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Usability extension

Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:28 pm
by Faulkner
Folks may have found the Carlisle pix and flix unusable on their smart phones; there's just too much content for the page.

I've found a phpBB extension (the '59 Forum uses phpBB) that I'll need to modify, but will permit me to reduce the number of posts on a particular page. After I get that sorted out, I'll redo some of the posts on the site to make them more usable. Stay tuned!

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Sun Jul 21, 2019 3:18 pm
by Faulkner
OK, done! I've changed the Carlisle 2019 topic to have two posts per page, because they have so many attachments. And furthermore...

...I discovered a bug, that prevented iPhones and iPads from playing mp4 files. I don't know how this got past me, but it took loading a boatload of videos to find out about it! It's now fixed. So if you have an iOS device and were frustrated by your efforts to play videos, please try again. It should be all better now!

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2019 12:04 pm
by Faulkner
Oh Noes!! Another bug... :oops: If you have a Windows computer, you'll notice it in Vic's posting here.

There are two popular video formats, both based on the "H.264" video compression standard. The first is .mp4, which is produced by Android smartphones and tablets. The second is .mov, which is a video container for videos produced on iOS (iPhones, iPads). Different container files, but same compression standard.

Many of the videos uploaded for Carlisle 2019 came from Ron's Android phone (.mp4), or my iPhone (.mov). We plugged both our phones into my Windows computer, and I uploaded to the site from Windows. Both .mp4's and .mov's played in Windows (and I assume, Android - I don't have an Android device). However, the .mp4's wouldn't play on my iPhone. That's what I fixed yesterday.

But today, Vic uploaded a .mov from an Apple device. It plays on my iPhone - but not in Windows!

For those who are graphically oriented, here's the situation:

Capture.JPG


(*sigh*...) I'll get to work on it. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2019 7:38 pm
by william0431
As usual Dan, your technical expertise in keeping this site running like a Swiss watch is way above my comprehension but I am very grateful for the hard work you put into it. Thank you for all the behind the curtain work you do!

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2019 6:34 am
by Dick Koch
Duh, Duh and Duh!
Dick.

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:18 pm
by Faulkner
So, it turns out we have discovered a bug in the phpBB software. I've opened a ticket for it's remediation. For those who want to read the gory details, you can find it here.

Or, you may choose to follow Dick's advice:
Dick Koch wrote:Duh, Duh and Duh!

Re: Usability extension

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2019 12:22 pm
by Faulkner
Faulkner wrote: Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:18 pm So, it turns out we have discovered a bug in the phpBB software.
...er, no we haven't.

It turns out that iPhones upload videos in a funny standard, H.265. It isn't supported by any browser, except for their own (Safari). Which is why you can play videos uploaded from an iPhone, on an iPhone. But nowhere else.

Fortunately, I copied all of my Carlisle iPhone videos off of my iPhone onto my Windows computer, which converted them to the correct standard - H.264 - in the process. After uploading them from Windows, they can be played anywhere.

As far as I know, the only video on the site uploaded directly from an iPhone, is the one Vic recently uploaded. I'll work on getting that converted from H.265 to H.264, and if any get uploaded that way in the future, I'll have a way to fix them so everyone can enjoy them. Then, this case will be closed!