Video summary
The video transcript presents a rant by the creator regarding Apple's restrictive policies on iOS devices, specifically focusing on their inability to download audio and video files directly from web links. The narrator recounts an ongoing issue with a friend who has used an iPhone for years; despite being offered direct links to media files, the friend is unable to save them to his device. The speaker argues that this limitation forces users to jump through unnecessary hoops compared to other operating systems like Microsoft DOS or modern desktop computers, where downloading any file type via a simple right-click action is standard functionality. He contends that Apple intentionally adds these barriers to control user behavior and limit what files can be stored locally, effectively making the iPhone less useful for basic file management tasks than older, more open systems.
The central argument of the rant is that Apple's ecosystem prioritizes control over convenience, creating a frustrating experience for users who simply want to save content they have streamed or received via link. The narrator illustrates this by describing how he attempts to share wedding videos with his friend using a secure Nextcloud server; while streaming works on the iPhone, the download button either fails or is inaccessible depending on the file format and compression used. He emphasizes that even when alternative methods like uploading to YouTube are suggested, they result in quality loss due to re-compression and still do not guarantee the ability to download the file if the user remains on an iPhone. The speaker insists that these restrictions are not necessary for security, as modern media players handle vulnerabilities quickly, but rather serve as a mechanism to enforce Apple's walled garden and prevent users from bypassing their approved services.
Ultimately, the video concludes with a strong assertion that choosing an iPhone means voluntarily accepting a system designed to limit user freedom and complicate everyday tasks. The narrator expresses frustration that explaining these facts often leads to defensiveness from his friend, who feels accused despite the issues being inherent to the device's software limitations rather than personal fault. He challenges viewers to consider whether they agree that Apple's approach of blocking direct downloads from web servers is ridiculous and counterproductive, arguing that it adds extra steps to simple actions without providing a commensurate security benefit. The piece ends by inviting audience feedback on whether this restriction is a valid security measure or an unjustified attempt at control, reinforcing the creator's stance that Apple's choices make life harder for its users.
Read the full video transcript
Okay, it's rant time. Don't you love
when I rant? I I like doing rant videos.
Um so
don't you hate when just presenting
facts to people upset them? Uh
>> [laughter]
>> and so
this is this is an ongoing thing.
I have a friend uh that I've known for
25 years. He's a friend of mine from
high school
uh and we see each other, you know, once
every year or so because he lives in
another state now.
And 2 years ago
I sent him a link to a video, some home
video. I don't remember what it was, but
something of ours. And he goes, "Oh,
that's great. Can you send me a way to
download that?" And I said, "Oh, yeah,
yeah, there's a download button right
there on the link I sent you. You can
just download it." He's like, "I'm not
seeing it." I'm like, "Well, you just
scroll down and after a few minutes I
go, "Oh, are you on your iPhone?"
And this is uh someone who I've talked
to since the existence of iPhones that
you should avoid anything Apple. Uh and
of course you get the whole, "Oh, I
don't know much about computers, so I
need something simple." Yet they choose
the most complicated system out there. I
know Apple markets themselves as like a
simple user-friendly thing, but they
make you jump through so many hoops.
They make everything three times more
difficult at the very least to do than
it would be if you weren't using an
Apple device.
And this is a perfect example. I say,
"Oh, are are you on your iPhone?" Yes. I
go, "Oh, well, as I've told you before,
Apple is a very controlling and
restrictive company that just just wants
to control you and what you do." I go,
"And they do not, as far as I know that
unless it's changed, you cannot download
audio or video files to your iPhone
unless you go through an approved
service of them. So, if I give you a
direct link to a file on a web server,
you can't download it. An MP3 or an MP4
or any type of uh audio or video file as
far as I know. Uh and even though I
could give you a DOS computer connected
to the internet, you're able to download
any files you want. On iPhone, you're
unable to do that. So, an iPhone isn't
even as useful as a DOS system. Uh even
Microsoft DOS back in the day.
So, I explained this to him. I I and and
I'm just like I'm just like, "Hey,
you're on your iPhone. Again, as I've
told you, you're I Apple's trying to
control you. They're not going to let
you download this file. It's It's just a
simple file. There's nothing you can do.
There's no way for you to download this
file from my server cuz you're on your
iPhone.
This is one of the reasons
you should not be using Apple products.
And he got all defensive. I mean, I'm
just stating facts. They don't let you
do it.
You chose to use them, and they're not
going to let you do it on your own
device.
And the only way to change this is to
use a different device. And he he got
very very defensive. That was maybe 2 3
years ago.
Well, I recently went and visited him
again.
