Hey HN!
I built HEVCut, an iOS app that helps free up iCloud storage by re-encoding videos to HEVC (H.265) while preserving metadata. Large video files were a constant issue for me, and I wanted an efficient, privacy-friendly way to shrink them—without relying on cloud services or manual file management.<p>How It Works<p>HEVCut scans your entire video library, including files stored in iCloud but not downloaded, to automatically find the best candidates for compression—focusing on large, high-bitrate files that can be significantly reduced.<p>It re-encodes locally, shrinking files by 50% or more while keeping metadata like timestamps and location intact. By default, it downsizes to Full HD for even smaller sizes, but you can keep the original resolution if needed.<p>Additionally, HEVCut trims videos at the file level, removing unnecessary trimmed sections (those saved as part of iOS’s non-destructive editing), further reducing space usage.<p>Key Features<p>Smart Video Selection – Finds large, high-bitrate videos to compress, even in iCloud One-Tap Compression – Pick a video and let HEVCut do the rest Local & Private Processing – No cloud uploads, everything stays on your device Preserves Metadata – Keeps timestamps, location data, and more Automatic Trim Cleanup – Deletes hidden trimmed sections to free up extra space Flexible Resolution – Default to Full HD, or keep original quality<p>This update comes after 4 months of iterating with AI code tools automating file selection. All as a side project since I’m not a swift developer. Would love to hear your thoughts. Any feedback or ideas for improvement are welcome!<p>Check it out: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hevcut/id6737538832