In this blog article, we will discuss what QuickTime is and provide other relevant information about it. Let’s get started.

Title - What is QuickTime?

What is QuickTime?

QuickTime is a multimedia architecture developed by Apple. It supports various functions such as playing, streaming, encoding and transcoding digital media, including video, audio and images. It also includes QuickTime Player, a built-in media player application for macOS, which was previously available for Windows as well.

QuickTime was introduced in 1991, at a time when playing digital videos directly on a computer was groundbreaking.

QuickTime had some impressive capabilities. It supported advanced media types, like panoramic images through QuickTime VR, and even Adobe Flash content. Plus, you could expand its functionality by adding new codecs through plug-ins, like Perian.

QuickTime played a significant role in the history of multimedia. During the 1990s, it became a standard in the industry, extensively used in websites, applications, video games, and professional filmmaking. It contributed to innovations, being instrumental in creating iconic video games like Myst and Xplora1, and served as the exclusive platform for distributing movie trailers, including Star Wars. Moreover, the QuickTime File Format (MOV) laid the groundwork for the MPEG-4 standard, which remains a key format in use today.

What Happened to QuickTime?

Over time, QuickTime’s relevance decreased:

  • Operating systems and browsers started natively supporting standards like MPEG-4 and H.264, reducing the need for QuickTime’s cross-platform capabilities.
  • Apple discontinued QuickTime for Windows in 2016, citing reduced demand and security issues.

QuickTime Evolution on macOS

  • With Mac OS X Snow Leopard (2009), Apple:
    • Replaced QuickTime 7 with QuickTime Player X, which:
      • Used the newer AVFoundation framework instead of the older QuickTime framework.
      • Dropped support for plug-ins and advanced editing (only basic trimming remained).
  • By macOS Catalina (2019), support for all 32-bit apps (including QuickTime 7 and QTKit) was removed.

QuickTime on macOS and Windows

  • For macOS: QuickTime is bundled with the operating system, meaning it comes pre-installed.
  • For Windows: QuickTime was available as a standalone download and was also included with Apple’s iTunes (up until iTunes version 10.5).
    • Support Discontinued: Apple no longer updates QuickTime for Windows, so any security vulnerabilities (like hacks) won’t be fixed.
    • Security Risks: When Apple stopped supporting the Windows version, two serious vulnerabilities were found by Trend Micro. These vulnerabilities could allow hackers to run harmful programs. Trend Micro advised Windows users to uninstall QuickTime to avoid risks.

QuickTime SDK (Software Development Kit)

  • Developers can access the QuickTime SDK to build applications using the QuickTime framework. However, an Apple Developer Connection (ADC) subscription is required to access the SDK.

QuickTime Features

  • Free on macOS: QuickTime Player is free to use on macOS.
  • Other Applications Using QuickTime: Some media players and apps rely on the QuickTime framework for extra features. For example:
    • iTunes: Can export audio in multiple formats like WAV, AIFF, MP3, AAC, and Apple Lossless.
  • Full-Screen Playback:
    • Older versions of QuickTime required a Pro license for full-screen playback.
    • Since QuickTime 7.2, full-screen mode has been available in the free version.
    • macOS users can also create simple scripts (using AppleScript) to play videos in full-screen mode.

QuickTime Supported File Types

The framework supports the following file types and codecs

Audio

Video

Image

QuickTime Player 7 and QuickTime Pro

  • Basic vs. Pro Features:

    • The Basic Version of QuickTime Player 7 was limited to simple playback functions, such as watching videos.
    • To access advanced features, users needed to purchase a QuickTime Pro license key from Apple.
    • Apple’s professional software, like Final Cut Studio and Logic Studio, used to include the Pro license at no additional cost.

  • Pro Keys and Compatibility:

    • A Pro license key was specific to the major version of QuickTime it was purchased for, such as QuickTime 7.
    • No additional software installation was required—entering the key instantly unlocked the Pro features.

  • End of Pro Sales:

    • In mid-2016, Apple discontinued the sale of QuickTime Pro registration keys. However, QuickTime 7 is still available for download.

Features of QuickTime Pro

The Pro version unlocked several advanced features, including:

Editing Features:

  • The ability to cut, copy, and paste video clips.
  • Merging separate audio and video tracks.
  • Arranging video on a virtual canvas, with options to crop or rotate footage.

Exporting Videos:

  • QuickTime Pro allowed users to save or export videos using any codec supported by the software.
  • Presets were available for exporting to devices like iPod, Apple TV, and iPhone.

Saving Web Videos:

  • Pro users could save videos embedded in web browsers directly to their hard drives.
  • Two options were available for saving:
    • Save as source: Downloads the video in its original format (not limited to .MOV).
    • Save as QuickTime movie: Converts the video into a .MOV format, regardless of its original format.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you will understand what QuickTime is, what QuickTime Player is, the supported file formats, a brief history, and when it was discontinued. Hopefully, this article has expanded your knowledge and answered any questions you may have about QuickTime. Keep reading and stay connected.