Firefox experts- how to configure for WM9 player

Don Landis · #1 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 05:32 PM

I have had this little annoyance ever since I first started using Firefox. Maybe one of you have figured out how to over come this.

When I use IE and come across a link to a WMV file. I can click on it and it launches the WM player I have and in a few seconds the video begins to play, ie it buffers a few Mb and then starts playing.
With Firefox, I open up a left column of download links and add to it. It will download the entire file before I can begin to play the video. Sometimes it is a huge file and the wait is long.

Is there a way I can train Firefox to buffer just a few Mb of the video and while still downloading it begins to play?

harshness · #2 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 05:43 PM

Windows Media Player - MozillaZine Knowledge Base

gbjbany · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 05:49 PM

try this page and download Don.

Play and Stream Windows Media Player Video and Audio (ASF, WMV, WMA) Embedded Directly Within FireFox My Digital Life

freakedout · #4 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 05:50 PM

You can also install the IETab add on. It will switch the page you are viewing into IE. It is usefull for pages that only work in IE without you having to open IE and navigate to the page you want. Right click and click is all it takes.

Don Landis · #5 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 06:13 PM

Thanks, but I could not find anything on that link that adresses the problem of not buffering the content as it does with IE6+

gbjbany · #6 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Landis

Thanks, but I could not find anything on that link that adresses the problem of not buffering the content as it does with IE6+

what you are referring to is a function of streaming media, so if you install the add on it will then buffer until it can play it, without asking you to download it everytime

Don Landis · #7 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 06:47 PM

gbjbany-

That was some interesting reading. I tried it out and it still will want to download the entire video file before allowing me to play it. Maybe I didn't install it right but that's what is happening.
It appears that Firefox is incapable of handling WMV properly at this time.

I have some clients who questioned this and while I knew of the problem didn't realize it was officially a real problem. For now I'll just need to recommend they stick with IE6+ for wmv, unless they want to wait for the download.

Last I checked, the Mac and Quicktime in Safari also handled wmv OK as long as Flip for mac was installed. Seems FF should be able to get this worked out. I just launched IE7 and clicked on a 77Mb wmv file link and it began to play within a second. That's the way FF should work.

Don Landis · #8 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakedout

You can also install the IETab add on. It will switch the page you are viewing into IE. It is usefull for pages that only work in IE without you having to open IE and navigate to the page you want. Right click and click is all it takes.

Wow! that works great! Thanks. I'll just need to remember to right click on any troubled media or website and then I select IE tab and the wmv file began to play immediately. Works good enough for me and the install was pretty easy.

charper1 · #9 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008, 09:14 PM

I am still confused about what is actual wrong. I don't have any issues handling WMV in Firefox and without needing IE Tab, but I guess if it work then cool, but it would be cool to see what is setup incorrectly or not at all. Do you have a link you used that I can browse to to test it?

Don Landis · #10 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 02:56 AM

Use any wmv link on the internet.

There is no issue for some who don't know how it should work. I have a fast internet connection here and set my WMP buffer to buffer 10 seconds. This often will allow the media to begin streaming immediately even with a 150 Mb file size. But that is with IE7. In Firefox, it will download the entire file and THEN launch WMP and play it. This may take 5 minutes here even at my speeds. According to some of the links offered the trouble with Firefox is some people can't even autolaunch the WMP and play the file. The IE tab makes it work and all I have to do is right click on the link to make it happen. You can look at any of the sample TV shows I have on my website.

I did notice that since I have the latest java installed, FF will play java embedded video, even wm9 files without aid of IE Tab. For straight links that require the browser to open the player, it doesn't work.