Streaming, video playback

Question

I have a problem that seems to be rampant and with few answers but let me try again. Windows media player has stopped playing streams for Comedy Central and other web sites. I can't stream Google video. Radio stations won't stream from their sites. Videos that friends e-mail (in windows media ) have no sound. Can't stream CNN. This seems to be the problem. It has been going on for at least a month now. It might include QT- I don't really understand who and what streaming involves-otherwise QT is OK.
I did the usual - even tried the flip4mac (which caused big problems about 6 months ago, when I installed it the 1st time; with graphics and more. Of coarse they said it wasn't true but I read plenty of other users with the same gripes.I did get it stable again finally.) A couple months ago these latest issues started. Not including the Intel issue and Flip4mac - this problem seems to be common but not quite ubiquitous in the mac world. And I have yet to read on how to fix it. I am an old and faithful apple person but this is really getting personal. Figuring it was worth it I have tried flip4mac again to no avail. I tried many things and of coarse it didn't work and also as usual after uninstalling it the thing still tries to open streams- at least the WEb site interface looks like QT and usually I used to get a codec error that doesn't appear. I still think it is a dangerous program.
But my questions are
1. What programs should I have installed on my computer to stream video and audio?(on the non-QT sites i mean)
2. Is there a way to avoid Flip4mac which seems to be very dissagreeable to my machine?
3. Should I just start trying to give up the simple pleasures or buy a $300 laptop from dell to have for what 92% of the rest of the world already is enjoying? Seriously.
4. Short of that are the answer(s) posted on the Flip4Mac website???
Please don't take offense apple geeks- but somehow you guys are never affected with this melee. Streaming was at the heart of MS's argument with the Justice department and it looks like I am the looser.

Answer 1

Hi, John.
1. Many sites use Real Media streaming format. Download the free RealPlayer for Mac OS X. Click the "RealPlayer - Free" button on that page and follow the prompts.
A number of sites are using Flash-based movies, so having Flash Player installed will help with those streams.
2. WMP is dead. Microsoft (MS) has endorsed Flip4Mac as the replacement for WMP on the Mac. AFAIK, your only other option at this point is to try Popwire WMV-9 Component. I've not used it, but have heard good reviews and feedback. That may also help with WMV files you receive by e-mail.
Both Flip4Mac and Popwire won't play content protected with the Windows DRM (WMA-DRM). MS is determined to restrict content protected with Windows DRM to the Windows platform, DoJ and EU suits notwithstanding.
3. Frankly, if a site isn't distributing streaming media in a platform-independent format that works on the Mac, like Real Media, then I'm disinterested in their content. The few sites in whose streams I'm interested, e.g. C-SPAN, NASA TV, etc. are Mac-friendly.
Unfortunately, the Mac is still just five percent of the personal computer market, so sites tend to design with Windows users in mind. If the sites also use MS development tools, it exacerbates the problem as those tools use proprietary extensions to Web standards that only work in IE on Windows. This is why some sites, e.g. e-banking, often only work with IE or on Windows with IE.
If a site expects their streams to be played on a PC running Windows, and you can't get either Flip4Mac or Popwire to handle it, then you're out of luck. I would not hesitate to complain to the site since they are losing audience by failing to distribute content in a platform-independent format.
4. Beats me. If you're not finding the answers there, you should contact the Flip4Mac folks.
5. You wrote: "Please don't take offense apple geeks- but somehow you guys are never affected with this melee."None taken. I simply don't care that much about streaming media: if it doesn't play in QuickTime, Flash, or RealPlayer, I go elsewhere. There are also a variety of Internet-based radio stations that stream in either Real format or are available in iTunes.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X