Stuttering video

[Voice for Peace]

Keeps getting worse on my computer -- not for dvd's
but all streaming video.

I thought it might be an age-related problem but am reading
that even brand new Macs are having this problem.

I have NOT come across a fix.. have restored permissions,
rebooted, let it cool down, upgraded, mackeeper'd, etc.
Some things have seemed to work but only very short-term.

Any answers? It's frustrating, can usually watch no more
than 2-3 minutes at the most before stuttering starts.
Thanks for any help!

[grok]

1. Not sure this is the answer but

Ive been having similar problems among all my machines too. Linux,Xp,Win7. OSX i only use occasionally. When it happens it's usually because of either the Adobe flash/shockwave plugins are too new/old for the streaming site or there is some conflict with my browser and the same. Generally the plugin runs loco with memory and cpu resources.

My suggestions are:

update all browsers and plugins.
add another browser as a backup(firefox/chrome/etc)
disable the plugins/toolbars you don't actually use.

If you are brave, tweak some settings of the plugin you are using(network/storage)

[Voice for Peace]

2. thank you -- I'm not sure either

I've run MacKeeper which is supposed to get rid of old useless stuff,
& restored permissions, & updated everything as per your suggestion,
and restarted a gazillion times. At the moment the stuttering is
moderately better.. we shall see.

I'm embarrassed to say, but don't know what plugins I'm using
or how to tweak them. I am brave, though.. if you want to tell
me.

[grok]

3. I am not a mac guru either.

That's why I can only offer limited advice. I assume u are using safari as a browser.

Since you have you have updated what you know how to, i would install another browser like firefox. It should not effect the operation of safari. just don't make it your main browser.

I would try to view your streaming video with it. if it asks to let install a plugin(like shockwave/flash, let it do so.

if it works well with it, you know safari is the issue. that can be dealt with in time. meanwhile, you would have an alternative.

here is a current link for a Mac OSX firefox. it is NOT PPC. in fact, if you are using a ppc system chances are you really have old flash plugins for which there my not be upgrades for.

http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-12.0&os=osx&lang=en-US

[winstars]

4. Not a guru either but trying Firefox is not a bad idea...

Your Safari could be somehow messed up and trying another browser like Firefox is a good idea, especially if DVDS are fine...

Is the streaming problem JUST with streaming, I have used VLC instead of Quicktime for many years for playing video...

I have a new MBP and its amazing in playing all these imbedded videos everywhere these days. They just play instantly and when you go full-screen, its still clear, depending on the quality available to you... No stuttering at all...

[Voice for Peace]

5. thanks - though I'm using Firefox already

What is VLC?

Netflix and most You tube longer than a few minutes will stutter, usually. It seems partially a problem of overheating but not entirely. I was watching some videos on the Amazon video system and it seemed fine for a couple of weeks, even on full-screen, but then started stuttering like everything else.

Then I watched some videos on the PBS/Masterpiece site, and they play fine even on full screen. So I don't know what's what.. I was tempted to just get a new computer till I read that people are having similar problem with at least the new MAC minis.

Still puzzled. DVDs play fine.

[suffragette]

6. I use Mactubes on my oldest Mac

Doesn't work for everything but I can still watch videos on it instead of seeing a slideshow (it was getting that bad).


A little info and link here:

http://ppcluddite.blogspot.com/search?q=mactubes


Looks like there are other options out here for workarounds, Hopefully, one of them works for you:

http://lowendmac.com/ed/patting/11sb/youtube-on-g4-macs.html

[Voice for Peace]

7. thank you!

I'll look into the links.

[suffragette]

8. You're welcome

Using Mactubes is a bit of a pain since you have to open that program and copy/paste the url into it or search for a different video (especially for embedded videos) that is about the same topic. But watching a video without the stutter is nice.

I haven't tried the options in the other link, but the Firefox one sounds interesting. May try that down the road.