gp/history>

Here is an example of free product you can choose from Vine to review:
<https://www.amazon.com/Koarigo-Receiver-Minivans-Capacity-Tiltable/dp/B0FDQ7MNB1/>

Here is another example, that I selected, but it hasn't been shipped yet.
<https://www.amazon.com/AZKORION-Oversized-Camping-Portable-Supports/dp/B0GD1ZVD5M/>

Amazon populates a section for us called "just for you" based on our habits
<https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Waterproof-Hammock-Shelter-Without/dp/B0FGXFL53G/>

Someone once asked what the "rules" were for the Amazon Vine reviews, where Amazon "invites" only the best reviewers to test out free product to the
tune of up to a few hundred thousand dollars (potential) per year.
<https://www.amazon.com/vine/about>

Here is the verbatim description that only Amazon Vine reviewers get in
their messages field (since the Amazon Vine link is a separate page).
<https://www.amazon.com/vine/help#reviewqualityscore>

Welcome to Amazon Vine Help

How Does It Work
What is Amazon Vine?
Amazon Vine is a program that enables a select group of Amazon customers to post opinions about newly released items to help their fellow customers
make educated buying decisions. Customers are invited to become Amazon Vine Voices based on the trust they have earned in the Amazon community for
writing accurate and insightful reviews. Amazon Vine provides members with
free copies of products that have been submitted to the program by participating brands. Since Voices will receive access to products that are
not yet available on the market, their opinions may be among the first
posted on a productrCOs detail page. Amazon does not influence the opinions
of Amazon Vine members, nor do we modify or edit their reviews.
How do I access my Amazon Vine account?
Your account can be accessed on https://www.amazon.com/vine or by
copy-pasting the URL directly into your browser.
Am I a member?
Access is granted to the Vine program based on your standing in the Amazon reviewer community. If you missed your invitation e-mail and want to
determine if you have access to the vine program, visit https://www.amazon.com/vine. Once you have completed the Participation Agreement and Tax Questionnaire, you will be a Vine Member and receive a
Vine Member badge. If you have multiple accounts, the one with the highest reviewer ranking is most likely to have been invited.
Can I invite my friends to the program?
At this time, participation in Amazon Vine is limited to select customers
who have been invited to join the program.
Will Amazon share my contact information with participating brands? Amazon.comrCOs Privacy Notice applies to your participation in the program
and describes our practices regarding collection and use of personal information. Amazon does not share your identity or contact details to any product suppliers who participate in the program without your permission.
Who will be sending me the Amazon Vine products?
Amazon Vine product will be delivered straight from Amazon.com.
May I share products I receive from Amazon Vine with my friends and family?
Per the Amazon Vine Terms and Conditions, you may not sell or give
possession of the products to any other person or entity for six months following your order.
How does the review policy work?
We understand that testing items and crafting insightful reviews takes
time. You should request items as you can review thoroughly and post
informed opinions about. Vine reviews are subject to the Community
Guidelines and we monitor the reviews posted by Vine Voices in order to
ensure the members of our community keep submitting insightful and unbiased reviews and do not use the program in a way that negatively impacts
customer trust.
How do I return, exchange, or modify my Vine requests?
These actions are not yet supported.
Are Amazon employees eligible to become Vine Voices?
No. As stated in the Vine Voice Participation Agreement Amazon employees
are not eligible.
What should I do if I see this rCLmessage about recent activityrCY alert?
This is an early warning to ensure you comply with the Vine Participation Agreement and ensure that your reviews help other customers like yourself
make informed buying decisions. If you see this alert, read to understand
the reason and then click the yellow button to regain access to Vine. If we donrCOt see any improvement 7 days, we will unfortunately permanently close your Vine account after 30 days of monitoring.
How do I avoid getting these account alerts?
Here are some ways to ensure you comply with the Vine Participation
Agreement:

To resolve continued issues with items being damaged in transit or not delivered at all, we recommend that you resolve your shipping issues before claiming more Vine items.

Cancel your order only when you genuinely cannot try the item as-is to
provide an insightful review. This helps us keep limited units that sellers allocate to Vine available for someone else to claim. Canceling unshipped
Vine orders does not put the item back into Vine for other Voices to claim.

Remember to personally write and submit independent and unbiased reviews
that reflect your true opinion (regardless of whether it is positive or negative), based in your actual experience, of Vine Products on amazon.com
and not request or review any product where you have a conflict of
interest.
What can I do if my account is permanently closed from Vine?
If you see this message rCLYour Vine account has been closed for violating
one or more of the Vine terms and conditions. You will still be able to
view your Vine reviews and Vine order history but will no longer be able to request Vine items.rCY then your account has permanently lost access to Vine. At this time, we cannot support appeals or re-activations. Please note that
our Vine Customer Service team cannot reverse this decision or share more details on this matter; they can only confirm account status.
Membership Tiers
What is it?
Vine membership provides tiered access and rewards based on contributions
to Amazon Vine.
What is the difference between Silver and Gold tiers?
Silver Tier: This is the base tier that allows you to request up to 3 items
per day from products valued at $100 or less. To be upgraded to the Gold
tier, you must review at least 80 Vine items and 90% of your Vine orders
within the evaluation period stated in your Account page.

Gold Tier: This is the premium tier that allows you to request up to 8
items per day from products of any value. To remain in this tier, you
should review at least 80 Vine items and 90% of your Vine orders within the evaluation period stated in your Account page.
IrCOm in the Silver status, so what do I need to do at a minimum to prevent
my account from being Closed?
To maintain an active account, be sure to review at least 60% of your
orders at all times. If less than 60% of your orders are reviewed, your
account will be placed under review. However, you will still have access to Vine, but the new product recommendations will be turned off and your
account will be at risk of being closed. You can recover your account once
you have reviewed greater than 60% of your recent orders for at least two
weeks in a row. If we donrCOt see any improvement in review levels, we will unfortunately close your account after 30 days of monitoring.
I see Silver status in my Account page, so how many items can I request?
In the Silver tier, you can request up to 3 items per day. Once you are upgraded to Gold tier, you can request up to 8 items per day. The rCLRequest ItemrCY button will be deactivated once you have met the request limit for
the day.
Evaluation Period
What is being tracked by Amazon Vine?
Under the rCLYour Vine activityrCY section of the Account page, we use the below metrics:

rCLYou have reviewed X Vine items this periodrCY tracks the total reviews that have been submitted and approved by the Amazon Customer Reviews team within
the evaluation period.

rCLYou have reviewed X% of your Vine items this periodrCY tracks the total approved reviews as a percentage of total orders placed within the
evaluation period.

Amazon Vine monitors Voice activity and has guardrails to avoid program
misuse. This ensures we deliver value to customers from this program.
What is an evaluation period?
The Evaluation period is the duration over which your review contributions would be analyzed to assess your tier status.

