ApsaraVideo VOD:Release notes for ApsaraVideo Player SDK for iOS

V7.9.1 (2025-11-11)

Changed

• Upgraded the player network library for improved network transmission stability

V7.9.0 (2025-11-04)

Added

• URL authentication token refresh during playback

• setAutoBandWidth API to enable adaptive bitrate (ABR) at startup

• Ultra-low latency HDR video playback over the Real-Time Streaming (RTS) protocol

Improved

• MediaLoaderV2 preloading now supports network parameter configuration

V7.8.0 (2025-10-14)

Added

• Third-party digital rights management (DRM) encryption. For details, see Play encrypted videos.

• H.266 decoding plug-in support for HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video playback

Fixed

• Reduced playback errors caused by device write-caching issues

• Fixed stability issues

V7.7.0 (2025-09-08)

Added

• MediaLoader V2 with support for VOD preloading

• Network quality callback for RTS

• Maximum cache duration setting before playback begins in pre-rendering mode

Fixed

• Resolved potential stuttering, disconnection, and audio-video sync issues in extreme RTS scenarios. Requires RTS SDK V7.8.0 or later. For details, see Implement RTS-based stream pulling on iOS.

• Fixed stability issues

V7.6.0 (2025-08-08)

Added

• Callback for Professional Edition license validation results

• International environment configuration through Info.plist for overseas data compliance. For details, see Bind a license.

• H.266 decoding extension plug-in

• Parsing of WebVTT streams with CSS styling

• External Web Video Text Tracks (WebVTT) subtitle rendering

Improved

• Optimized license validation logic to reduce online verification errors

• Improved categorization of RTS playback errors for more precise diagnostics

Fixed

• Fixed stability issues

V7.5.0 (2025-07-07)

Improved

• Reduced latency and stuttering for RTS. Requires RTS SDK v7.4.0 or later. For details, see Implement RTS-based stream pulling on iOS.

• Enhanced diagnostic information for player network errors

Fixed

• Fixed stability issues

V7.4.0 (2025-06-06)

Improved

• Refined player error codes and improved error message clarity

Fixed

• Resolved an issue where secure downloads occasionally failed

• Optimized listplayer to reduce stuttering when pre-rendering is enabled

• Fixed stability issues

V7.3.2 (2025-04-30)

Added

• API to set the playback scenario

• Support for setting preloading and initial playback resolutions by passing a resolution (product)

• Hardware decoding fallback frame rate threshold configuration through globalsettings

Improved

• Optimized the frame-dropping strategy for audio-video desynchronization

• Refined categorization of player failure errors

Fixed

• Fixed stability issues

V7.2.0 (2025-04-01)

Added

• Callback for startup cache hit status

• Custom digital watermark parameters

• Automatic node-switching for slow network connections

Improved

• Reduced stuttering during player startup

Fixed

• Fixed audio issues in RTS at low sample rates

• Fixed stability issues

V7.1.0 (2025-03-03)

Added

• globalsettings option to control black bar removal from snapshots

Improved

• Improved ABR algorithm sensitivity in weak network conditions

Fixed

• Fixed stability issues

V7.0.0 (2025-02-14)

Changed

• ApsaraVideo Player SDK now offers Standard and Professional editions. For details, see Features. To use Professional features, ensure you have purchased and integrated the correct SDK version.

Fixed

• Fixed several known issues

V6.21.0 (2025-01-02)

Added

• License configuration for international environments to comply with regulations outside the Chinese mainland. For details, see Bind a license to an iOS application.

• getPlayedDuration API for obtaining real-time playback duration

Improved

• Further optimized the number of threads occupied by the player

V6.19.0 (2024-12-05)

Added

• Definition limit switching for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR)

• Video mirroring, rotation, and screen capture in Metal rendering

Improved

• Further optimized the number of threads occupied by the player

• Optimized Metal rendering

Fixed

• Fixed crashes that occurred in some cases, improving player stability

V6.18.0 (2024-11-14)

Added

• destroyAsync API to asynchronously destroy a player, improving the experience in multi-instance playback scenarios

Improved

• Optimized the number of threads occupied by the player

• Improved Picture-in-Picture (PiP) restore animation by removing redundant transitions

Changed

• Removed Bitcode

V6.17.0 (2024-10-14)

Added

• URL-based encryption of single-bitrate and multi-bitrate HLS streams using Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography

• Adaptive preloading when the H.265 adaptive streaming feature is enabled

• PiP support for apps

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V6.16.0 (2024-09-11)

Added

• H.264 secondary stream fallback when hardware decoding of H.265 streams fails. Without a configured secondary stream, soft decoding is used automatically.

