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dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 12:24 AM

So, I'm a very new Mac user, and I've been trying to find an application that will allow me to view WMV files embedded on web pages. However, the only product I've seen so far is Flip4Mac, and it seems that the free version of it (hosted and possibly owned by Microsoft?) is not available for download anymore. Is that true? Where can I get this? I've been to the Flip4Mac.com site, but they re-direct you over to Microsoft's downloadable web page?

Is there a different app I can use instead? I ask because Firefox thinks Flip4Mac is the only viable option when I hit a site that has WMV embedded.

Thanks everyone.

Cold Warrior · Dec 23, 2007, 12:27 AM

This is the latest version, updated & posted as of a day or two ago.
Flip4Mac WMV Player 2.2.0.49 - MacUpdate

Can you download it?

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 12:30 AM

It re-directs me to the following page...

LINK

0157988944 · Dec 23, 2007, 01:32 AM

That page started the downlaod for me...

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 01:37 AM

I just tried it again, and the damn thing keeps taking me to that Microsoft page. I've clicked on the download button and also did the "save link as," and it keeps doing that for me. WTF?

0157988944 · Dec 23, 2007, 01:38 AM

the microsoft page is the download page. Leave it there, and you should see it start to download. Go to Window > Downloads and see if it is downloading. It worked for me.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 01:41 AM

It fails in both Firefox and Safari. Here's the error message in Firefox:

Server not found
Firefox can't find the server at download.microsoft.com.
* Check the address for typing errors such as
ww.example.com instead of
Example Web Page
* If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network
connection.
* If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure
that Firefox is permitted to access the Web.

Big Mac · Dec 23, 2007, 01:54 AM

I just clicked the Download link on the MacUpdate page, and it started downloading the file (no redirect to M$).

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 09:38 AM

Well then does anyone here have a clue why it's doing that to me then? I tried both Firefox and Safari and it happens in both. This is really starting to frustrate me.

TETENAL · Dec 23, 2007, 09:59 AM

The download link from MacUpdate works for me.

RealPlayer 11 beta allegedly also plays WMV, so you might give that a try instead. As a bonus you can be the first to report to us how RealPlayer's WMV support is.

RealPlayer 11.0 Beta (build 631) - MacUpdate

analogika · Dec 23, 2007, 09:59 AM

This link doesn't work?

http://www.macupdate.com/download.ph...202.2.0.49.dmg

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by analogika

This link doesn't work?

http://www.macupdate.com/download.ph...202.2.0.49.dmg

It takes me to that Microsoft page I mentioned in an earlier thread.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

The download link from MacUpdate works for me.

RealPlayer 11 beta allegedly also plays WMV, so you might give that a try instead. As a bonus you can be the first to report to us how RealPlayer's WMV support is.

RealPlayer 11.0 Beta (build 631) - MacUpdate

I actually installed that last night but Firefox insists on using Flip4Mac. How can I switch that so RealPlayer opens up any embedded WMV files?

TETENAL · Dec 23, 2007, 10:54 AM

How can Firefox insist on using Flip4Mac when you haven't installed it yet? It can't know about Flip4Mac then. I'm confused. Maybe you can post a screenshot? Or use Safari to test whether it works at all.

In in the RealPlayer application go to RealPlayer->Preferences->Media Types and turn on Windows Media to enable that feature.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

How can Firefox insist on using Flip4Mac when you haven't installed it yet? It can't know about Flip4Mac then. I'm confused. Maybe you can post a screenshot?

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Or use Safari to test whether it works at all.

Safari takes me to the Microsoft page I'm talking about, so that's doesn't work for me.

Originally Posted by TETENAL

In in the RealPlayer application go to RealPlayer->Preferences->Media Types and turn on Windows Media to enable that feature.

I've done that already, but Firefox keeps asking to install Flip4Mac.

64stang06 · Dec 23, 2007, 01:24 PM

Flip4Mac WMV Products

Works fine for me on Safari and Firefox. It downloads from the Microsoft site it appears but I've had no issues.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 01:25 PM

I guess I'm the only idiot here that can't download this friggin' product. What an F'n joke.