If you joined Vine prior to October 6, 2022, your Evaluation period end
date (or your rCLRe-evaluation daterCY) has been randomly assigned six to nine months from your Evaluation period start date. After your first
re-evaluation date, all future re-evaluation dates will be set to six
months from the last re-evaluation date.
I have been submitting reviews, so why does the Evaluation period show 0% reviewed?
These metrics reset to 0 at the beginning of each evaluation period. They update within two days of review approval.
How do I make sure my reviews count towards my Evaluation period?
Submit reviews at least two weeks before your Re-evaluation date to allow
for review processing by the Amazon Customer Reviews team. If your
Evaluation period ends on April 6, 2023, then you should plan to submit
your reviews by March 23, 2023.
What should I do when I see the rCLUpdate to account statusrCY message?
This is a courtesy warning to remind you to submit reviews on the Vine
items yourCOve recently ordered in the last 3 months. Once you have reviewed 60% or more of your recent orders for at least two weeks, the message will
be removed.
Tax Information
Why do I have to complete the tax interview for Amazon Vine?
The tax authorities require all Vine Voices to provide tax information to
be compliant. The Tax Interview is used to determine and fulfill AmazonrCOs
tax reporting and withholding obligations For US persons, tax reporting is required to the extent that goods $600 or more is received by an Amazon
Vine participant.

In order to fulfill the IRS requirements as efficiently as possible, answer
all questions and enter all information requested during the Tax Interview.
Use caution to avoid misspellings or entering incorrect Tax Identification Numbers, which can result in an invalidated tax form. If you have
questions, please consult your tax advisor.

If you do not complete the Tax Interview, you will not be eligible to participate in the Amazon Vine program.
Will I be asked for my Social Security Number?
Yes. Failure to supply a tax identification number (TIN) will require
Amazon to apply the maximum amount of withholding. Amazon collects TINs
that include Social Security Numbers (SSNs), Employer Identification
Numbers (EINs), and Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). The information is collected through AmazonrCOs Tax Interview and is securely maintained. The information is used to facilitate AmazonrCOs tax reporting
and withholding obligations.

For more information on tax identification numbers, please consult your tax advisor.
I am not going to come even close to hitting the reporting threshold. Why
does Amazon require my tax information?
It is AmazonrCOs policy to collect tax information upfront in order to be prepared to meet any potential tax information reporting obligations it has with the relevant tax authorities. Your tax information is collected
through AmazonrCOs secure systems solely for the purposes of tax information reporting and will not be shared with any third parties, except as required
by law (for example, we are required to file copies of Forms 1099 with the Internal Revenue Service).
Can I return my Vine item after reviewing so I do not have to pay taxes?
No.
I am a U.S. person (a U.S. citizen or resident alien). What information do
I need to provide to Amazon?
For U.S. persons, we will ask for information such as tax Identification
number (SSN, EIN), legal name, and physical address. We will use this information to identify you and to comply with tax reporting obligations applicable to U.S. persons.
I am not a U.S. person (either a U.S. citizen or a resident alien). Do I
need to provide any information to Amazon?
No. Unfortunately, you will not be able to continue to participate in
Amazon Vine. The Vine program is open only to U.S. persons.
Can you advise on how I can fill out the Tax Interview?
We have created a resource guide for the Tax Interview. Please follow link
to access: https://taxcentral.amazon.com/tax-interview/help?nodeId=201588330&locale=en_US. For additional guidance, please consult your tax advisor.
I've provided my tax identity information. How long will it take to see if
it is valid?
In most cases, your tax information should be validated within a few
minutes of submission. In rare cases, the validation process could take up
to 60 days. this is because you have mentioned, "I have received my EIN/SSN within 60 Days". Our system will continue attempts to validate your TIN for
60 days from the date on which you completed your tax information
interview.

Once the validation process is complete, the tax information status will
show Completed/Validated on your Amazon Vine account page. Please note that while the validation process is pending, you will not be able to make
changes to your tax information.
What does the tax questionnaire status in my Vine account mean?
Not Started rCo You have not started the tax questionnaire, please click on
the Start/Update Questionnaire link in your Vine Account tab to begin.

Completed/Validated rCo Your tax information has been validated and no
further information is needed at this time.

Pending Validation rCo Your tax information is currently being reviewed.
Please check back in a few days for an update.

Pending Additional Information rCo This could be one or more of the
following: 1) We have not received your forms. For fastest processing, you
can consent to an electronic signature. 2) Your name and/or tax
identification number do not match IRS records, please follow below steps
to retake your Tax Interview. 3) We are missing information on your questionnaire, please follow below steps to retake your Tax Interview.
a. Access your account via: amazon.com/vine/account
b. Go to your rCLVine tax informationrCY section
c. Select rCLStart/Update QuestionnairerCY
d. Click rCLTake InterviewrCY and follow steps to completion.

Not US Person rCo Based on the information you provided in your tax questionnaire, you are not a US Person. Unfortunately, you will not be able
to continue to participate in Amazon Vine. The Vine program is open only to U.S. persons.
I received an e-mail stating that my tax identity information is invalid. I thought I provided my correct information. Can you tell me why it came back invalid?
We don't know exactly why your tax identity information came back as
invalid, but here are some things to consider:

If you are completing the tax identity information as an individual, use
the information that appears on your Social Security card. Misspelling your name, not including your middle initial or middle name, or entering an incorrect Tax Identification Number may cause tax identity information to
not match to IRS records.

If you are completing the information as a business, use the name that
appears on the top line of the address on your CP575A notice from the IRS.

Your tax name may be different from the name you use to conduct business or receive payments.
When will I receive my 1099-NEC form?
You will receive your 1099-NEC form by January 31st only if: you received
over $600 in payments OR if there were any taxes deducted / withheld from
you.

However, please note that payments to Corporations including a Limited Liability Company (LLC) that is treated as a C or an S Corporation and
other tax-exempt organizations are not reportable on Form 1099-NEC.
How are product values calculated?
The fair market value (FMV) is calculated based on a variety of factors, including information provided by the manufacturer. The current price is
only one of the components taken into account when calculating the FMV of
an item which may be different from the current price listed on Amazon.com. There are certain categories were we have a set FMV. For example,
third-party household goods such as grocery, beauty, and pet foods will be generally valued at $0. Books, including Advanced Reader Copies, will be
valued at 99 cents. We cannot make adjustments to this value; please know
that if you order this item you will be responsible for paying taxes
associated with the FMV shown.

Your Account page will display a running total of the FMV for products
received through the program; this allows you to track the value of
products you have received each year.

If you have any concern about the FMV of a Vine item, we suggest that you
do not request this item as we cannot adjust this value and it will be
reported on your tax documents.

