Can you override forced video players?

[dolphin]

I was on the BBC site that Highmac posted about the young man in a wheelchair who got stuck on the grill of a truck and was taken for a ride. Under the photo it said click here to view. When I did...I got a box that gave me a choice of Windows Media Player or Real Player. I clicked on WMV since I have it on my iMac. However; it would not open. I tried to import it to QT with no success. Can't figure what I'm doing wrong.  It should not be this difficult.

TIA for any help.

[Xairbusdriver]

You should be able to set your preferences in your browsers uhmn, Preferences.

What browser are you using, anyway?

I just went to the link in FF 2.0.0.4 and I didn't get any 'choice' display, it simply opened a small window and played the video. There was a 'Preference' link on that window, I have RealPlayer selected. Still, FF gives one the option of assigning most any file type to be displayed/shown/played/presented with almost any plug-in/app of your choice. It's in the FF->Preferences->Content->File Types ( click the "Manage" button ). Your version and browser could be quite different.

[dolphin]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jun 8 2007, 06:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You should be able to set your preferences in your browsers uhmn, Preferences.

What browser are you using, anyway?

I just went to the link in FF 2.0.0.4 and I didn't get any 'choice' display, it simply opened a small window and played the video. There was a 'Preference' link on that window, I have RealPlayer selected. Still, FF gives one the option of assigning most any file type to be displayed/shown/played/presented with almost any plug-in/app of your choice. It's in the FF->Preferences->Content->File Types ( click the "Manage" button ). Your version and browser could be quite different.

I'm using FF 2.0.0.4. I went into FF>Preferences>Content>File Types and clicked the "Manage button". I changed the file type to QT, but it still would not play.
I went to the Real Player web site and downloaded Real Player and then tried it and it played OK!

Still the choices presented in the window were only WMV or Real Player.

[Xairbusdriver]

Tried to post this several hours ago but a server 'hiccup' kept it from happening.

Not surprised that QT would not play either WMV nor RMA(?) files. I think they are proprietary formats and not too many companies want to pay the ransom license fees.

But I'm also confused as to how/why you even see the window asking you to select them. I can only assume that there is a javscript/sniffer script on the page that can detect that you had neither app/plug-in available.

[kbeartx]

I've got three syllables to say about this:

Flip4Mac

[Plugin for QuickTime that lets it read [i.e., play] many non-QT movies.]

[kimmer]

I'm with KBear. Flip4Mac works grand!

I used it yesterday to watch WMV stuff at a news site and to watch the launch of the Space shuttle Atlantis (done in real time with WMV stuff.)

BTW, you'll find Flip4Mac here:
http://www.flip4mac.com/

[Xairbusdriver]

I've never been able to wrap my head around why I should use/buy Flip4Mac.
1. What does it do besides allow me to play WMV files via QT?
2. Does it also play RealMedia files?
3. What does the following text on their web site mean?

QUOTE

If you have the free WMV Player from Microsoft, you already have a trial version of all the other Flip4Mac WMV products. When you purchase a product, you will receive a serial number, which will unlock the features you purchase.

Does Telestream actually produce Windows Media Player ( at least the Mac version )?
4. What does Windows Media Player do that is so bad that it's worth spending $30 on Flip4Mac?

[Jack W]

I don't remember paying any ransom fee for Flip4Mac. And it seems to work fine for me also.

- Jack

[dolphin]

QUOTE(kbeartx @ Jun 9 2007, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've got three syllables to say about this:

Flip4Mac

[Plugin for QuickTime that lets it read [i.e., play] many non-QT movies.]

KB...I have Flip4Mac also. It did not work either. Why I do not know. I did download the latest upgrade also.

[kimmer]

Like Jack, I don't remember paying for Flip4Mac and I searched my computer for a receipt and don't have one ... so I can say with some confidence that I didn't.

Dolphin, I went to the web page that Highmac shared, and selected WMV. Then when the video window opened I selected "Launch stand alone player" and it opened up in a separate window and ran using Flip4Mac.

[Xairbusdriver]

I must be looking at the wrong site. The cheapest version I see is $29. Until that is paid, one can only view the first half ( and even then on the first 30 minutes ) of any video. I think I remember complaining about that many years ago as a overly crippled way to view a video when it could be done for free with WMP. But I'm always complaining, so I could be wrong.

However, there are a couple of other questions in my post, still waiting for answers to them. I guess I just don't have a need for the app.

[kbeartx]

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jun 10 2007, 01:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I must be looking at the wrong site. The cheapest version I see is $29. Until that is paid, one can only view the first half ( and even then on the first 30 minutes ) of any video. I think I remember complaining about that many years ago as a overly crippled way to view a video when it could be done for free with WMP. But I'm always complaining, so I could be wrong. However, there are a couple of other questions in my post, still waiting for answers to them. I guess I just don't have a need for the app.

I distinctly recall that 'first half only' limitation in an early version of Flip4Mac, but it was removed in a later version.

I am quite certain that I did not pay anything for its download, and once installed, there were no 'nag dialogs' exhorting me to buy it.  I think the paid version of the company's products give you WAY more functionality, but the player plugin is free.  It's entirely possible that the manufacturer discontinued its free giveaway after a while, and it's not downloadable for free any longer.

As to WHY one needs it:  AIUI [as I understand it], there are some video files that require WMP 10, for which there ain't none, in the vernacular, at least not fer Macs, and yore spiffy liddle WMP 9 won't do you no good atall [folks running earlier versions of Winders, such as 95 er 98, and mebbee Linux?, have the same problem].

Other than those points, I think we'll hafta wait for someone who knows the esoterics of video creation and playback [mebbee Tacit?] to drop by.

[dolphin]

QUOTE(kimmer @ Jun 9 2007, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like Jack, I don't remember paying for Flip4Mac and I searched my computer for a receipt and don't have one ... so I can say with some confidence that I didn't.

Dolphin, I went to the web page that Highmac shared, and selected WMV. Then when the video window opened I selected "Launch stand alone player" and it opened up in a separate window and ran using Flip4Mac.

Kimmer, I tried the "stand alone player" also with NO playback. Maybe I've got something selected or NOT selected in the preferences file that I am not aware of.

[kimmer]

QUOTE(dolphin @ Jun 10 2007, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kimmer, I tried the "stand alone player" also with NO playback. Maybe I've got something selected or NOT selected in the preferences file that I am not aware of.

Hmmmm... don't know. My prefs are pretty standard out of the box. I do run AdBlockPlus and NoScript and had to set NoScript to run temporarily. Maybe someone else has an idea what to check.  

[Xairbusdriver]

Here's a screen shot of what I'm seeing at their site. Although there is a link ( lower, right corner ) to <previous> versions that might now be free. Oh well...