tvOS and more: Infuse video app streams from iCloud
The alternative media player from Firecore comes in version 8.2 with interesting new features – and compensates for an Apple deficit.
Infuse on a TV: A useful tool for video fans for years.
(Image: Firecore)
The Infuse video player, which can be used to play almost any media format on Apple devices, has received a small but significant update. Version 8.2, which has been available since this week, gives Apple TV devices streaming access to content stored in Apple's iCloud Drive for the first time. There are also improvements to playback quality (with AI-supported upscaling) and the use of the app by multiple users in the household.
Streaming saves memory, new profiles
Anyone who stores videos and other media files in iCloud can now not only download them to Infuse to play them back but also stream them directly, i.e., play them without using up memory. This is also possible under tvOS. However, you first have to generate links on another device (such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac), which you can then add in the Links section of Infuse. The reason: Apple does not currently provide for browsing in iCloud Drive (or file systems in general) on Apple TV devices.
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Also new are user profiles for Infuse. This gives each family or household member their access to the app, if desired, including network resources, layout, viewing history, ratings, or parental control settings. The profile uses Apple's in-house profile technology under tvOS (which should be easier to use in tvOS 26 in the future) and also knows the assignment to the respective iCloud account.
Upscaling, less HDR aperture
Anyone who wants to play videos with a lower resolution should benefit from improved AI upscaling on Apple TV 4K devices. It should deliver “sharper, clearer images”. However, only devices with A16 or higher can use the full quality. This will be of interest for Apple TV devices when they are possibly upgraded to a more up-to-date SoC this year. Other new features in Infuse 8.2: In the future, the Metacritic rating of a movie or series will be displayed, the brightness of HDR subtitles can be adjusted, and deep links can be used via TMDB IDs.
Firecore sells Infuse in several versions, with a monthly subscription costing 1.99 euros and an annual subscription of 14.99 euros for the Pro version with all features. A "Lifetime" license is offered for just under 100 euros. Infuse runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac, as well as Vision Pro.
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