• Quick definition switching through SelectTrack

• Non-explicit local cache paths

• Pre-rendering feature

Fixed

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V6.15.0 (2024-08-15)

Added

• Non-standard HLS protocol support with duration calculation rules. Playback of GZIP-compressed streams.

• DNS pre-resolution to reduce time to first frame

• Automatic RTS playback degradation to Flash Video (FLV) when ApsaraVideo Real-time Communication (ARTC)-based playback fails, without requiring a degradation URL

Fixed

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V6.14.0 (2024-07-05)

Fixed

• Fixed online crashes and improved player stability

V6.13.0 (2024-06-26)

Added

• Multi-bitrate HLS video preloading in the listPlayer method with multiple preloading modes. For details, see Preloading of multi-bitrate HLS videos.

• Rendering type configuration through AVPConfig

Fixed

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V6.12.0 (2024-05-14)

Added

• Enhanced HTTPDNS auto-enabled when playing audio and video files through accelerated domain names

• Backend decoding for software or hardware decoding while the player is in the background. For details, see Backend decoding.

• Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection pre-establishment before HTTP playback requests to reduce network loading time. For details, see Create TCP connections before playback requests are initiated over HTTP.

Improved

• Optimized RTS latency

• Optimized first frame loading

Fixed

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V6.11.0 (2024-04-10)

Added

• Privacy manifest file based on Apple's Privacy updates for App Store submissions. No configuration required when upgrading the player SDK.

• UUID return support in supplemental enhancement information (SEI) callbacks. If upgrading from an earlier version, configure compilation to use the new feature. Data semantics remain the same.

Fixed

• Fixed a local cache issue

• Optimized reconnection logic for live streaming

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V6.10.0 (2024-02-05)

Added

• H.265 support for SEI logic

• HTTPDNS priority configuration to specify priority levels between HTTPDNS and local DNS. For details, see HTTPDNS.

Fixed

• Fixed crashes in extreme cases, improving player stability

V6.9.0 (2024-01-08)

Added

• Transparent MP4 video playback, enabling MP4 videos with transparency as gift effects. For details, see Advanced features.

• Metal rendering support for background color, scaling mode, and PiP. For details, see Metal rendering.

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V6.8.0 (2023-12-08)

Added

• Audio track switching for single-bitrate mixed HLS streams. For details, see Switch audio tracks.

• Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography for URL-based MP4 files

Improved

• Optimized Wi-Fi to 4G reconnection for a better playback experience

V6.7.0 (2023-11-08)

Added

• Enhanced HTTPDNS with Alibaba Cloud CDN node scheduling policies for improved network performance and DNS hijacking prevention. For details, see HTTPDNS. To enable this feature, submit a ticket or contact your account manager.

• Seamless switching between live streams at different resolutions during playback. For details, see UrlSource-based live streaming.

Changed

• Updated the network library kernel version

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V6.5.0 (2023-08-30)

Added

• Video playback based on video IDs and playback credentials in the list player

Improved

• Improved onError with additional information in the extra field of ErrorInfo for easier troubleshooting

Fixed

• Fixed an issue where the system occasionally stalled when playback switched to the background

V6.4.0 (2023-08-03)

Added

• Dynamic preloading during list playback to reduce Alibaba Cloud CDN costs without compromising playback performance

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V6.3.0 (2023-07-04)

Changed

• Aligned the version number with ApsaraVideo MediaBox SDK

Added

• Left and right sound channel switching. For details, see Advanced features.