Your Account page will display a running total of the fair market value for products received through the program; this allows you to track the value
of products you have received each year.
How do I update my information for tax reporting?
You can update yourtax information by retaking the Tax Interview. Be
advised that this will only update your information for tax purposes.
Follow below steps to retake the Tax Interview:
a. Access your account via: amazon.com/vine/account
b. Go to your rCLVine tax informationrCY section
c. Select rCLStart/Update QuestionnairerCY
d. Click rCLTake InterviewrCY and follow steps to completion.
How do I access my forms online?
You will receive a Form 1099-NEC ONLY if you received payments of $600 or
more during the calendar year. To access the digital copy of your form,
please follow these steps:
a. Access your account via: amazon.com/vine/account
b. Go to rCLVine tax informationrCY section
c. Select rCLStart/Update QuestionnairerCY
d. Click rCLFind FormsrCY at the bottom of the page
e. Download applicable forms
Are there instructions on how to use the 1099-NEC for my tax return?
If you are unsure of how to report the information provided on a Form
1099-NEC, please contact your tax, legal, or other professional advisor.
Can I return my Vine item after reviewing so I do not have to pay taxes?
No, you will not be able to return any Vine items after review.
Does the total value change if I have to cancel an order because I canrCOt review it?
Yes, if you have to cancel a Vine order because you canrCOt review it due to
a defective or damaged item, then we may deduct the value of that item from your Vine account when the cancellation occurs. If you order and cancel an
item in the same year, the two transactions will zero each other out. If it
is cancelled in the following year, then the adjustment will be reflected
in that yearrCOs itemized report. If you order a Vine item in 2021 and cancel in 2022, then the adjustment or negative value will be in the 2022
aggregated total.
When will the tax value from the cancelled Vine items be reflected in the estimated tax amount?
The tax values in the Estimate Total Amount and itemized report will update within two days of a request being processed by our Vine Customer Service
team. The tax value for the current year is an estimate and updated on a regular basis. The final value may differ depending on the status of your
order at the end of the year.
When is a product calculated towards my total for a tax reporting year?
For relevant tax authorities' reporting, Amazon estimates the fair market
value of products at the point when you took ownership. Based on the Vine
Voice Participation Agreement, title of Vine items transfers to you at the
time of order. If a Vine item was delivered on November 3rd, 2022 and
another on January 15th, 2023, only the November one delivered in the 2022 calendar year will be calculated toward your 2022 aggregated total.
Requesting Vine Items
How often should I check my queue?
You should check in whenever you have the capacity to order another product
to review. We want you to feel free to check in whenever you are able and
not be required to come to the site on a specific day and time.
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There will not be a specific day or time when items are added to your
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Is there a limit to the number of items I can request?
There is a daily limit to the number of Vine items Voices can request; we
want to give all our Voices a chance to get items they are interested in
and to participate in this program.
What if there are no products in my queue?
There are four reasons you could not see products in your queue. 1) There
are no products in current inventory targeted to you based on our current targeting system. 2) You do not meet our active participation criteria. 3)
One of your reviews may have been flagged as innapropriate. 4) We have identified suspicious activity.
How long do I have to review items?
We encourage you to post insightful reviews quickly and ensure that your
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that your opinions will be among the first to appear on the detail pages of
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Can other people take products before I get to them?
Yes, as in the current Vine queues, you are not guaranteed a product until
you have placed an order for it.
Could products show up in several item queues at the same time?
No. Some products will go through the targeted queue first where you may or
may not have been offered them, and after a period of time, will move to Available for All.
Can you please stop sending me books (or something else that I donrCOt want)? We understand that there are some products in your queue that you do not
have interest in. We try and do our best to make sure that products are targeted to the best of our ability, but some products have no history and
need to be offered up to several people that may or may not enjoy them. We encourage you to try something new every now and then - you never know, you might like it.
What types of products are eligible for Amazon Vine?
Amazon selling partners may nominate any products they wish for inclusion
in Amazon Vine. We encourage you to browse the queues for newest in
clothing, electronics, home and kitchen, pet supplies, outdoor gear, books
and any other items that catch your eye.
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the item?
Amazon Vine is a promotional program, so participating brands allocate
limited quantity of newly released products. We encourage you to visit our website often so that you can request items that you want to review before
the inventory runs out.
Tracking Vine Orders
How long will it take for me to receive a product to review once I request
it?
You should receive your Amazon Vine item(s) within 5-7 business days of shipping it. You may track your orders by visiting the Vine Orders page.
It has been over a week and I have not received my Amazon Vine item. How
can I check status?
Please visit the Vine Orders page to view the status of your order.
Can I ship Vine items outside of the United States?
Unfortunately we cannot support international Vine shipments at this time.
We hope to provide this capability in the future and apologize to our
valued international reviewer community.
I am an Amazon Prime member. Why donrCOt I get free two-day shipping on Vine items?
All Vine items are handled separately from the rest of our Amazon products. Vine items currently ship at standard ground speeds (3-7 days).
Can I cancel a commitment to review a Vine item after receiving it?
You may cancel a Vine order if you are not able to review it. Cancellations
are not offered for slight variances in products, and you should take this
into account before participating in Amazon Vine Voices. Orders that have a review posted or are beyond 30 days from delivery date cannot be cancelled.
If you have to cancel a Vine order, please open a case by clicking on
Contact Us and providing the Order ID Number and reason for canceling.
Does Vine offer returns?
Amazon Vine items are not returnable or replaceable but may be cancelled. Submitting Vine Reviews
Am I required to write reviews about all the Amazon Vine products I select?
The Amazon customer community highly values your opinion and Amazon Vine
exists to help the Amazon customers make better informed purchase
decisions. We do not require that you write a review but we do take this
into account when determining who the best reviewers are to keep in Amazon Vine.
How quickly do I need to post my review?
We encourage you to post reviews quickly and ensure that your review
contains quality feedback. Doing so will increase the likelihood that your opinions will be among the first to appear on the detail pages of new and pre-4released items.
Where do I post my review?
Please click on the Vine Reviews page on the Amazon Vine website to post
your review. Please follow Amazon's General Review Writing Guidelines as outlined on that page in crafting your review
What should my review include?
Vine reviews should be focused on the product and follow the Community Guidelines. Feedback about your shipment experience, or packaging should
not be included in Amazon Vine reviews.
How may I edit my reviews?
You may edit any reviews submitted to the Vine program by visiting the Vine Reviews page and clicking rCySee reviewrCO and then rCyEditrCO for any Vine product
that you have reviewed.
Will Amazon edit my review?
No. All Amazon Vine reviews will be posted on the productrCOs Amazon.com
detail pages unedited, regardless of whether it is a favorable review or
not.
Why are my recent orders not showing in Awaiting Reviews?
Only delivered items appear in the Awaiting Reviews list. We do not expect
you to review items you have not yet received. After placing your order,
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Where will my review appear on the product detail page?
Amazon Vine reviews appear on the product detail page, in the same location
as other Amazon customer reviews. Amazon Vine reviews are distinguished
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Do I need to return the item after reviewing it?
Amazon Vine items are yours to keep, unless a return is specifically
requested by Amazon.com.
Where can I get help if I have a question or issue about my reviews?
To find our more information about your review or the Community Guidelines, follow these steps:
1. Visit Amazon Customer Service
2. Select rCLHelp with something elserCY (if this button is displayed)
3. Select rCLSomething elserCY
4. Select rCLAmazon CommunityrCY
5. Select rCLAmazon Vine ProgramrCY and follow steps to completion
How do I report fake reviews?
Use the Report link near the review content that you want to report.
What should I do if IrCOm asked to change my review?
If someone offers you compensation to create, edit, or remove a review,
report it using the Report Review Compensation form. After we receive your report, we'll investigate and take appropriate action.
Review Quality
What is the Review Insightfulness Score (RIS) and why does Amazon evaluate
the insightfulness of my Vine review texts?
Review Insightfulness Score (RIS) measures how helpful and detailed your
Vine reviews are for other customers. We look at the content of your review text to determine how well you explain products and provide valuable information that helps customers make informed purchasing decisions. This
helps maintain high-quality standards in the Vine program. Please note that
RIS only applies to reviews of Vine orders and not to reviews you write for other Amazon orders.
Where can I find my Review Insightfulness Score and what do the different levels mean?
You can find your Review Insightfulness Score on your Vine Account page
along with other performance metrics for the current evaluation period. The score appears in one of four levels from Excellent (Green) to Poor (Red), reflecting how detailed, contextualized, and relevant your review content
is. Your score reflects average review quality of all reviews submitted
during the current evaluation period and is factored into your tier status.
How is my Review Insightfulness Score calculated and how can I improve it?
We evaluate several key aspects of your review content when calculating
your score:

Level of Detail: We look at how specifically you describe the product
based on your actual experience. Instead of saying "works well," explain
how it performed specific tasks.
Contextualization: We consider how well you explain when and how the product works best. For example, "I used this blender for making smoothies
with frozen fruit" is more helpful than "I used this blender."
Topic Relevancy: We check whether your review focuses on the product
itself rather than shipping, ordering, or other non-product aspects.
Star Rating Context: We assess how well your written review supports
your star rating. Your review should provide specific details and examples
that help other customers understand your rating choice, whether positive
or negative.

