How To Fix Missing Plug-In Errors [MacRx] | Cult of Mac

System

How To Fix Missing Plug-In Errors [MacRx] | Cult of Mac

If you’re a Mac user on the Internet, chances are you’ve come across a few websites where embedded content isn’t displayed correctly. Instead you get an icon or an error message saying Missing Plug-In, often with few additional details about exactly what is missing.

Read the full story here

mr_bee

IMO the only sensible way to deal with plug-ins is to not use them. The only way these awful, stupid things are ever going to go away is if we all just decide that the video of the dancing cat is just not worth the ridiculous, cumbersome plug-in required to view it.

benandarchie1

The worst is silverlight.

Tallest_Skil

Screw Flash, Screw Silverlight, Screw Java.

trich63

Hear, hear, Mr_Bee! You win the prize. I've gone the extra step on some sites, and changed the user agent via the Developer menu in Safari to "iPad". If the content then loads, I know they are just making me jump through hoops because I'm a Mac user. I send this nice note to their help desk:

"I (like many others concerned with the security threat of plug-ins) have removed Adobe Flash from my computer. I was sent a link to one of your videos and once on your site was told I'd need Flash to view it. But when I changed the user agent to tell your site I was on an iPad, the video played perfectly.

"My question is this: Why do you frustrate users who do not know how to change the user agent in their browser? Why not just serve up the h.264 video when Flash fails? You've got video that their machine can handle. It would make the whole experience so much cleaner for everyone, including your support teams.

"Just a thought."

I end with my real name and address. I have it as a TextExpander Snippet. I have actually seen some sites take this advice. It's silly to ask users to do what the server should do automatically:

Is Flash installed? Yes, go next. No - serve h.264 content.
Is Flash current version? Yes, serve Flash content. No-serve h.264 content.

The customers they are irritating with the "Plug-in Missing" are the very ones taking up time in their support forums and help desks who never update anything. They will never, ever, be current. Make your site query the browser and just give them what will play - don't try to manipulate them to change their machine!

CBergerman1515

VLC is my go-to app for video. Why is it your last resort? It works with everything!

bowlingGreen

CBergerman1515 said:

VLC is my go-to app for video. Why is it your last resort? It works with everything!

VLC. Great on any operating system except the mobile ones... at least for now. I can't wait for a good, solid mobile edition. For now I use MXPlayer (dual audio/subs/anime) and MoboPlayer (because it automatically leaves a cute little floating window up)!

kemiim

Do you help with software too. I have 60+MB of silence, instead of the lecture I recorded on Mac Microsoft WORD Audio Notes. Used the macbook, so the mic is OK.