Re: question for hive-mind viz. Apple error message on valid epub

Hi Matt & Laurent,

Thanks for chiming in.

EPUB3.x spec  recommends <https://www.w3.org/TR/epub-rs-33/> both standards within the embed video protocol to cover the bases and has done for quite a while. The fact is, I already have a book in the wild  <https://books.apple.com/ca/book/the-honeyed-tale/id1166255068> (free for download) that holds both video containers. Hence my confusion here. Unless Apple have radically changed their requirements… which is, of course, possible.

We are dealing with a distributor, so can’t really put out 2 separate books (one that caters to Apple alone). Apple deems the video container inadmissible for readers. The .webm video plays fine in Safari on desktop.

Ruth

> On Dec 19, 2024, at 10:57 AM, <matt.garrish@gmail.com> <matt.garrish@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > An MP4 container can include H.264 or H.265 encoded content (these are the codecs).  A WebM container can include VP8 or VP9 encoded content. 
>  
> Right, I was relating this back to the question of why webm was rejected but not mp4. The spec currently only makes reference to supporting one of h.264 or vp8, but it’s not required.
>  
> Reading system support for codecs doesn’t have to be tied to a video core media type, though. I was only asking if we should require support for codecs in reading systems so publishers can be assured that videos will play. If we keep the video and source elements exempt from fallbacks (i.e., don’t make a video core media type), then there wouldn’t need to be any corresponding change in epubcheck.
>  
> Matt
>  
> From: Laurent Le Meur <laurent.lemeur@edrlab.org> 
> Sent: December 19, 2024 10:06 AM
> To: Matt Garrish <matt.garrish@gmail.com>; public-epub3@w3.org; W3C Publishing Community Group <public-publishingcg@w3.org>; public-pm-wg@w3.org
> Cc: artbyrt@gmail.com
> Subject: Re: question for hive-mind viz. Apple error message on valid epub
>  
> Just a comment, Matt, you're talking about "codecs" but listing container formats like MP4 or WebM. 
> An MP4 container can include H.264 or H.265 encoded content (these are the codecs).  A WebM container can include VP8 or VP9 encoded content. 
> Apple seems to refuse MP4 with H.265 encoded content. 
>  
> I believe that EPUBCheck isn't the place to verify audio and video container formats or codecs. Knowing that warnings are a showstopper for many publishers, it would stop optimization in the book publishing world. 
>  
> Best regards
> Laurent
> 
> 
>> Le 19 déc. 2024 à 15:43, <matt.garrish@gmail.com <mailto:matt.garrish@gmail.com>> <matt.garrish@gmail.com <mailto:matt.garrish@gmail.com>> a écrit :
>>  
>> > that has passed validation through epubcheck but is being rejected by Apple
>>  
>> Just to address this part, video codec support is not a requirement in epub 3. You can add any video type you want, but there’s no guarantee a reading system will play it back. Apple has always supported mp4, so that would be why they have different acceptance rules from a general epubcheck validation.
>>  
>> Maybe in the upcoming epub revision we should take another look at this issue and see if we can break the stalemate and at least get one supported codec? I don’t know where webm support is at, but isn’t mp4 pretty broadly supported now?
>>  
>> Matt
>>  
>> From: kerscher@montana.com <mailto:kerscher@montana.com> <kerscher@montana.com <mailto:kerscher@montana.com>> 
>> Sent: December 19, 2024 2:18 AM
>> To: 'Ruth Tait' <artbyrt@gmail.com <mailto:artbyrt@gmail.com>>; public-epub3@w3.org <mailto:public-epub3@w3.org>
>> Subject: RE: question for hive-mind viz. Apple error message on valid epub
>>  
>> Hi,
>>  
>> Might it be the webm files? They may have changed what they accept, because you say you submitted them in the past. Was the size of the video a problem? Large video files have been known to cause rejections.
>>  
>> Let us know how the problem is resolved.
>>  
>> Best
>> George
>>  
>>  
>> From: Ruth Tait <artbyrt@gmail.com <mailto:artbyrt@gmail.com>> 
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 5:28 PM
>> To: public-epub3@w3.org <mailto:public-epub3@w3.org>
>> Subject: question for hive-mind viz. Apple error message on valid epub
>>  
>> Hello epub 3 experts,
>>  
>> Our small publishing group is attempting to upload to a distribution org an epub that has passed validation through epubcheck but is being rejected by Apple with this message:
>>  
>>> "The provided file has failed validation at Apple. As a result, Apple cannot process any metadata/content updates or activate this content for sale without action on your part. Please validate the ePub and correct any errors or issues detailed below:
>>>  
>>> ERROR ITMS-9000: The video file(s) in the book must be H.264 and end with a .MP4 or .M4V file extension. More information about video encoding can be found in the Apple Books Asset Guide in the Deliver Your Content module on iTunes Connect. Unsupported file found : video/unapologetically-jackie-h264-360p-2398-stereo-121222-vs6ntw.webm"
>>>  
>> The videos provided within the book are .mp4 and .webm formats. I have previously submitted to Apple similar books with embedded video without an issue. Searching for more information on the FLAG ERROR ITMS-9000 doesn’t give me any more enlightenment to the problem.
>>  
>> Anyone have an idea what could be the issue?
>>  
>>  
>> ruth tait
>> https://www.artbyrt.com <https://www.artbyrt.com/>
>> O: 613 604 2781