Ice Cream Sandwich update, now no video playing via the internet

dribbles
Newbie

My Thunderbolt was updated to Ice Cream Sandwich in the wee hours of the morning today. Now video doesn't play through the internet. The YouTube app plays video as I would expect it to. However, there are some training courses I watch via the internet. I've checked a few sites that stream video (i.e. screen.yahoo.com) and those don't play either. Update: YouTube videos not playing via internet either. There is a 3-D blue box with a "?" on the sides where the play button normally is.

Anyone else having this issue? Anyone know a solution. Need access quickly. Thanks in advance.

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dribbles
Newbie

It appears that there may have been issues with the update, per the HTC rep. the Ice Cream Sandwich update removed mobile flash player and is no longer available for download from Adobe. Hence, no more video via the native internet browser. It was suggested that I download a different browser 'til I find one that works. This is extremely frustrating to say the least. Sure doesn't make me feel good about Google, HTC or Verizon at this point.

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Jakeman1
Master - Level 1

This is partially true. ICS did remove Flash Support and the browser embedded within ICS is Chrome. You can download a different browser such as an older version (Pre 9.3) of Dolphin or Firefly (not sure if the current version still supports Flash). You can then download Flash from Adobe and have a functioning Browser that will play online videos.

Be aware though of 2 things. do NOT obtain Flash from any source other then Google Play (most likely will not be able to find it there) or Adobe itself and Adobe has stopped supporting Flash on a Mobile platform so it is only a matter of time before they take it off of their site as well.

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

If flash player was already loaded in the phone before the update, it is still loaded on the device.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Jakeman1
Master - Level 1

Ann you are correct and I forgot about that.

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

I have found out recently that an application I had loaded on the Tbolt used flash to work. It currently doesn't work with the version of flash player apk I have installed on the Tbolt. I'm going to try a few ideas to see if I can get it to work.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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dribbles
Newbie

Ann, if you do, please let me know. I was told by the rep the update removed the program.

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

The flash player apk file was still loaded on my Tbolt. However it seems to be a version not as compatible with the ICS OS. Thankfully I also have the Galaxy Nexus which I installed the Flash player on it while it was available. I used a file explorer application to backup the apk from the Nexus and then transferred it to my computer. I copied the apk to the Tbolt and installed it to the Tbolt. When I installed the newer version, I did get a message telling me it would be replacing a system application.

The newer version works with the application I was having trouble with.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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havoczero522
Enthusiast - Level 3

Verizon doesn't have anything to do with an Android software update, that strictly deals with Adobe and Android.

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Jakeman1
Master - Level 1

That is actually incorrect on some levels. While it is correct that the Manufacturer of the phones create the update, Google does guide them slightly but the majority of the requirements come from Verizon.  That said, Verizon has NO control over Flash being included or not. Flash support for Mobile platforms was stopped by Adobe because of new technologies coming out and Google as well as the manufacturers decided they would NOT include a product on the phone that is no longer supported.

That said, there is nothing that says you cannot put it on after the fact

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Ann154
Community Leader
Community Leader

Jakeman1 wrote:

That is actually incorrect on some levels. While it is correct that the Manufacturer of the phones create the update, Google does guide them slightly but the majority of the requirements come from Verizon.  That said, Verizon has NO control over Flash being included or not. Flash support for Mobile platforms was stopped by Adobe because of new technologies coming out and Google as well as the manufacturers decided they would NOT include a product on the phone that is no longer supported.

That said, there is nothing that says you cannot put it on after the fact

Well said.

I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.

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Not applicable
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davalos
Newbie

If Video is the only thing you lost, you are lucky.  I am completely convinced that this update ruined my phone.  It was fully operational just moments before the firmware update began.  Then at that point,my phone froze up, no buttons would work, the only way it could be reset was to take the battery out and then everytime I would get the phone to be funtional the firmware update would start and then my phone was back to square one.  After a few unsuccessful battery pulls, I noticed where in the notifications it said that is was updating the firmware.  Very frustrating to just completely lose your phone due to this.  I am now using my old Droid Eris while I wait for my replacement phone to arrive.  I did not want my phone replaced.  I've been a Verizon customer for 20+ years and have always held a favorable opinion of them.  But this has affected my opinion of them.  Couldn't this update have taken place at a better time, not 8pm on a Saturday night?  It's very possible that something interruped the process and caused a problem, but why weren't we notified of this major update?  Was this update tested thoroughly because it seems there are a lot people experiencing problems with it?  I'm not even that upset as some people are about changes to appearance.  I work around complicated systems every day at my job, and I understand the need for software updates and changes to keep up with technology.  Yesterday morning after not being able to recover my phone from it's attempts to load the firmware, while on the phone with Verizon we did a complete reset to Factory Settings and tried to bring up the phone and my phone was going crazy, it was jumping back and forth between the opening screens, HTC Incredibly Brilliant and the screen with the Thunderbolt name on it, the one that makes the thunder sound.  Had to pull the battery to make it stop and order a reconditioned phone.  Is there anyone else who has had a similiar experience?  

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Jakeman1
Master - Level 1

One of the things with the ICS update is that it can take up to 72 hours to completely update.

First the OS is loaded to your phone and the phone is operational.

Next it optimizes everything on the phone (apps, Pictures, Music, Videos, etc...) (this can take up to 72 hours depending on  your phone.

Next it will learn the patterns of your usage and optimize to that.

Depending on how the update was put together, you can have a huge battery drain during this time, you can have freezing during this time and some other really strange things going on with the phone.  Doing the Battery pull will NOT resolve this issue as it still needs to take place and it will occur at some point after starting the phone again.

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davalos
Newbie

Jakeman1,

Let me clarify something about my post.  At no point was my phone operational from the time the upload started.  I was using it one second on Saturday night at about 7:45pm and after that I was never able to use it again, no matter what I did, plain and simple.  I left it on the charger and left it alone, but it would not stay powered up and would not respond to anything other than a battery pull.  We could get my phone to power up while on the phone with Verizon support on Sunday morning, but every time the firmware update started my phone would freeze up, and then there was no power, not even a light to show the charger was connected.   As I said, my phone was rendered useless.  Any other time if your phone completely freezes what should you do???? Pull the battery!  So we are supposed to know our phone is freezing because a firmware update is taking place?  Why wouldn’t we be asked to start this firmware update?  I mean would you start an update on your PC just by turning it on?  No those are done when you are shutting down, when you not likely to interfere, or we schedule those for times of the evening when we wouldn’t be using our computers.  I would say at 8pm on a Saturday night, that is not a good time for my phone to just start a firmware update on its own.  

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davalos
Newbie

Jakeman1, one more thing, a friend of mine who also has an Android phone and was with me on Saturday evening when my phone fell victim to the update, forwarded this post on her AT&T site it appears, interestly they reference the exact same problem that happened to me. 

HTC updated the support page for the HTC Inspire 4G yesterday regarding a system update and unfortunately, we are sorry to report that it is not Ice Cream Sandwich or Jelly Bean. The maintenance package introduces users to a newer version of the Sense user interface (3.0), a task killer, AT&T’s phonebook, and several fixes to current functions like call optimization, better security, contact display fix in the SMS inbox, and improved method for using background data.

This update is for AT&T customers and is available over the air (OTA) or if that is too easy you can download the firmware and apply it manually by syncing it with your computer. Make sure you have at least 30% battery life, a few minutes to download and install, and remember not to pull your battery during the process, because you might put the phone at risk of never working again. Please be advised that HTC’s support page say the phone will reboot several times during this process so be patient.

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