TETENAL · Dec 23, 2007, 01:52 PM

All right, I tried RealPlayer 11. Its browser plug-in doesn't seem to support WMV at all, and the player itself didn't want to play an ASF file. I couldn't find a WMV file on the net to test it with. Means RealPlayer 11 is no alternative.

You need to download Flip4Mac.

I guess you have a DNS problem. Did you try rebooting? Resetting your router? Did you try an alternative DNS server like OpenDNS?

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

I guess you have a DNS problem. Did you try rebooting? Resetting your router? Did you try an alternative DNS server like OpenDNS?

My laptop has been rebooted several times, I did restart my cable modem, but I haven't done the DNS suggestion. I can't believe that would be causing my problem.

How big is this file? If it's under 10 MB, would someone be willing to email it to me? I can't begin to tell you how frustrated I am with this.

Thanks.

Stogieman · Dec 23, 2007, 03:46 PM

Here you go. I uploaded the Flip4Mac package to my iDisk.

right click this link and save as.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Here you go. I uploaded the Flip4Mac package to my iDisk.

right click this link and save as.

Thanks, but I got the following error message after I downloaded it and tried installing it:

Operation could not be completed.
(com.apple.installer.pagecontroller error -1.)
Could not open "Flip4Mac WMF.mpkg".

Is there something possibly wrong with my computer? I thought this would have been a DMG file, no?

Cadaver · Dec 23, 2007, 10:29 PM

I just downloaded the new version myself just now. You've got some DNS issues I suspect. I use OpenDNS, FWIW.

dustrho · Dec 23, 2007, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I just downloaded the new version myself just now. You've got some DNS issues I suspect. I use OpenDNS, FWIW.

I tried doing just what you said, and that didn't work for me. I tried the computer DNS suggested settings, as I would figure that's where it's failing for me, and it didn't work. It said for me to do the settings changes to my built-in networking, but that's for ethernet right? I would figure you would have to change it under the airport settings, so I added those two DNS entries there and that still didn't work. I did notice, however, that my Comcast internet provider is in there under DNS Servers and Domains, so I'm wondering if that's causing any of my issues here. I cannot delete those entries here, so I don't know what the deal is.

zro · Dec 24, 2007, 12:57 PM

Copy this and paste it into Safari's Downloads window (Window > Downloads). i.e., After copying it, open that window and hit Command V.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/8/9/c8951314-e056-404a-8ea8-8744e42594aa/WM%20Components%202.2.0.49.dmg

dustrho · Dec 24, 2007, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by zro

Copy this and paste it into Safari's Downloads window (Window > Downloads). i.e., After copying it, open that window and hit Command V.

Tried that and it then says underneath in the Downloads window "can't find host."

Jacke · Dec 24, 2007, 09:16 PM

Try this then: http://dl.ms.d4p.net/download/c/8/9/...202.2.0.49.dmg

dustrho · Dec 24, 2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Jacke

Try this then: http://dl.ms.d4p.net/download/c/8/9/...202.2.0.49.dmg

That totally worked for me! Thank you VERY much!

Now, I would still like to know why I was having so many problems trying to dowload it the other way.

analogika · Dec 25, 2007, 05:47 AM

Try removing ALL DNS servers from your TCP/IP network preference pane.

Jacke · Dec 25, 2007, 10:18 AM

As has been suggested, most likely DNS issues.

For future reference, I used an online nslookup service to get IP/aliases, then tried putting the path to the file after each until I hit upon something that worked.

UpQuark · Dec 25, 2007, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by dustrho

That totally worked for me! Thank you VERY much!

Now, I would still like to know why I was having so many problems trying to dowload it the other way.

Definitely DNS issues. I am assuming that you do have a router..?
Did you set up your wireless router as the DHCP server? If so, I would place the OpenDNS server listings in there with the ISP DNS server listed last.

We can help you with that setup if you let us know the manufacture of the wireless router etc..

OpenDNS IP addresses:

208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

Even from Japan, they work much better than the ISP DNS...

Cadaver · Dec 26, 2007, 11:30 PM

You can also try clearing your computer's DNS cache.
From the terminal...
Leopard - enter: dscacheutil -flushcache
Tiger - enter: lookupd -flushcache