Please note that this score does not have specific word count
requirements or media (images/video) requirements, which means that
increasing word count or adding media will not automatically improve your score.

Why am I not seeing an RIS score yet or why hasn't my score updated?
There are a few reasons why your RIS score might not appear or update immediately. You need to have submitted at least one Vine review before receiving a score. Most reviews may have a 3 day delay between when you
submit or edit a review and when the score is calculated and displayed.

If you've submitted reviews more than 14 days ago and still don't see a
score, check that your review submission was confirmed or contact Vine
Customer Support with a link to your review to report a potential issue.
The Vine Customer Service team cannot modify Review Insightfulness Scores
or share additional details about how specific scores were calculated.
Why do rejected reviews still show an RIS score? How does this impact my overall score?
If one of your reviews is rejected by Amazon's Customer Reviews team, it
will still display a score from when it was initially evaluated. If you can
no longer edit or delete the rejected review, then its score continues to
count toward your overall score for the current evaluation period.

Please note that occasionally reviews with high insightfulness scores may
still be rejected as they need to comply with our Community Guidelines, regardless of their insightfulness score. For example, a detailed review
that mentions competing products by name or includes external website links
may be rejected even if it's otherwise well-written and insightful.

If you have rejected reviews affecting your overall score, focus on writing several high-quality reviews for your new Vine items to improve your
average score over time.
--
Probably one out of a million people know how to properly review a product.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

To add further value to this thread about interoperating with the iPad HEVC files that are made in "live photo" shots, while Icaros solved the
thumbnail problem, IrfanView 32-bit could not play MOV files from an iPad.

BACKGROUND:
Since my phone is broken, I used the iPad to snap photos where live photo
has an advantage that it can capture flickering multiplexed LED segments.

However, when stepping through the files copied from the iPad to the
Windows PC, Irfanview would no play the MOV files using default settings.

Irfanview 4.70 32-bit
Options > Property/Settings > Video/Sound
(_) Use external player (IV_Player Plugin (old) required)
(o) Use internal video/sound player (recommended)
[x] Use DirectShow for playing (use Pause/Arrow keys as controls)
[_] Loop
[_] Hide playbar in full screen mode (use ESC to exit)
Video window size:
(_) Half
(o) Normal
(_) Double
[x] Play MP3/OGG/RA files in the main window (using DirectShow option)
[x] Try to play Flash video (FLV) files in the main window
Apple Quick Time (Quick Time Plugin required - but NOT recommded)
[x] Use Quick Time for MOV/3GP/MP4/M4A/FLI/FLC files (if Quick Time
installed)
[_] Use Quick Time for QTIF, Mac PICT files

Error shown:
"Decode error!
Can't load Plugin: QUICKTIME.DLL
The Plugin is disabled."

This means IrfanView was trying to use the OLD QuickTime plugin,
which no longer exists on modern Windows and cannot decode HEVC.

iPad/iPhone MOV files are usually:
Video: HEVC (H.265) or H.264
Audio: AAC
IrfanView can only play these using DirectShow + modern codecs.

ROOT CAUSE:
IrfanView was *forcing* the QuickTime plugin for MOV playback.
Because QUICKTIME.DLL was missing, playback failed immediately.
IrfanView never attempted to use DirectShow or LAV Filters.

FIX:
1. In IrfanView 4.70 32-bit:
a. Options -> Properties/Settings -> Video/Sound
b. UNCHECK:
[ ] Use QuickTime for MOV/3GP/MP4/M4A/FLI/FLC files
c. CHECK:
[x] Use internal video/sound player
[x] Use DirectShow for playing
d. Restart IrfanView.

2. Install a modern DirectShow codec pack (K-Lite Full works).
This provides:
a. LAV Video (HEVC/H.264 decoding)
b. LAV Audio (AAC)
c. LAV Splitter (MOV/MP4 container)

3. Verify in Codec Tweak Tool:
DirectShow Filters -> LAV Video -> Formats
Ensure:
[x] H.264
[x] HEVC
[x] MPEG-4
(The hardware-acceleration tab is irrelevant if HEVC is grayed out.)

After doing that just now, when I step through a Windows folder with iPad
MOV & JPEG files, IrfanView now uses DirectShow + LAV Filters instead of QuickTime such that MOV files from iOS now play correctly.

The result is we now have the interoperability of both thumbnails for the
Apple MOV files & Irfanview can play MOV files along with the JPG images.

NB: Icaros only affects MOV thumbnails; it does NOT affect playback.
This added-value post is about MOV playback inside of Irfanview.

Without losing the privacy inherent in getting the codec from Microsoft.
--
Privacy is a feature you build yourself into everything you touch and use.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> wrote:

To add further value to this thread about interoperating with the iPad HEVC files that are made in "live photo" shots, while Icaros solved the
thumbnail problem, IrfanView 32-bit could not play MOV files from an iPad.

BACKGROUND:
Since my phone is broken, I used the iPad to snap photos where live photo
has an advantage that it can capture flickering multiplexed LED segments.

However, when stepping through the files copied from the iPad to the
Windows PC, Irfanview would no play the MOV files using default settings.

[Your procedure to get IrfanView to play your iPad's .MOV videos.]

Just an idea: Have you checked if your iPad can generate non-HEVC
(MP4?) .MOV videos?

For pictures, iDevices can generate .JPEG images, instead of .HEIC
ones (AFAICT, you already use that function).

One would assume that if this is possible for pictures, a similar
thing could be done for videos. After all, Apple Quick Time .MOV videos
existed long before HEVC came about.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Frank Slootweg wrote:

However, when stepping through the files copied from the iPad to the
Windows PC, Irfanview would no play the MOV files using default settings.

[Your procedure to get IrfanView to play your iPad's .MOV videos.]

Just an idea: Have you checked if your iPad can generate non-HEVC
(MP4?) .MOV videos?

For pictures, iDevices can generate .JPEG images, instead of .HEIC
ones (AFAICT, you already use that function).

Hi Frank,

Thanks for that advice, as many of us daily work with iOS, Android &
Windows interchangeably, where those who are only on one platform never get
to see what we see by constantly trying to interoperate between them.

Long ago, as you may recall, Paul and I discussed the evils of HEIC, which caught me by surprise when I innocently set "best format" in my camera app.

So, yes, you are correct, I'm well aware devices can NOT write to HEIC.

However, we may need clarify the technical details a bit because a few different concepts are apparently getting mixed together, especially since
Live Photos appears to behave differently from normal iOS video recordings.

