Browser/Flash Issues on Android - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am rather confused here. I have an Android TV computer (Neo X5) and a Samsung Note N7000. The Neo runs 4.2.2 and the Note 4.1.2 both are rooted (not that I think this matters here).
I am having difficulties streaming video from web sites in some cases. Sometimes the video begins to play and then locks up or just spins doing nothing forever. In other cases, I am told by the browser that the plugin is not supported. Worse still, this varies not only by browser but by device (some browsers work on one device while they fail on other devices - using the exact same web page for the video source).
I have installed Dolphin, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. I have Flash 11.x installed. It seems like all of the sources are sending Flash. At least when I load the same pages into FF on my Windows XP computer the player is clearly Flash (I can right click on the player and see the Flash version).
I am testing using the following:
video.pbs.org
startrek.com/video
billmoyers.com/video
Can anyone explain this odd behavior? I am in the USA so location shouldn't be an issue. Right now I have all the browsers installed and get by using the ones that work for each site. But this seems crazy to me.
Thanks.

Perhaps a step in answering my own question:
Well, I found this list of browsers on Android supporting Flash <http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2234684> which is informative. Then I did some noodling around looking at the page source for each of the video sources I am trying to run (PBS, StarTrek, Bill Moyers). Of these, only StarTrek is clearly trying to run the Flash player. PBS seems to be using something called JWPlayer <http://www.jwplayer.com/>. And Bill Moyers seems to be using something called PowerPress Player <http://create.blubrry.com/resources/powerpress/using-powerpress/>. It seems as if these last 2 may be downloadable plugins that are not Flash after all (which is strange because when I run the same videos successfully in FF on Windows all are clearly using the Flash Player). So maybe I am finding that these last two items are simply not compatible with the various browsers.
What I still am finding hard to understand is why my results vary by device. But it may be Android version differences of some sort instead of something different in the device itself. I also suppose that the version of the browser apps may vary by device and/or Android version and maybe as such the pages delivered to the browser based upon user-agent, etc may be different and this could explain why things differ.

Related

Re: Orange Update

Re: Orange Update
How is the Flash Player, was it upgraded to 10?? Adobe site won't support update as you know. You can't even go on youtube and play anything in their normal web page version. It tells you that you have to upgrade the flash player. Youtube only works via the mobile site version, which I don't like, as you don't have the facility to re-arrange the search to 'most recent', and even on those lists plenty don't play for me. Has anyone gone on to the normal youtube and had any joy playing it from their pages as opposed to the HTC viewer? Since the update?
The flash player was not updated, but I have no issues playing videos in either the mobile or desktop version of the site. However, I seldom use either because the quality is not as good as that in the YouTube application.
Regards,
Dave
That's really strange, it's never let me view them from the desktop version, Always says I need to upgrade my flash........ which of course it won't let me do.
Have you applied the update yet? As far as I'm aware there were no updates to Flash (it certainly isn't Flash 10 yet), but it is possible some changes were made elsewhere.
Regards,
Dave
Thank you Dave, No I've not done it yet, wouldn't actually know where to start as of yet.
Even in the HTC youtube app there are many vids it won't play.
Can you give an example that I can find, so I can test it out on my Hero. Thus far, I've not found anything that doesn't play but then again I'm hardly a prolific YouTuber!
Cheers,
Dave
anything from the desk top version of youtube always says, you must upgrade your flash player, links to Adobe, then the usual... too many server redirects message that I always get no matter which site diverted me there

[Q] Why chrome beta and not update stock browser?