Fixed

• Fixed known issues and improved player stability

V5.5.5.1 (2023-05-25)

Fixed

• Fixed unexpected exits in extreme cases

V5.5.5.0 (2023-05-09)

Improved

• Optimized HTTPDNS domain name resolution with fallback to round-robin DNS or a local DNS server

• Optimized video download with VidAuth -- region specification no longer required

Fixed

• Fixed AliListPlayer getting stuck in extreme cases

V5.5.4.0 (2023-04-06)

Added

• H.266 video playback. To enable this feature, submit a ticket.

• Local cache authentication policy with scenario-specific configuration. For details, see Advanced features.

Changed

• Enabled RTS low latency mode by default for improved real-time streaming

Improved

• Optimized SDK package size to reduce application storage usage

Fixed

• Fixed HLS stream decoding errors, improving playback performance

• Fixed known issues and improved application performance

V5.5.3.0 (2023-03-03)

Added

• HTTP/3 support for improved media access speed under poor network conditions

• Non-standard SRT file parsing

V5.5.2.0 (2023-02-02)

Added

• Pre-rendering in AliListPlayer with support for multiple instances to enable smooth video switching

• RTS playback degradation for improved RTS usability

• Delegate settings for PiP on iOS 15 and later

Improved

• Optimized third-party library structure to reduce SDK package size

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V5.5.1.0 (2022-12-13)

Changed

• Updated the network library

Fixed

• Fixed crashes that occurred during seek operations under poor network conditions

V5.5.0.0 (2022-12-02)

Added

• Dolby Atmos audio playback. During VR playback, two audio channels play audio in four channels based on device status. To enable this feature, submit a request on Yida or contact Alibaba Cloud customer service.

Fixed

• Improved player stability

• Fixed known issues

V5.4.9.2 (2022-11-03)

Fixed

• Fixed an issue preventing SDK publication to the Apple App Store

• Fixed seek event callbacks not returning after video playback completion

Improved

• Reduced SDK package size

V5.4.9.1 (2022-09-30)

Added

• Local caching for multi-bitrate video streams

• Advanced ABR algorithm for multi-bitrate video stream playback. To enable this feature, submit a request on Yida or contact your Alibaba Cloud account manager.

Improved

• Reduced SDK package size

V5.4.9.0 (2022-09-06)

Added

• Dolby audio playback on Dolby-enabled devices

• PiP on iOS 15 for continued video playback in a floating window after switching to the background

• Video enhancement postprocessing module for higher-resolution playback from low-bitrate videos. For details, see Client-side super resolution. To enable this feature, submit a ticket or contact your Alibaba Cloud account manager.

Improved

• Reduced SDK package size

Fixed

• Fixed known issues

V5.4.8.0 (2022-08-02)

Added

• APIs for obtaining audio bitrate, video bitrate, and download speed

• WebVTT subtitle display in MPEG-DASH streams

V5.4.7.1 (2022-07-04)

Added

• License-based authorization management

Improved

• Enhanced local caching with HTTP-based cache expiry checks, optimized cache file structure, and improved stability

• Extended buffer duration using maxBufferDuration when local caching is enabled. Durations exceeding 50 seconds are saved to a local file to prevent excessive memory usage.

Fixed

• Fixed a cloud configuration issue where some fields failed to be obtained in certain scenarios

• Fixed an error returned when the seek position equaled the video duration in HLS

• Fixed an HTTP-range error during live streaming

V5.4.6.0 (2022-04-19)

Added

• Advanced ABR algorithm for live streaming and on-demand video playback over HLS and Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), with improved bitrate adaptability for Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS)

• Cloud configuration support

Changed

• Removed the SEI logic that automatically deleted duplicate information

Improved

• Optimized network disconnection handling for the list player

Fixed

• Fixed incorrect video aspect ratio during playback

• Fixed occasional startup failures in specific scenarios

• Improved player stability

V5.4.5.0 (2022-02-22)

Added

• HTTP/2 enabled by default

• HLS support in the list player (requires local caching)

• HTTPDNS support (manual enablement required)

• Video postprocessing

• License settings

• Video enhancement postprocessing module (requires a license)

• Video frame insertion postprocessing module (requires a license)

• Catalyst tool. To enable this feature, submit a request on Yida or contact Alibaba Cloud customer service.

Improved

• Reduced SDK package size

V5.4.4.1 (2022-01-17)

Added

• Multi-bitrate LL-HLS support

• Adaptive bitrate support during LL-HLS. The ABR algorithm will be continuously optimized.