While iOS does allow switching the codec for standard video (H.264 vs.
HEVC), apparently that interoperability setting is not used for the short motion clip embedded in a Live Photo. For Live Photos, Apple always appears
to encode the video portion as HEVC inside a MOV container, and there is no user setting I could find that forces H.264 for that specific stream. Even
with "Most Compatible" enabled, Live Photos still produced HEVC video.

So in this particular case, the helpful idea of generating non-HEVC MOV
files does not apply as far as I can tell of how Apple designed it to do.

The playback issue I described was not caused by the capture format anyway.

IrfanView 32-bit was forcing the old QuickTime plugin for MOV playback, and since QUICKTIME.DLL no longer exists on my Windows PC, playback failed immediately. IrfanView never fell back to DirectShow or LAV Filters.

Once I disabled the QuickTime option to let IrfanView use DirectShow, and
once a modern DirectShow codec pack was installed (LAV Video, LAV Audio,
LAV Splitter), the iPad MOV files played normally, as they should play.

That interoperability tweak was entirely on the Windows side.

So the overall iPad-to-PC USB interoperability landscape is (AFAICT)...
a. Apple's iPadOS Live Photos always use HEVC video
b. Windows Explorer needs a HEVC-capable thumbnail provider
c. Icaros freeware solved that problem, preserving privacy
d. IrfanView needs DirectShow + modern codecs (LAV solved that)

As far as I can tell so far, none of this can be fixed on the iOS side.
As Keith mentioned early on in this thread, Apple products have never
worked in the real world, which is Apple's fundamental strategy.

<RANT>
If Apple makes working in the real world hard enough, those people who
aren't as clever as we are, will never be able to inter operate well.

And it's *those people* who naturally buy *only* Apple products.
Because only then does Apple's iOS ecosystem ever really "just work".
</RANT>

Thanks for your purposefully helpful suggestion, where, as far as I can
tell, the iPad is behaving as Apple expected it to, much like when Apple
told me the inherent insecurity of their WPS database is 'as designed'.

,The interoperability issues were on the Windows/IrfanView side, not the capture side, although it would be nice of the Live Photo had choices.
--
I'm never afraid to say what I don't know or what I do know as my ego isn't tied to pretending otherwise, unlike most people, who are always afraid.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> wrote:
[...]

While iOS does allow switching the codec for standard video (H.264 vs.
HEVC), apparently that interoperability setting is not used for the short motion clip embedded in a Live Photo. For Live Photos, Apple always appears to encode the video portion as HEVC inside a MOV container, and there is no user setting I could find that forces H.264 for that specific stream. Even with "Most Compatible" enabled, Live Photos still produced HEVC video.

Thanks for the feedback. I already was afraid that (Apple's) Live
Photos would be a special case, i.e. not a 'normal' video. Oh well,
can't win them all.

[...]

So the overall iPad-to-PC USB interoperability landscape is (AFAICT)...
a. Apple's iPadOS Live Photos always use HEVC video
b. Windows Explorer needs a HEVC-capable thumbnail provider
c. Icaros freeware solved that problem, preserving privacy
d. IrfanView needs DirectShow + modern codecs (LAV solved that)

[...]
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/20/2026 1:56 PM, Frank Slootweg wrote:

Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> wrote:
[...]

While iOS does allow switching the codec for standard video (H.264 vs.
HEVC), apparently that interoperability setting is not used for the short
motion clip embedded in a Live Photo. For Live Photos, Apple always appears >> to encode the video portion as HEVC inside a MOV container, and there is no >> user setting I could find that forces H.264 for that specific stream. Even >> with "Most Compatible" enabled, Live Photos still produced HEVC video.

Inserted from earlier reply.

The playback issue I described was not caused by the capture format anyway. >> IrfanView 32-bit was forcing the old QuickTime plugin for MOV playback, and >> since QUICKTIME.DLL no longer exists on my Windows PC, playback failed
immediately. IrfanView never fell back to DirectShow or LAV Filters.

Once I disabled the QuickTime option to let IrfanView use DirectShow, and
once a modern DirectShow codec pack was installed (LAV Video, LAV Audio,
LAV Splitter), the iPad MOV files played normally, as they should play.

Thanks for the feedback. I already was afraid that (Apple's) Live
Photos would be a special case, i.e. not a 'normal' video. Oh well,
can't win them all.

Clean install of Win10 and Win11 each to a separate device.
Win10 Pro 22H2(Surface 3, 128GB eMMC ) - Win11 25H2 Pro(Acer Laptop,
8th gen, Micron 256 GB SSD).
- No MSFT apps removed from either device after setting up each with a
Local Account(No MSFT account logon on either device).

Common software installed or included on each device.
- Media Player(included app), Media Player legacy, iTunes(no
Quicktime), Irfanview 4.72 32-bit with default settings, Thunderbird,
and Chrome. No additional CODECs installed!

Install of Irfanview on Win10/Win11 does not enable QuickTime or force
use of 'old' Quicktime.
- Default Video Sound Settings(all auto-enabled/pre-checked as default
on first use)
1. Use internal video/sound player(recommended; Use DirectShow for playing
2. Play MP3/OGG/RA files in main window(using Direct Show option)
3. Try to play Flash video(FLV files in main windows(using Direct Show option)
4. Neither of the two QuickTime options were enabled(i.e. unchecked)
Use Quick Times ror Mov/3GP/MP$FLI/FLC; Use Quick Time for QTIF, MAC
PICT files.

- 2 separate videos created on iPhone 16 using 'Most Compatible setting)
- not High Efficiency(HEIF/HEVC). Both created as *.MOV files. *.MOV
files transferred to both Win10/Win11 using 3 different routes(Upload to OneDrive/sync down to Windows, copied from trusted iPhone to Windows via
File Explorer, and emailed from iPhone to POP3 email in Thunderbird)
- 2 separate Live Photos created on iPhone(when using Most Compatible) -
Note, these save as JPG/H.264 - photos also transferred to Win10/Win11.

Both MOV files played in Irfanview using the above default installed
settings.
Both Live Photo files played in IrfanView using the above default
installed settings.


i.e. Contrary to the op's comment.
=> Irfanview 32-bit does not force QuickTime(when QT is not present).
=> Playing MOV files did not fail because QT was not present.
=> Viewing Live Photo files did not fail because QT(or any other
related) was not present.
=> Irfanview does not fall back to DirectShow b/c QuickTime is not
present - it is the default pre-enabled setting.


The only practical/logical possibility for the op's experience
- Irfanview's settings(before or after the QT dll(or its app) was uninstalled or deleted) for QT was previously enabled.
Thus the only configuration that should have been required on
Win10/Win11 with an untampered o/s to play MOV files or view Live
Photos was Irfanview's 32 bit default setting(Direct Show).


The op's analysis appears to be faulty for MOV files(*.MOV) and Live Photos(JPG/H.264) when created using Apple's common 'Most Compatible' setting/feature on an iPhone(and iPad).

