Browser issue

[lawnchair13]

Ok, so unless there’s some genius hack here that can help, I’m nearing the end of my 30 day “trial period” on our 2 new HTC Evo’s and I’m about to take them up to Sprint and return them.

I have now spent more than 4 hours on the phone with “Tech Support”. I have been hung up on several times. I am very surprised and furious at what Sprint considers “advanced tech support”.

I have, what should be, a very simple issue. I need to be able to access my security camera’s web site. http://mywebcam.viewnetcam.com (No, not the real site). Viewnetcam is a DDNS service which my camera registers to. This is a very simple RTP over HTTP protocol and no one within Sprint’s tech support seems to be capable of going off script and offer genuine technical support. In addition to being hung up on, I’ve been asked “what’s a protocol?”, I’ve been told “as long as you can get to the internet that’s as far as we go.”

I purchased these phones with the primary purpose of having a device capable of accessing my security camera.

This is NOT an issue with the Sprint network. I also have a Sierra wireless card and have no issues accessing the website via it.

This is NOT an issue with the camera or viewnetcam as I can view the website with my daughters iphone as well as my mother-in-laws smart phone on t-mobile.

I suspect it’s an issue with the WebKit 3.1 web browser but need a work around a.s.a.p..

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/lawnchair13/?action=view&current=webcamfail.jpg

The big grey block in the middle should have my video feed.

Anyone? Please?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Have you tried alternate browsers? Dolphin HD, Skyfire, Opera. Dolphin HD is far more capable than the built in browser.

 

[Mdorty]

Have you tried alternate browsers? Dolphin HD, Skyfire, Opera. Dolphin HD is far more capable than the built in browser.

That would be my only suggestion, and just make sure you have it set to 'desktop' mode.

 

[Trust]

Have you tried alternate browsers? Dolphin HD, Skyfire, Opera. Dolphin HD is far more capable than the built in browser.

+1 ^^^^^

 

[digmys]

While this is a real issue, and I sympathize, it is NOT Sprint's responsibility to make this work for you. It is up to YOU to use a camera/software that is compatible with what you want to view it on, or up to GOOGLE to make the browser compatible with that technology.

Either way it is in no way a Sprint issue and I would tell you that as well if I was a customer service rep and you called me.

Its like buying a new computer at Best Buy and then calling your ISP and complaining when the flash game that you play on your friend's computer doesn't work on your new one...........doesnt make sense.

 

[Trust]

While this is a real issue, and I sympathize, it is NOT Sprint's responsibility to make this work for you. It is up to YOU to use a camera/software that is compatible with what you want to view it on, or up to GOOGLE to make the browser compatible with that technology.

Either way it is in no way a Sprint issue and I would tell you that as well if I was a customer service rep and you called me.

Its like buying a new computer at Best Buy and then calling your ISP and complaining when the flash game that you play on your friend's computer doesn't work on your new one...........doesnt make sense.

Adding further to the above:

Have you tried accessing it on any OTHER Mobile phone browser to see if it works? (iPhone, Black berry, Window 7, etc?)

 

[Mdorty]

Ok, so unless there?s some genius hack here that can help, I?m nearing the end of my 30 day ?trial period? on our 2 new HTC Evo?s and I?m about to take them up to Sprint and return them.

I have now spent more than 4 hours on the phone with ?Tech Support?. I have been hung up on several times. I am very surprised and furious at what Sprint considers ?advanced tech support?.

I have, what should be, a very simple issue. I need to be able to access my security camera?s web site. http://mywebcam.viewnetcam.com (No, not the real site). Viewnetcam is a DDNS service which my camera registers to. This is a very simple RTP over HTTP protocol and no one within Sprint?s tech support seems to be capable of going off script and offer genuine technical support. In addition to being hung up on, I?ve been asked ?what?s a protocol??, I?ve been told ?as long as you can get to the internet that?s as far as we go.?

I purchased these phones with the primary purpose of having a device capable of accessing my security camera.

This is NOT an issue with the Sprint network. I also have a Sierra wireless card and have no issues accessing the website via it.

This is NOT an issue with the camera or viewnetcam as I can view the website with my daughters iphone as well as my mother-in-laws smart phone on t-mobile.

I suspect it?s an issue with the WebKit 3.1 web browser but need a work around a.s.a.p..

webcamfail.jpg picture by lawnchair13 - Photobucket

The big grey block in the middle should have my video feed.

Anyone? Please?

...

Adding further to the above:

Have you tried accessing it on any OTHER Mobile phone browser to see if it works? (iPhone, Black berry, Window 7, etc?)

 

[DougB541#CB]

Yeah i don't see why you are ranting against Sprint....this is nothing on their end.

 

[Darth Mo]

That network cam software runs in ActiveX, and the only browser that fully supports that is Internet Explorer.