Improved

• Optimized LL-HLS for higher stability

V5.4.4.0 (2021-12-27)

Added

• Up to 5x speed playback

• ASS subtitle display

• Playback of Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography-encrypted streams over Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) or HTTP Flash Video (HTTP-FLV)

• LL-HLS support

• Local caching

• Preloading

• HTTP/2 support

Improved

• Optimized multi-bitrate switching of HLS live streams

• Optimized DASH pseudo-live streaming

• Improved compatibility and stability

• Improved stop operation response speed

Fixed

• Fixed stuttering during rapid prepare and stop operations

V5.4.2.0 (2021-08-03)

Added

• Referer settings for the list player

• Video delay settings

• UTC time-based callbacks for HLS

• Video frame clearing

Changed

• Updated FFmpeg to 4.3.1

Improved

• Improved player stability

• Optimized Bluetooth audio playback

• Optimized 9.x decoding to prevent black screen errors

V5.4.1 (2021-06-07)

Added

• Playback statistics callback for audio and video playback

• View destruction during playback

Improved

• Optimized DASH compatibility

• Optimized multi-bitrate switching for live streams

• Optimized media information reporting

• Improved Wi-Fi to cellular network switching speed

• Improved foreground and background switching experience

V5.4.0 (2021-05-14)

Added

• DASH support

• Backward buffer

• Download speed retrieval

Improved

• Improved iOS compatibility

Changed

• Removed the OpenGL for Embedded Systems (OpenGL ES) dependency

V5.3.4 (2021-05-11)

Improved

• Optimized audio-video synchronization logic

• Optimized external subtitle display

• Improved stability

Fixed

• Fixed an error when playing Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography-encrypted streams in the background

V5.3.2 (2021-03-08)

Added

• Hybrid log-gamma (HLG) high dynamic range (HDR) video playback

• Rotation, mirroring, snapshots, and scaling mode changes for HDR video playback

• Multi-channel audio playback (more than two sound channels)

Improved

• Improved audio playback stability

• Optimized system player support

V5.3.0 (2021-01-19)

Added

• HLS format support

• Widevine support in the player core

• HDR10 video playback

Improved

• Improved stop operation response speed

• Optimized default resolution selection for VID-based playback

• Improved playback progress precision

• Improved external subtitle support

Changed

• Removed the Conan dependency

V5.2.3 (2021-01-07)

Added

• Audio extraction

Improved

• Optimized download logic

• Improved MP4 and HLS format compatibility

Fixed

• Fixed noise when switching videos during list playback

V5.2.2 (2020-11-17)

Improved

• Improved compatibility with videos of varying frame rates

• Improved MP4 file compatibility

• Optimized list playback

• Optimized volume and mute mode logic

• Improved stop operation response speed

Fixed

• Fixed frame loss when resuming playback at an adjusted speed

V5.2.1 (2020-09-30)

Added

• FairPlay DRM support

• PixelBuffer return for HLS encrypted streams

Improved

• Improved HLS format compatibility

Changed

• Separated the ARTC package to reduce ARTC dependency on SDK versions

• Removed OpenSSL to reduce package size

V5.1.6 (2020-09-22)

Improved

• Optimized progress display logic

• Optimized external subtitle display

• Optimized audio-video synchronization logic

• Reduced VID-based list playback startup time

• Optimized playback of audio with specific sample rates

• Modified frontend and backend event listener logic for iPad compatibility

Fixed

• Fixed soft decoding not working for interlaced videos

V5.1.5 (2020-07-22)

Added

• ARTC video playback

V5.1.4 (2020-07-07)

Added

• HLS encrypted live streaming

• IP address resolution type specification

• Video background color setting

• AudioSession parameter configuration

Improved

• Optimized precache

• Reduced HLS playback latency

• Improved player compatibility

Changed

• Adopted open source CicadaPlayer as the player core

V4.7.5 (2020-08-10)

Fixed

• Fixed unexpected quits on iOS 14

V4.7.4 (2020-03-16)

Added

• Frame rate retrieval API

• Video rendering callback

Improved

• Improved SDK stability

V4.7.3 (2019-12-11)