Why does it work? I know<g>
Maybe the op can figure out(why), too!
--
...w-i|#-o-#-n|#
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

...wi+o#n+ <winstonmvp@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]

Install of Irfanview on Win10/Win11 does not enable QuickTime or force
use of 'old' Quicktime.
- Default Video Sound Settings(all auto-enabled/pre-checked as default
on first use)
1. Use internal video/sound player(recommended; Use DirectShow for playing
2. Play MP3/OGG/RA files in main window(using Direct Show option)
3. Try to play Flash video(FLV files in main windows(using Direct Show option)
4. Neither of the two QuickTime options were enabled(i.e. unchecked)
Use Quick Times ror Mov/3GP/MP$FLI/FLC; Use Quick Time for QTIF, MAC
PICT files.

Those are indeed the defaults. I have the same on my rather fresh installation of IrfanView 4.72. (I never play videos in IrfanView, so I
did not even look at these Properties/Settings.)

- 2 separate videos created on iPhone 16 using 'Most Compatible setting)
- not High Efficiency(HEIF/HEVC). Both created as *.MOV files. *.MOV
files transferred to both Win10/Win11 using 3 different routes(Upload to OneDrive/sync down to Windows, copied from trusted iPhone to Windows via File Explorer, and emailed from iPhone to POP3 email in Thunderbird)
- 2 separate Live Photos created on iPhone(when using Most Compatible) - Note, these save as JPG/H.264 - photos also transferred to Win10/Win11.

Both MOV files played in Irfanview using the above default installed settings.
Both Live Photo files played in IrfanView using the above default
installed settings.

i.e. Contrary to the op's comment.
=> Irfanview 32-bit does not force QuickTime(when QT is not present).
=> Playing MOV files did not fail because QT was not present.
=> Viewing Live Photo files did not fail because QT(or any other
related) was not present.
=> Irfanview does not fall back to DirectShow b/c QuickTime is not
present - it is the default pre-enabled setting.

The only practical/logical possibility for the op's experience
- Irfanview's settings(before or after the QT dll(or its app) was uninstalled or deleted) for QT was previously enabled.
Thus the only configuration that should have been required on
Win10/Win11 with an untampered o/s to play MOV files or view Live
Photos was Irfanview's 32 bit default setting(Direct Show).

The op's analysis appears to be faulty for MOV files(*.MOV) and Live Photos(JPG/H.264) when created using Apple's common 'Most Compatible' setting/feature on an iPhone(and iPad).

Why does it work? I know<g>
Maybe the op can figure out(why), too!

--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

Frank Slootweg wrote:

iTunes(no Quicktime)
Why does it work? I know<g>
Maybe the op can figure out(why), too!

Those are indeed the defaults.

Thanks Winston & Frank for reporting what your observations are, so that everyone on the team (Windows, iOS and digital photos group) benefits.

For the sake of those who don't know, iTunes is an Apple product.
It's not natively installed on Windows. The user usually installs it.

Once iTunes is installed, the system is no longer "indeed the defaults".
a. Apple iTunes is not "just a music player."
b. Apple iTunes installs a huge Apple media subsystem on Windows.

Hence, it's impossible for anyone to say with certainty that the "defaults"
are what the settings happen to be at any given moment *after* iTunes has
been installed, for example, even without QuickTime, iTunes installs a
large
portion of Apple's media framework on Windows such as ...
a. Apple Application Support (32-bit, 64-bit)
i. CoreFoundation.dll
ii. CoreGraphics.dll
iii. CoreMedia.dll
iv. CoreAudioToolbox.dll
v. ImageIO.dll
vi. Apple-specific proprietary MOV/MP4 parsing libraries
b. Apple Mobile Device Support
i. Libraries for reading iPhone/iPad media bundles
ii. Components for handling Live Photos and HEIF/HEVC assets
iii. Apple File Conduit (AFC) services
c. Apple QuickTime compatibility shims
i. Not the old QuickTime player
ii. But compatibility layers that mimic parts of the old API
iii. These can change how Windows selects decoders
d. Apple HEIF/HEVC support modules (varies by iTunes version)
i. HEIF parsing libraries
ii. HEVC decoding helpers
iii. Sidecar metadata handlers
e. Apple Photo Stream and iCloud hooks (optional)
i. Additional media handlers
ii. Additional codecs for HEIC/HEVC
And probably a few things that I omitted in this quick response.

In short: iTunes is effectively a codec pack. It installs Apple's media
stack, which can change how Windows and DirectShow handle MOV files,
Live Photos, and HEVC/H.264 content.

This means Winston's test environment was not a "clean" Windows install.
It was a Windows system with Apple's media framework already present,
which might explain why his IrfanView behaved differently from mine did.

These Apple-specific iTunes components certainly absolutely can affect:
A. how Windows handles MOV containers
B. how DirectShow filters are chosen
C. how IrfanView sees available decoders
D. how HEVC/H.264 fallback works
E. how Live Photo bundles are parsed

Even so, I thank Winston, who is not rebutting the technical explanation,
but only refraiming the situation so he can postulate my Irfanview settings were wrong, which they were, so Winston is correct on my ini settings.

I admit it openly and publicly that my Irfanview settings were wrong.

But I do wish to momentarily point out Winston's theatrical performance was duly noted, so I simply refer to his comments as... well... unhelpful.
a. "Contrary to the op's comment..."
b. "The only practical/logical possibility..."
c. "The op's analysis appears to be faulty..."
d. "Maybe the op can figure out why too!"
That's not technical discussion.
That's dominance signaling (with a mock riddle appended for effect).

The fact is Winston simply tested a different configuration than I did.
And, in fact, Winston's setup included Apple iTunes, whereas mine did not.

Winston's unhelpful theatrical performance that he knows the "secret" and
that I don't notwithstanding, I'm not trying to "win" silly games here.

The fact remains that all of us have set up our Windows machines for years,
and in some cases (as in mine, since 2009) when Quicktime was a thing.

Even as almost nobody's system is 'clean' (since all our systems are "different"), I thank both Winston & Frank for their description of their non-default setups (which depend on a host of factors, not just one).

My system was set up in 2009, and I've had Irfanview on it from the start.
So we're each discussion three differently set up Windows systems here.

All of us have had Windows setups that evolved over many years,
where IrfanView preserves its settings across upgrades. In my case,
IrfanView 32-bit had the QuickTime option enabled even as QuickTime has
long been removed from my system (which also had iTunes years ago).

Since QuickTime is long gone from my system, IrfanView attempted to load QUICKTIME.DLL and failed immediately. Because of that, IrfanView never
fell back to DirectShow or LAV Filters. That's the problem I encountered.

Once I disabled the QuickTime option, IrfanView used DirectShow as
intended, and the MOV files played normally.

Leaving the theater to get back into the "technical room" behind the stage,
my experience reporrted in this intentionally helpful PSA observed that...

1. MOV thumbnails from my iPad Live Photos did not appear in Explorer.
Installing Icaros fixed that and preserved privacy.
2. IrfanView 32-bit failed to play the MOV files because it was trying
to use QuickTime first.
3. Disabling QuickTime in IrfanView fixed the playback issue.
4. Installing LAV Filters ensured that DirectShow could decode HEVC,
which is used by many iPhone/iPad devices.

Regarding the iOS side of things:

1. Normal videos obey the "Formats" setting in iOS:
a. High Efficiency -> HEVC video + HEIF photos
b. Most Compatible -> H.264 video + JPEG photos
2. Live Photos are different. A Live Photo is a bundle containing:
a. a JPEG or HEIF still image
b. a short video clip (the motion part)

The "Most Compatible" setting does not always apply to the motion clip. Depending on the device and iOS version, the motion clip may still be
encoded as HEVC inside a MOV container. My iPad (10th generation)
produces HEVC motion clips even when "Most Compatible" is selected.

