Ubuntu
firefox package

Firefox will only play some web videos

Asked by Kelly Roberti

I am new to Linux & Ubuntu and am using 8.0.4. I am now configuring it and that has proven to be a lengthy learning experience. I have all of the video plugins installed in Firefox. I can watch Youtube etc. without a problem. But, some videos on the web won't play. For instance, the videos on www.comedycentral.com. Specifically the Colbert Report and Daily Show. Firefox doesn't tell me which plugin I should be using...it does nothing but comes up with a blank video frame. I think this means that the plugin is installed. Any help would really be appreciated.

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

Using Ubuntu "Intrepid Ibex" 8.10 (developement release) and Firefox 3.1a2pre i get Firefox crash visit www.comedycentral.com ... and i cannot see any video...

I will indagate and may be i send bug report to Firefox developer...

Thank you

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Kelly Roberti (kelly-roberti) said : 		#2

Could it be a wrong plugin association?

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Sam_ (and-sam) said : 		#3

Hi Kelly,
first of all is the question what flash-plugin is in use, second it works only if there is no variety of versions installed and third there is no guarantee for any of them, e.g. adobe, gnash, swfdec, to function 100% on any attempted website. So your experience that youtube videos appear and others not isn't unusual.

I'm using for example swfdec and youtube videos appear, but on the website you've mentioned appears a black window with the recommendation "Get Adobe flash player" (which is btw. not what I want)
http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer
Although on the website of Adobe it tells me "You have version 9.0.100.0 installed", very funny.
http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/about/

Now to check which plugin is in use there are some options:
in Firefox url bar type:
about:plugins
or in the main menu -> extras -> addons -> plugins
It should only show one plugin e.g. Shockwave Flash Version xxx
or within Synaptic, search:
flash

To use Adobe you'll need the package flashplugin-nonfree (via Synaptic), before installing and not getting conflicts other plugins should be removed completely and Firefox should be closed. This is btw. another basic skill, that Synaptic provides to check dependencies and conflicts before installing anything.
In addition it's also a matter of system architecture 64 or 32 bit.
More on this,
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/Flash

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