It's not your Evo or Sprint, the companies that make these camera software package assume that every user will have access to Internet Explorer.

In short, it isn't going to work unless Panasonic makes an app for Android. A lot of companies have apps for the iPhone, Symbian, and WinMo; I hope they start writing them for Android as well. I imagine not long since Android is closing on the iPhone and leaving WinMo in the dust.

 

[lawnchair13]

Have you tried alternate browsers? Dolphin HD, Skyfire, Opera. Dolphin HD is far more capable than the built in browser.

Yes, I've tried Dolphin, Fennec, Infinity, Opera mini and Skyfire with no luck. Fennec showed the video for a brief moment after it was initially installed but I haven't been able to get it again since.

I can't imagine that this is a unique issue. The Webkit 3.1 browser should be capable just as sefari is capable on the iphone.

Thanks,

 

[Caitlyn McKenzie]

Without being able to see the page, diagnosing the problem is nearly impossible. Likely whatever format the video is in is simply not supported on Android.

 

[lawnchair13]

Sprint rant...

Yeah i don't see why you are ranting against Sprint....this is nothing on their end.

You are correct that the issue lies with the Webkit browser and not with Sprint.

My rant against Sprint is because they treated me like garbage. The got my $$ and then support was basically being transfered around MULTI PAL times and being required to verify my account access (ie:name, address, phone #, pin code) EVERY time and then being hung up on several times as well as the nearly indefinite hold (43 minutes per my call timer) I don't think they expected me to pursue the issue after being treated so poorly. And even though the issue is with the Webkit 3.1 browser, Sprint IS my service provider and should care enough to at least pursue a resolution. I DO pay them a good deal of money each month.

It was harassment, plain and simple. Sprint Customer Service is the Worst I've EVER experienced.

 

[lawnchair13]

Without being able to see the page, diagnosing the problem is nearly impossible. Likely whatever format the video is in is simply not supported on Android.

I would say that position is unacceptable.

Any browser should be able to support RTP over HTTP. Sefari does it with no issue, Are you saying that the iphone is a better choice if I need common services via my browser.

 

[lawnchair13]

Adding further to the above:

Have you tried accessing it on any OTHER Mobile phone browser to see if it works? (iPhone, Black berry, Window 7, etc?)

Yes, it works on the iphone, black berry and I forget what my mother in-law's phone is on Verizon but it works on her "smart" phone as well.

 

[lawnchair13]

That network cam software runs in ActiveX, and the only browser that fully supports that is Internet Explorer.

It's not your Evo or Sprint, the companies that make these camera software package assume that every user will have access to Internet Explorer.

In short, it isn't going to work unless Panasonic makes an app for Android. A lot of companies have apps for the iPhone, Symbian, and WinMo; I hope they start writing them for Android as well. I imagine not long since Android is closing on the iPhone and leaving WinMo in the dust.

I works on the iphone without an app. just the built in safari browser, and has since my wife got the phone in 2008, out of the box.

is there no way to get to the Webkit developers and let them know that there's an issue with their browser?

It's not rocket science (even though it's not in my tool kit to fix)

 

[lawnchair13]

Well, I'm partially there. I got an update to the Fennec Browser today and I can view the page now but Fennec doesn't let me expand or contract the page so that the controls are usable.

Good Grief!!

 

[lawnchair13]

Well, that was a worthless endeavor. Thanks anyway...

The wife wins this one...

 

[Caitlyn McKenzie]

I would say that position is unacceptable.

Any browser should be able to support RTP over HTTP. Sefari does it with no issue, Are you saying that the iphone is a better choice if I need common services via my browser.

RTP is hardly common. In fact, it's extremely uncommon. Even moreso on a mobile device.

Anyway, if it doesn't work, it's not going to magically start working just because you really want it to. If it works on the iPhone and you absolutely cannot live without that, use it. Or get a security camera with better software.

 

[digmys]

RTP is hardly common. In fact, it's extremely uncommon. Even moreso on a mobile device.

Anyway, if it doesn't work, it's not going to magically start working just because you really want it to. If it works on the iPhone and you absolutely cannot live without that, use it. Or get a security camera with better software.

What he said ^

 

[Darth Mo]

I works on the iphone without an app. just the built in safari browser, and has since my wife got the phone in 2008, out of the box.

is there no way to get to the Webkit developers and let them know that there's an issue with their browser?

It's not rocket science (even though it's not in my tool kit to fix)

Um...good for the iPhone? I'm not saying anyone should or shouldn't support it natively, just that it isn't going to work on Android right now.

But I wouldn't call it a problem with a browser, it's lack of support for a niche feature that probably affects <.1% of the users out there so it's probably not worth devoting a lot time towards presently.