Added

• Startup bitrate specification for multi-bitrate streams

Improved

• Optimized audio-video synchronization logic

• Improved SDK stability

V4.7.2 (2019-11-01)

Added

• Precise seeking during resolution switching for on-demand videos

• Frame synchronization for live streaming

Improved

• Improved SDK stability

V4.7.1 (2019-09-18)

Added

• H.264 SEI retrieval

• Frame synchronization for FLV-based live streaming

V4.7.0 (2019-08-19)

Added

• WebVTT-based thumbnail support

• Precise seeking

• Encryption type specification for requested videos

• RTS support

V4.5.0 (2019-08-02)

Added

• AliPlayer API for improved usability

• Software and hardware decoding for H.265-encoded videos; H.265 live streaming

• Preview feature

• AliListPlayer API

• HLS playback based on the MasterPlaylist parameter

• Multi-track audio, multi-subtitle, multi-bitrate, and thumbnail support

• Adaptive and seamless bitrate switching

• Caching during URL-based MP4 video playback with cache file name retrieval

• Offline download API for improved download experience

V3.4.10 (2019-06-12)

Added

• Region support outside China for ApsaraVideo VOD playback

• On-demand audio file playback and download

Fixed

• Fixed unexpected quits

V3.4.9 (2019-01-04)

Improved

• Optimized loop playback

Fixed

• Fixed repetitive VID-based requests not stopping

• Fixed stuttering when switching from background to foreground

• Fixed unexpected quits when scrolling through the short video playlist at high speed

V3.4.7 (2018-08-25)

Fixed

• Fixed the video image not updating when seeking after a pause

• Fixed missing error messages when seeking failed due to network disconnection

• Fixed the inability to redownload a deleted video

• Fixed unexpected quits when switching between foreground and background multiple times during playback on iOS 8

V3.4.6 (2018-06-21)

Added

• HLS encrypted content download

• Video rotation angle retrieval API

• Event tracking based on traceID

V3.4.5 (2018-05-27)

Fixed

• Fixed a 4003 error when seeking to the end of a video

• Fixed the inability to seek to the start of a video

• Fixed an error when seeking beyond the buffer during network disconnection

Changed

• Open sourced the player user interface (UI)

V3.4.4 (2018-05-04)

Fixed

• Fixed videos not playing when the title contained spaces

• Fixed playback not resuming after background image stream ingestion

V3.4.3 (2018-04-25)

Fixed

• Fixed MP3 files with thumbnails not playing

• Fixed the player muting audio when the device screen was turned off during playback

V3.4.2 (2018-04-18)

Added

• Referer-based hotlink protection

Improved

• Optimized data logs

Changed

• Removed third-party dynamic frameworks

V3.4.1 (2018-03-06)

Fixed

• Fixed event tracking log errors

V3.4.0 (2018-02-26)

Added

• Time shifting support

• Secure download from ApsaraVideo Media Processing (MPS)

• Continuous playback demo

V3.3.4 (2018-02-06)

Added

• Resolution switching during video playback

Improved

• Optimized playback status and Security Token Service (STS) token expiry error messages

• Optimized download completion logic

Fixed

• Fixed STS token expiry caused by inconsistent time zones

• Fixed metadata loss when rotating cached and stored videos

• Fixed an error when uploading applications to the App Store

• Fixed Domain Name System (DNS) request failures during network disconnection

V3.3.3 (2018-01-24)

Added

• Live Q&A support

Fixed

• Fixed UI thread blocking

V3.3.2 (2018-01-08)

Fixed

• Fixed unexpected quits caused by missing language packs

V3.3.0 (2017-12-13)

Added

• Loop playback start callback

• Video rotation during rendering

• Image mirroring

• Playback completion callback in the player UI

• Caching during URL-based video playback

V3.2.2 (2017-11-23)

Fixed

• Fixed AliLive SDK muting audio when the application switched to the background

V3.2.0 (2017-11-15)

Added

• Loop playback

• Snapshot feature

• In-buffer seeking

• Combined ApsaraVideo Player Basic and ApsaraVideo Player Pro features in the demo

• Full-screen event callbacks for the player UI