Comedy Central Issues, Flip4Mac and Popwire

[rspeaker]

I know there have been many, many threads on this... but I just can't figure it out. I have Flip4Mac installed (by running the Installer in Rosetta, and then making Safari run in Rosetta.) After that failed to work, I installed the Popwire component, but same thing: won't work. This is the site ( http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/browseresults.jhtml?showId=934 ) I am using. The player will open and load all but the end of it, but when I press play, nothing plays, and it only takes the scroller two or three seconds to go across the bar. I tried saving the movies, but naturally QT couldn't open them because they're incomplete files.

Is there ANYONE who can help me? I'm frustrated as all get out. Thanks.


EDIT: I just found the universal beta for Flip4Mac... the site still doesn't work.

 

[MisterMe]

The videos buffer down to the last two seconds. This behavior is indicative of Windows Media 10 or DRMed content. Neither Flip4Mac nor Popwire can play them.

 

[irmongoose]

If you visit the Flip4Mac official forums, you will find that this is a recent known issue with Comedy Central. About a month ago, they started placing advertisements before the actual clips, unknowingly interfering with the Flip4Mac playback system.

There is a certain "workaround" that works perfectly (I did this myself a few weeks ago when the problem appeared, and the videos have played fine ever since. This needs to be done only once, and can be easily reverted.). Posted by rackerby at the Flip4Mac forums:

Here's a workaround.

1) Edit your /etc/hosts file, and add an entry for ad.doubleclick.net:

127.0.0.1 ad.doubleclick.net

2) Turn Personal Web Sharing on (found in the Sharing preference panel).

This will cause your Mac to query itself (127.0.0.1) for the ad.doubleclick.net files, they won't be found, and the stream you wish to view will then be shown.

Meanwhile, the developers of Flip4Mac are well aware of this problem and are now working with Comedy Central to fix this issue. Posted by CraigS at the Flip4Mac forums:

Don't forget our goal is to get it to work "normally" so the video is just click 'n play when you hit the website. ComedyCentral is working with the latest beta 2.1.0.31 but there's still some issues. Hang tight. We'll get there.

So there you have it. If you feel comfortable doing something minute in Terminal, go right ahead and do the patch-up yourself. Otherwise, you will have to wait patiently while the developers work on it.

I hope this helps.




irmongoose

 

[rspeaker]

Would you be able to tell me where the /etc/hosts file is located, or how to edit it in Terminal? I can't find that folder/file with a search, and I haven't had much experience with Terminal, either.

Thanks in advance.

 

[irmongoose]

Here is a method that does not require the Terminal. Go to Finder>Go>Go to folder. Type in "/etc/" (without the quotes) and a file simply called "hosts" will be there. You can open this file in TextEdit and do the modifications as written above.




irmongoose