So the behavior Winston observed on his hardware is valid for his
system, and the behavior I observed on mine is valid for mine. Both can
be true at the same time because the configurations and devices differ.

What we all want to do is remain helpfully constructive, as this PSA was intended to provide information for those who are connecting their iOS
device to their Windows device, without the iTunes layer installed.

It weas my mistake to not state the omission of iTunes on my system.
It was assumed NOT to be there.

If iTunes is already installed, then I didn't test that situation.
Winston did. (And maybe Frank did too, but he didn't mention iTunes).

In summary, the experiences from all three of us add to the technical
tribal knowledge of this newsgroup, and for that, I'm thankful to all.
--
Usenet is old friends with different opinions discussing difficult issues.


































--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/21/2026 9:27 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Frank Slootweg wrote:

-aiTunes(no Quicktime)
Why does it work?-a I know<g>
-a Maybe the op can figure out(why), too!

-a Those are indeed the defaults.

Thanks Winston & Frank for reporting what your observations are, so that everyone on the team (Windows, iOS and digital photos group) benefits.

For the sake of those who don't know, iTunes is an Apple product.
It's not natively installed on Windows. The user usually installs it.

Once iTunes is installed, the system is no longer "indeed the defaults".
a. Apple iTunes is not "just a music player."
b. Apple iTunes installs a huge Apple media subsystem on Windows.

Hence, it's impossible for anyone to say with certainty that the "defaults" are what the settings happen to be at any given moment *after* iTunes has been installed, for example, even without QuickTime, iTunes installs a
large
portion of Apple's media framework on Windows such as ... a. Apple Application Support (32-bit, 64-bit)
-a-a i. CoreFoundation.dll
-a-a ii. CoreGraphics.dll
-a-a iii. CoreMedia.dll
-a-a iv. CoreAudioToolbox.dll
-a-a v. ImageIO.dll
-a-a vi. Apple-specific proprietary MOV/MP4 parsing libraries
b. Apple Mobile Device Support
-a-a i. Libraries for reading iPhone/iPad media bundles
-a-a ii. Components for handling Live Photos and HEIF/HEVC assets
-a-a iii. Apple File Conduit (AFC) services
c. Apple QuickTime compatibility shims
-a-a i. Not the old QuickTime player
-a-a ii. But compatibility layers that mimic parts of the old API
-a-a iii. These can change how Windows selects decoders
d. Apple HEIF/HEVC support modules (varies by iTunes version)
-a-a i. HEIF parsing libraries
-a-a ii. HEVC decoding helpers
-a-a iii. Sidecar metadata handlers
e. Apple Photo Stream and iCloud hooks (optional)
-a-a i. Additional media handlers
-a-a ii. Additional codecs for HEIC/HEVC
And probably a few things that I omitted in this quick response.

In short: iTunes is effectively a codec pack. It installs Apple's media stack, which can change how Windows and DirectShow handle MOV files,
Live Photos, and HEVC/H.264 content.

Clueless, again.
Installing iTunes does not change Windows and Direct Show handling of
MOV and Live Photo files. Nor does it's presence enable Windows or
Irfanview to play MOV and Live Photo files.

This means Winston's test environment was not a "clean" Windows install.
It was a Windows system with Apple's media framework already present,
which might explain why his IrfanView behaved differently from mine did.

Incorrect again. The presence of iTunes installation does not impact how Irfanview behaves on my, your or anyone's device with respect to Windows
and Irfaniew default and untampered settings. Nor would the results
change if iTunes was not installed(Win10/11 untampered by the end user
and Irfanview with its default video settings will play MOV and Live
Photo files 'and' without the need to install a 3rd party codec.)

Maybe you'll figure out it out eventually, but until then you're just
grasping for straws on how Windows and Irfanview plays MOV and Live
Photo files(without a need for additional codecs.

But I do wish to momentarily point out Winston's theatrical performance was duly noted, so I simply refer to his comments as... well... unhelpful.

Winston's unhelpful theatrical performance that he knows the "secret" and that I don't notwithstanding, I'm not trying to "win" silly games here.

As noted above, the reason(someone with your claimed experience and troubleshooting should be capable of understanding) why an untampered
Windows 10/11 install with or without iTunes presence and Irfanview 4.72
or 4.73(latest release) default install settings works/plays MOV and
Live Photo files.
--
...w-i|#-o-#-n|#
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

It's clear to all that Winston is not posting to help anyone but to play
silly theatrical games, where the tell is the way he presents his "help".

Clueless,
Maybe you'll figure out it out eventually
you're just grasping for straws
(someone with your claimed experience and
troubleshooting should be capable of understanding)

If Winston would just stop it with the mock theatrics, and say what the technical issues are, then this group would benefit from his knowledge.

With that openly & honestly publicly stated, let's get off the stage and
back into the area where the key grips discuss actual technical details.

For the benefit of others following along, especially those with Apple products, let's clarify specific technical points about iTunes on Windows.

Installing iTunes does not install the old QuickTime Player, but it does install a substantial portion of Apple's media framework. This includes
Apple Application Support (32-bit and 64-bit), Apple Mobile Device
Support, CoreMedia components, ImageIO, and Apple-specific MOV/MP4
parsers. These components are not part of a stock Windows installation.

These libraries do not replace DirectShow, but they do participate in
how Windows handles MOV containers, HEVC/H.264 fallback, Live Photo
paired assets, and metadata extraction. Their presence can influence how applications choose decoders or parse certain Apple-originated media
files.

My system did not have iTunes or any Apple media components installed,
and IrfanView had the QuickTime option enabled from an older
configuration. Because QUICKTIME.DLL was no longer present, IrfanView
failed immediately instead of falling back to DirectShow. Disabling the QuickTime option resolved the issue.

None of Winston's theatrical performances refute those basic facts.
Hence his "iTunes changes nothing" is simply not technically accurate.

If Winston wants to create his own set of rules for his silly riddles,
(where the tell is he's hiding his punch line repeatedly), then all that
really tells us is he's playing unhelpful rather tiring games with us.

Winston's repeated riddles are a waste of our valuable time.
Which can better be spent actually helping people instead.

The difference in behavior between Winston's system and mine can easily be explained by differences in configuration and installed components.

It's important to note that I openly and honestly publicly agree that both
sets of observations can be valid for the systems on which they occurred.
--
Posting this clarification for others who may encounter similar issues.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/21/2026 11:51 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:
Blah blah snipped

--
Posting this clarification for others who may encounter similar issues.

It's really simple, one only needs Window 10/11 in an untampered install
and Irfanview with default settings and no other software to play
iPhone/iPad 'Most compatible' created MOV and Live Photo Files.

Hint: It's not Irfanview why it works.
--
...w-i|#-o-#-n|#
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

...wi+o#n+ wrote:

It's really simple, one only needs Window 10/11 in an untampered install
and Irfanview with default settings and no other software to play iPhone/iPad 'Most compatible' created MOV and Live Photo Files.

Hint: It's not Irfanview why it works.

Thanks Winston. For the benefit of others following along in the Windows,
iOS, and digital photography groups, I want to summarize the situation
without getting pulled into personalities.