Flash is dying and they work on the HTML5 and everything is okay. But will chrome become a system app in other versions like 5.0 or whatever? I don't think so. The stock browser already syncs the bookmarks.. Maybe not the history but who cares, just bookmark the page you want to save and you're done. Actually right now I use chrome because it blocks popups and it zooms when you click small text and for the better HTML5 support.. It is faster in some sites like xda, but why not an update to stock browser to have all these features? I don't understand Google, you could just change the name like you did on the android market, it is like having another market that is a little better and otherwise all the same.. I'm like dafuq?
As much as I love google and all their wonderful services, I still haven't been converted to the Chrome fandom.
On my PCs I'm happy with Firefox, and on my phone I like to use Dolphin HD.
I switched from the stock browser over to Dolphin back on my first Android because the stock browser had some features or behaviours that I didn't like. I don't know if it's been improved since then, but Dolphon continues to meet my needs very well.
Chrome is still beta, but I imagine in the long term Google will replace the default browser with Chrome. Android compiled from source will probably have the browser called Chromium. The biggest problem with Chrome on Android now is there is no user agent option, and I would also like to see add-ons working.
Flash is like the VGA port, its obsolete but still used a lot. All new laptops include the VGA port even though DVI/HDMI is newer and better. Reason being there are still a lot of projectors deployed with VGA only. The same reason flash is on Android is because a lot of websites are still flash and not HTML5. It will be sad to see flash leave Android.
So you mean that the chrome for android is at the play store just to try it? On the wikipedia it says that the stock browser is "coupled with Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine" and it really is fast, just missing some features.. an update would be done but what google does is creating another app.. Why? To try it and then they will replace it? That sounds stupid, they already have a great browser, I feel like google is just playing with us ;p
Well Google Chrome as it is is not open source. So it won't be included in AOSP. The stock browser on the other hand is an open source component like the rest of AOSP. But like spunker88 said, in the long term the stock browser may be replaced by Chromium, which is the open source version of Chrome available for Linux.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Sure, but that wasn't what I asked. Google chrome for android is almost the same with the stock browser, what I asked is why do they create another app but not update the stock browser.
mskayn said:
Sure, but that wasn't what I asked. Google chrome for android is almost the same with the stock browser, what I asked is why do they create another app but not update the stock browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are not really creating another app, just porting the existing Chrome browser to Android. Its possible that in the future if it becomes the stock browser updates will be done directly from Google similar to Google Play. Also on Google's end instead of having to do a bunch of separate work on the stock browser, Chrome could be compiled from source so that any updates done to the desktop edition are immediately available for Android.
Google is not like you and me. They don't need to make it easier and change the whole browser just to make them update at the same time. I don't even think that they ported it because then it wouldn't be beta and work so fast. And the stock browser is already coupled with Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine.They can make the stock browser to update like Google Play too, right?
I'm pretty sure that only now are they allowed to make Chrome the stock browser, after their little privacy policy change allowing all data to be used across all platforms. Before hand it was not allowed because it was considered a monopoly and therefore they had to remain separate companies. Otherwise Google Search for example would have Chrome come up top when you search the word "browser" but it doesn't.
I may be wrong and maybe it is still considered a monopoly and therefore banned by the competition commission. Most of their divisions have had to remain as separate companies because of this, otherwise they would have a HUGE control over most markets if it was all one company in the sense of how they work. When I say separate companies I mean they have to all work independently, they cannot all work together and they can't take advantage of their position. I gave the example above of searching for browser and not getting Chrome come up top.
The stock browser is fantastic and I may actually revert back to using it. I'm using the Chrome beta and the minute and it still doesn't feel great but that's because it is still a beta. They really improved the browser in 4.0.

No more Adobe Flash?

Went to view some stats and add points to my "nation" for Medal of Honor Warfighter using my Dolphin browser. The page would not display properly, and I noticed a warning about Adobe Flash not installed or disabled? I had Flash set to always on, but now it showed on demand. Went to change it, and a pop-up warning appeared stating that Adobe has discontinued Flash support for Android! And sure enough, it is no longer in the Google Play Store anymore. WTH???!!!
Is this yet another bit of sabotage from Apple to cripple it hottest competition? Because just about every website uses Flash for something, and this would cripple web browsing on ALL Android based devices. And thus effect a lot of us Android users!
yah, they stopped it ...
This is old news. Adobe discontinued flash for Android since JellyBean and have taken it off the Play Store. ICS is the last supported version. This is due to the fact that Flash is a resource heavy technology that is soon becoming outdated and HTML5 is being adopted more and more everyday. I use the YouTube HTML5 player myself and have been doing so since a few months. I hardly ever find a need for Flash, especially on a mobile device. Of course, people's requirement vary, but like the YouTube HTML5 player, websites are moving towards that everyday. HTML5 is the future, and everyone including Adobe knows it. So I don't think they would spend money and resources developing a technology that will soon be obsolete anyway.
You can still install the Flash Player apk from Adobe's website on both ICS and JellyBean and use it on your device. They haven't removed every trace of it, they've just put it in their legacy section and aren't going to update it anymore.
Guide to install Flash Player manually (use the last ICS version for JB) - http://forums.adobe.com/message/4675670
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

[Q] Best android browser for CodeAcademy?