And just yesterday or 2 days ago, I get
a text message. He goes, "Oh, I meant to
ask you. Do you have a copy of my
wedding video?" Cuz I I filmed his
wedding cuz I used to do that. That's
what Film by Chris originally was was me
doing wedding videos. I go, "Oh, yeah.
I think I have a I I try to keep all the
weddings I've done. I keep DVD copies in
a safe. I go, "But I probably have a
copy of yours on my server."
So, I automatically think, "Okay, he's
still on the iPhone. So, I'll just send
him a link to it on Nextcloud, which has
a built-in player cuz at least he can
stream it." Cuz you can stream audio and
video with an iPhone.
But you can't download the file. I go,
"Do you want to download it or you just
want to He goes, "Either is good."
So,
for some I'm thinking, "Oh, it's just
going to be easier for me to upload it
to YouTube or something." I go, "But
this is like a personal video." And I
don't think he cares, but I'm trying to
I back in the day I would upload it, no
problem. Just put it on YouTube, mark it
as unlisted. But I'm trying to not put
his private stuff out there, even though
he may not consider it private.
So, I I I I put it on my Nextcloud
server. It was already on my Nextcloud
server. I create create a share file
link for him. I send it to him. I sent
him two files. One worked, and the other
one didn't. I don't know why. Maybe it's
just his connection. But it will you
know, loads it up in a player and
there's a download button.
Uh and he says it's not working.
So then I give him a direct link and I'm
thinking he should at least be able to
stream it.
It's just an MP4 file.
Although I guess there's different types
of compression and maybe iPhone's very
limited on on the compression options I
put in there. But it's an MP4 file.
I sent him a direct link to it.
He sends me a screenshot of like a play
button with a line through it. And I
said,
"Are you on your iPhone? If you are,
they may be limiting what you're allowed
to watch. Once again,
I
try it on a laptop or desktop. Let me
know if it works. If not, then I can
upload to YouTube or some other place
for you. Again, if I upload it to
YouTube,
theoretically, he could still download a
copy
unless he's on his iPhone cuz
on pretty much any other system,
Android, you know, and all other desktop
systems, any other system,
you're able to pull videos from those
platforms. Yeah, they don't want you to,
but you can. iPhone, as far as I know,
there's no option for that.
There might be some workaround for it.
But it's just one of these things it's
like
clearly clearly it's almost making me
look bad because I'm just trying to
share a simple file which is a simple
thing to do,
but I'm sitting here trying to think of
the best way to do it because of their
choices. And the simplest way is just
go,
"Here's the file.
Here's the file. Click on it. You can
watch it. Right click on it, say
download or save link as or whatever
your browser says, and you can save it."
But because of their bad choices that
I've advised them on for
almost two decades now, right? iPhone
came out in 2007, so it's been almost 20
years.
And and
it's just they they they don't listen
and it makes life harder for me. It's
making life harder for them.
It makes me look bad because I'm just
trying share a simple file
and I'm trying to share it in the
simplest way. Yeah, I could upload it to
YouTube, but again, it's going to be
recompressed, which is not the greatest
quality anyways because it was, you
know, standard format as before I had an
HD camera.
Um
It So, it's going to go there. It's
going to be on their servers. They're
going to have access to it, you know,
whatever, not the end of the world.
Um
To download, it's going to take an extra
step instead of just right clicking and
saying download on most systems unless
you have that set up already. It's just
ridiculous.
But, if I push the issue, he's going to
get defensive.
It's like
but everything I've said is just stating
facts and you're having issues with it.
So, let me know what you think. Uh do
you have an iPhone?
If
am I wrong? Am I wrong in saying that
you can't download audio and video files
if I send you a link, an HTML link or an
HTTP link straight to a video file like
an MP4 or even a AVI or an MKV or an
audio file like an an Ogg file or an MP3
file or even a wave or or flock fi-
flack file flock file flack file.
Um
Last I checked, you can stream those
files, but you can't download them from
a web server, which is just ridiculous.
It's literally literally
downloading files from a web server,
doesn't matter what type of file is. It
all works the same. It just copies that
file to your computer.
So, Apple literally had to go in and
create extra features and put in extra
work to say, "Don't let them download
this file. Don't let them download that
file. Don't let them download this
file." It's like extra work to put more
restrictions and less functionality into
their system
just to have control over you.
Do you disagree? Because I don't see it
any other way.
And and don't say it's a security thing.
The only way that an MP4 or an MP3 file
is going to have a security issue is if
your player has a flaw in it. And if
it's a known issue,
your player should be updated
to to avoid that. And things like that,
it's it's very rare and very quickly
fixed if you're using a decent player.
So, comment below. Let me know what you
think.
And as always, visit filmsbykris.com.
Chris with a K, link in the description.
Have a great day.