There is no "riddle" here. The difference in behavior between your system
and mine comes down to configuration history.

IrfanView preserves its settings across upgrades. On my system, the
QuickTime option had been enabled years ago when QuickTime for Windows
was still common. Once that option is enabled, IrfanView will continue
to try to load QUICKTIME.DLL even if the DLL is no longer present. That
is exactly what happened: IrfanView attempted to load QuickTime first,
failed immediately, and never fell back to DirectShow.

Disabling the QuickTime option resolved the issue instantly.

Your system did not have that option enabled, so IrfanView used
DirectShow from the start. That explains the difference in behavior.

Regarding iTunes: installing iTunes does not install the old QuickTime
Player, but it does install Apple Application Support (32-bit and
64-bit), Apple Mobile Device Support, CoreMedia components, ImageIO, and
other Apple-originated media libraries. These do not replace DirectShow,
but they do participate in how Windows parses MOV containers, Live Photo
paired assets, and certain HEVC/H.264 combinations. Their presence means
your system is not identical to a stock Windows installation.

None of this is controversial. It simply explains why two different
systems, with different histories and different installed components,
behaved differently.

For others reading along, the practical takeaway is straightforward:

1. If IrfanView is set to use QuickTime and QUICKTIME.DLL is missing,
MOV playback will fail immediately.

2. Disabling the QuickTime option forces IrfanView to use DirectShow.

3. DirectShow requires appropriate decoders (LAV Filters or equivalent)
to handle HEVC/H.264 inside MOV containers, including those produced
by Live Photos.

4. Live Photos do not always obey the "Most Compatible" setting. The
still image may be JPEG, but the motion clip may still be HEVC inside
a MOV container depending on device and iOS version.

Posting this summary for the benefit of others who may encounter the
same issue on systems with older IrfanView configurations or without
Apple media components installed.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

On 2/21/2026 12:02 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

...wN+++o#nN++ wrote:

It's really simple, one only needs Window 10/11 in an untampered
install and Irfanview with default settings and no other software to
play iPhone/iPad 'Most compatible' created MOV and Live Photo Files.

Hint: It's not Irfanview why it works.

Thanks Winston. For the benefit of others following along in the Windows, iOS, and digital photography groups, I want to summarize the situation without getting pulled into personalities.

There is no "riddle" here. The difference in behavior between your system
and mine comes down to configuration history.

IrfanView preserves its settings across upgrades. On my system, the
QuickTime option had been enabled years ago when QuickTime for Windows
was still common. Once that option is enabled, IrfanView will continue
to try to load QUICKTIME.DLL even if the DLL is no longer present. That
is exactly what happened: IrfanView attempted to load QuickTime first,
failed immediately, and never fell back to DirectShow.

Disabling the QuickTime option resolved the issue instantly.

Your system did not have that option enabled, so IrfanView used
DirectShow from the start. That explains the difference in behavior.

Which indicates your whole problem with MOV and Live Photos is/was
user induced.

Regarding iTunes: installing iTunes does not install the old QuickTime Player, but it does install Apple Application Support (32-bit and
64-bit), Apple Mobile Device Support, CoreMedia components, ImageIO, and other Apple-originated media libraries. These do not replace DirectShow,
but they do participate in how Windows parses MOV containers, Live Photo paired assets, and certain HEVC/H.264 combinations. Their presence means
your system is not identical to a stock Windows installation.

Itunes presence or lack of is not significant. It's presence' changes
nothing relative to an untampered Win10/11 and Irfanview default install.

None of this is controversial. It simply explains why two different
systems, with different histories and different installed components,
behaved differently.

As noted earlier, it works for Most Compatible iPhone/iPad on MOV and
Live Photos straight out the box on Windows 10//11 with Irfanview
default settings.
- no other software and has since 2015 (Win10 oobe) with Irfanview
2015 era releases subsequent to Win10 RTM editions.

In fact, it(MOV and Live Photos) will also work on earlier o/s(Win 8x
and Win7) when Photo Gallery and its included Movie Maker(2012 Windows Essentials) was also installed.

Posting this summary for the benefit of others who may encounter the
same issue on systems with older IrfanView configurations or without
Apple media components installed.

If others encounter, the same on Wi10/11, the first rule of diagnosis
would be what did they change(uninstall, hack, tamper) in Window and
what did they change in Irfanview.
--
...w-i|#-o-#-n|#
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.photo.digital

...Winston wrote:

problem with MOV and Live Photos is/was user induced.

For the benefit of others following along, I want to not get dragged into a completely irrelevant personality contest in order to keep this PSA focused
on the technical side so readers can understand why two systems behaved differently given this PSA is about how to fix Windows explorer being blind
to iPad sidecar MOV thumbnails.

The fundamental point of this PSA is to solve this compatibility issue.
"Windows Explorer cannot generate thumbnails for iPad Live Photo
sidecar .mov files without HEVC support."

For context, the original issue had nothing to do with IrfanView at all.

It began with Windows Explorer being unable to display thumbnails for the
.MOV sidecar files created by iPad Live Photos. The still image is a JPG
(or HEIF), but the motion clip is a short .MOV file that is usually
encoded in HEVC (H.265). Windows 10 cannot extract a thumbnail from an HEVC-encoded MOV unless the system has a working HEVC decoder. Without
that decoder, Explorer shows only blank icons even though players like
MPC-BE can still play the file using their own internal codecs.

The fix was simply to install a modern thumbnail provider (Icaros, included
in the K-Lite Codec Pack), which registers a 32-bit HEVC-capable handler so Explorer can finally decode a frame and display thumbnails for the MOV
sidecar files. This was and is the main focus of this helpful PSA.

Irfanview only came up as an offshoot to this PSA, which was a secondary
issue of playing the MOV files that are now thumbnailed by Icaros freeware.

Every setup can be different, where, in my case the QuickTime option in IrfanView had been enabled years ago when QuickTime for Windows was still common. IrfanView preserves its settings across upgrades, so once that
option is enabled it will keep trying to load QUICKTIME.DLL even if the DLL
is no longer present. That is what caused the failure on my system.

As I said many times, so there is no logical reason to dispute it:
Disabling the QuickTime option resolved the issue immediately.

That is not controversial and not unusual. It's not a riddle.
Many Windows systems have a long configuration history, and IrfanView does
not reset those settings automatically.

Winston's system did not have that option enabled, so IrfanView used
DirectShow from the start. That likely explains why his results were
different. Again, this is not a 'riddle'. It's expected behavior.

Regarding iTunes, I am not claiming that iTunes replaces DirectShow or
that it is required for playback. The point is simply that iTunes
installs Apple Application Support, Apple Mobile Device Support,
CoreMedia components, ImageIO, and other Apple-originated libraries.

These are not part of a stock Windows installation.
They're just not.

Their presence means Winston's system is not identical to a bare Windows
10/11 environment, and that difference is worth noting for readers who may
be testing on systems without any of those Apple components installed.

None of this is about blame. It is simply a matter of configuration
history. Two systems with different histories and different installed components behaved differently, and both sets of observations are valid
for the systems on which they occurred.
--
Posting this clarification for others who may encounter similar behavior
on systems where IrfanView was configured years ago or where QuickTime
had once been installed.
--- Synchronet 3.21b-Linux NewsLink 1.2