Hi,
I like working on the website Codeacademy.com, and would love to do so on my android tablet (kindle HD), or even my phone (razr HD). However, every browser I've tried has had a terrible time with this website: browsers love to zoom in too closely when I start typing, they have trouble scolling in a text window within the main window, etc. (just try it, you'll see what I mean).
Does anyone have any suggestions for a browser that would fare better? Or perhaps dolphin has an add-on that would mitigate the problems? I have trouble believing that I'm the only one who likes to use this popular website on an android device.
Any help is appreciated.
EDIT: The kindle is restricted in its browsers by default, but I haven't had any trouble downloading apks and sideloading, so that's not a limitation to worry about.
Me too
I am looking for it too. It would be awesome if codecademy made an android app for its exercises
jwdink said:
Hi,
I like working on the website Codeacademy.com, and would love to do so on my android tablet (kindle HD), or even my phone (razr HD). However, every browser I've tried has had a terrible time with this website: browsers love to zoom in too closely when I start typing, they have trouble scolling in a text window within the main window, etc. (just try it, you'll see what I mean).
Does anyone have any suggestions for a browser that would fare better? Or perhaps dolphin has an add-on that would mitigate the problems? I have trouble believing that I'm the only one who likes to use this popular website on an android device.
Any help is appreciated.
EDIT: The kindle is restricted in its browsers by default, but I haven't had any trouble downloading apks and sideloading, so that's not a limitation to worry about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried it too and it's very frustrating. Thanks for mentioning CodeAcademy since I only knew about it since I read your post
Sent from my Kindling Fire A-Pad
dncjor said:
I am looking for it too. It would be awesome if codecademy made an android app for its exercises
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed-- though I feel like they shouldn't have to! This website isn't doing anything particularly advanced--it's just a text box to type in--and I feel like one of the myriad android browsers should be able to handle it. Especially since each one has a different unique problem with the website.

			
				
Okay, looks like Maxthon browser works tolerably well. Good browser overall, actually.
Jwdink,
Good to know Maxthon worked for you. I tested many, including Maxthon, and I always get the same problem.
When I click on the box to type, and try to move it up or down, everything goes white and I have to find the box again...
I tested with chrome, opera, firefox, dolphin, dolphin beta, and others less known browsers, and always the same problem happens
Now I'm gonna test with firefox beta..
I emailed codecademy some days ago concerning this matter but got no answer
Did you notice the site doesn't have a mobile version? Maybe if they can create one, it could fix the problem
jwdink said:
Okay, looks like Maxthon browser works tolerably well. Good browser overall, actually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maxthon didn't fare to well for this task on my rooted Kindle Fire running Gingerbread .......I sometimes have success with the latest release of Firefox (not the nightly edition) but many times will have to refresh the page to get the coding input box to respond "halfway" normal.
Even on my Windows 7 laptop the site has issues and I've tried IE9 and the latest Chrome. Maybe I'll try Firefox on the laptop today. On the tablet I find myself reading the tutorial from the website on whatever browser I'm using but will not try to implement the code there. I'll just open up my good old text editor and code there using what I learned on the site and then run the code on "x" interpreter (in my case the Python) and it's much easier to do it that way.
When I have the lesson running correctly I will return to the website and "attempt" to complete it on there either possibly with Android Firefox or on the PC so it will keep track of my progress. Otherwise I would get WAY to frustrated trying to get every little step to run in the browser's input box!
And yes, a dedicated app for this website would be ideal
Sent from my SCH-R880 using xda app-developers app
Huh, sounds like this site just isn't designed to work on anything but a traditional PC... I wonder what the big difference is?
Codecademy answered my email. Here it is:
"Original message
DEC 31, 2012 | 07:17AM EST
Please, I am a codecademy student and want to ask if you have any recomendation for a good way of using the site on android devices, because it is very difficult to do the exercises on the browsers for android.
For me, and others users, like this guy:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2073107
and, I believe, many others students, it would be very very useful if you could make a codecademy app for android, where we could do the exercises.
Thanks for reading...
Douglas
Sent from Samsung Mobile
JAN 02, 2013 | 03:26AM EST
Linda replied:
Thanks for the nice feedback! Unfortunately we're at the moment focusing on the learning experience with desktops and laptops and support for mobile phones and tablets comes only later.
Linda
Customer Support
Codecademy"
I took the liberty of showing this xda topic to reinforce the importance of this matter for more than one student. And, as the topic had only a few comments when I wrote the email, "This guy", is you 'jwdink'
You could try Naked Browser, which till now has given me a cohesive desktop like interface,
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fevdev.nakedbrowser&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think its very effective to work on codeacademy from your tablet especially if you aren't using a real keyboard. Codecademy has problems with browsers in osx and windows and I can't imagine how it would work on a tablet which browsers that do much less. Codecademy gives me issues everytime I use it, some courses are sometimes impossible to complete unless codecademy themselves fixes them. Python last summer was uncompletable due to weird errors which tooks weeks to fix.
Also, something you should be doing is after you complete courses, go make something with your newly gained knowledge. I can go through every single course in there and might not have a full understanding without actually making something, plus, you have to get used to dealing with the unexpected because everytime you code, theres going to be some problem. You can't code much things comfortably in Android either, at least I haven't been able to.
Try using ucbrowser.
I've tried Firefox, dolphin, boat and maxthon but for me uc browser works best. I'm talking about web browsing in general, uc browser is my pick for mobile web browsing. I've never visited code academy on ucbrowser though. Give it a shot
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda app-developers app
Foxfire & disable autocorrect/autocomplete
To use codecademy on my rooted Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (n8013) tablet I used Foxfire (stable or beta) browser and I disabled the keyboard's autocorrection/autofill/autocapitalization functionalities.
Tested but couldn't use stock browser, Chrome, Dolphin and Opera. Tested but couldn't use Swype keyboard and Google downloadable keyboard. Something weird happens connected to the shift key.
Should say my Samsung's running stock (Cyanagenmod) Android 4.2.2, no bloatware. Don't know if that matters or not.
Espier Browser
Have you tried Espier Browser? I just tried it and I could resolve 2 python exercices successfully
thetearer said:
Try using ucbrowser.
I've tried Firefox, dolphin, boat and maxthon but for me uc browser works best. I'm talking about web browsing in general, uc browser is my pick for mobile web browsing. I've never visited code academy on ucbrowser though. Give it a shot
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, uc browser seems to be the best for codecademy, I have tried almost all the browsers named in this thread an with uc browser on android 2.1 all works fine to me.
luisfmp said:
Thanks, uc browser seems to be the best for codecademy, I have tried almost all the browsers named in this thread an with uc browser on android 2.1 all works fine to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey,
Im trying to use codecademy and khanacademy.org but im using a Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet (stock rom). Ive tried UC browser as well as many others (chrome, naked, firefox, dolphin, maxthon, boat, maybe more) with no luck. Code isnt selectable or pastable, and sometimes i cant even delete.
I dont have access to a computer at the moment and would really like to take advantage of the interactive tutorials on those sites. I even bought a mouse thinking it would make text selection easy but i now realise android mouse support is lame and just emulates a finger.
If anyone has any solution for this, please let me know.
jwdink said:
Hi,
I like working on the website Codeacademy.com, and would love to do so on my android tablet (kindle HD), or even my phone (razr HD). However, every browser I've tried has had a terrible time with this website: browsers love to zoom in too closely when I start typing, they have trouble scolling in a text window within the main window, etc. (just try it, you'll see what I mean).
Does anyone have any suggestions for a browser that would fare better? Or perhaps dolphin has an add-on that would mitigate the problems? I have trouble believing that I'm the only one who likes to use this popular website on an android device.
Any help is appreciated.
EDIT: The kindle is restricted in its browsers by default, but I haven't had any trouble downloading apks and sideloading, so that's not a limitation to worry about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello jwdink,
Thank you for asking this question almost two years ago. Like you, I recently stumbled across the delimma of learning to code at codeacademy.com with my nextbook tablet device.
The solution that works perfectly for me is to request the desktop version of the web browser.
A quick review of the steps involved (Recent Google chrome at time of writing):
Click the menu button
Select "Request desktop site"
The page will reload automatically to a closer version of codeacademy that you are familiar with on the desktop site.
Yuki
Yhurp
Sent from my GT-S5300 using XDA Free mobile app
Yuki Tow SvC App said:
Hello jwdink,
Thank you for asking this question almost two years ago. Like you, I recently stumbled across the delimma of learning to code at codeacademy.com with my nextbook tablet device.
The solution that works perfectly for me is to request the desktop version of the web browser.
A quick review of the steps involved (Recent Google chrome at time of writing):
Click the menu button
Select "Request desktop site"
The page will reload automatically to a closer version of codeacademy that you are familiar with on the desktop site.
Yuki
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much, currently on my Samsung Tab S 10.5 with a logitech keyboard, and works extremely well with codecademy now

Puffin Browser

The main idea going for Remix OS as an alternative OS to windows is expecting some similar usage, one such expectation is Flash support. We all know Chrome does not support - I heard of Puffin browser for this task and widely being talked around in various blogs.
When I open Puffin browser - I only see the 'connecting' for a few minutes before it lets me type in the address bar, however after the connecting process - it crashes giving the usual options to 'reporting to the app developer'. Just wanted a confirmation from others to make sure the problem is only with me and my hardware.
Did anyone try on other supported devices or mini PCs like MXpro and Tronsmart or other supported laptops etc.,
Secondly, all these browsers Puffin browser, dolphin browser or Firefox struggled to load pages? When I tried to load my daughter's school website that has a lot of flash based content (McGraw Hill) - it never loaded any of these pages. Also when I opened a book (which is flash based) on chrome I can't see any of of the controls to flip through the book but at least I know flash is not supported by chrome.

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