Archive through August 16, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: USA 2002: All Things Technical for BB 2002 (computer stuff): BB on the Mac: Archive through August 16, 2002

Johnnydollar

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 10:05 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It might be helpful to have a place for Mac users to help them overcome the hurdles that Real has placed in their path.

As of last night, the feeds could be viewed on RealPlayerPlus 8 (and possibly RealPlayer 8). But today that player just gives out a canned message claiming that the content is "not available". Posts elsewhere suggest that 8 will not play the streams (but it did Wed nite!). If RealOne is needed, will there be a beta release for the Mac next week, as rumored? If not, what are the tips and tricks Mac users can employ to get their fix of the feeds? There has to be some alternative to calling Real and getting our money back!

yours truly, johnny dollar

Griff

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 11:00 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I just got off the phone from RealPlayer 8 and they said there is indeed "Technical difficulty" at this time for Mac users. No way for us to see the feed and no timeframe for fix, to check back in "a day or so".

Real One may be available by end of month for Mac but no set date there either.

I asked the subscription service guy about the 30 day free trial and he said he was only authorized to give 14 days. If a 30 were available it was thru some marketing area and I would have to find the specific link. Then he said....Mac users can only sign up through CBS because Real One doesn't support MAC!

Harruummmph, tired of the hoops we MACers have to jump through! But not tired enuf to leave my MAC and go over to the over side...lol...

Johnnydollar

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 11:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Me neither. I hope that Real gets a flood of complaints about this. It is encouraging tho that they say they are aware of a problem for Mac viewers and that perhaps it will resolve itself.

yours truly, johnny dollar

Julieboo

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 11:15 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Macs are worth all the "discrimination" we have to put up with!

Meggieprice

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 01:35 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
OK, now I am way confused- I have nothing but Macs (and proud of itt!) and I watched the feeds late into the night last night after subscribing...but today get nothing but time outs on all feeds. ?????????????

Tonyvision

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 01:38 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually, if you want to make a stink...I do have a petition to RealNetworks regarding their decision not to provide Mac Users the same opportunity to see the feed as their Windows counterparts! After all, why should we have to be penalized for owning a computer that we enjoy by having to pay $200 for Virtual PC AND still pay for the stream?

The petition is here. If you are on a Mac (or if you are on Windows and feel that Mac users are getting a raw deal) please sign.

Click this:
http://www.petitionOnline.com/BB3mac/petition.html

Thank you.
TONY SANTIAGO

Johnnydollar

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 02:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, here's an article that directly contradicts some of the things Real told Griff. Apparently the story changes depending on who you're talking to, the time of the day, or whatever:

http://jam.canoe.ca/JamBigBrother3/jul9_bigbrother_can.html

yours truly, johnny dollar

Meggieprice

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 02:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I just spoke to Real myself and the problem is that the sytem that is used to broadcast to Mac (Via Real 8) is down. It is temporary only- complcated but temporary. He said it should be up by tonight or tomorrow morning and to keep checking. Although Real One doesn't support Mac, there IS a broadcast for Mac . I know that to be true because I watched late into the night last night on my three Macs! So I am holding tight here and reallly grateful for the live feeds transcribers- those angels!

Bastable

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 03:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes, they told me the same thing, except they only said "they're aware of the problem and it will be fixed soon."

What kind of soon, I wonder? "Soon" as in tonight, or "soon" as in when RealOne will be available for Mac?

I was also explicitly told that it's the fault of CBS. My Real rep said that Real only supplies the software and the subscribers; CBS is responsible for the feeds and whether they work. Yet there is no number for customer support at CBS.

So basically, Real says it's not their fault and CBS can't be reached at all.

I have officially renamed this trouble "Big Bother."

William

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 04:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I emailed a complaint to CBS Feedback: "I paid $24.95 to be able to get the Big Brother live feeds and you are purposefully preventing Macintosh users from getting them. I feel defrauded - in fact you are defrauding an entire class of subscribers. You were willing to take our money without providing the services we ordered. I would have thought that CBS had learned its lesson from the Krista lawsuit now in progress from BB 2." So if it is CBS's fault maybe they will correct the problem if enough of us complain. On the other hand, RNWK does seem purposefully anti-Mac. (No OS X Realplayer after all this time, etc!) I'm sure RNWK is in cahoots with the anti-Apple corporate entities.

Therlin

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 06:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm watching the BB feeds on my Mac as I type this. It wasn't working earlier today, but it's working now.

Bonza

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 06:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Therlin -- are you using Real Player 8 Basic or PLUS?

And how are you accessing the channel - is there a link?

Sunrisedd

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 06:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm a Mac user and Camera 1 is working for me, too. :)

Sunrisedd

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 06:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm using Realplayer Plus the link came from http://realguide.real.com/

Meggieprice

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 07:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I've got all four feeds now- clear and so welcome! Real Player Basic for me. Guess they came through and fixed it. Enjoy! Macs RULE!

Bonza

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 07:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I've got it now, too -- using Real Player Basic!

Fun, fun, fun.....

William

Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 08:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes, I have all four feeds now too with Basic Realplayer 8. Thanks CBS. But my feeling about Real Networks being decidedly anti-Mac remains the same - although someone came through, otherwise it would have been false advertising.

Tonyvision

Friday, July 12, 2002 - 07:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
NO NEED TO SIGN THE PETITION ANYMORE!

I did take a chance and subscribed to the feeds. Something bizarre happened. While it was getting to the Big Brother 3 feeds, there was a small "upgrade" that involved an "RPP9 component!" After that went through, I was able to watch the feeds!

To everyone that did sign, thank you! I suppose raising a little hell couldn't hurt! It sure got them to hear us!

Johnnydollar

Friday, July 12, 2002 - 09:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It would be nice if they got the video and audio in sync, tho.

Bastable

Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 08:27 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Johnny, that may be an issue with your own RAM. Mine is fine, which indicates it's not a CBS/Real issue.

Ryn

Wednesday, July 24, 2002 - 11:02 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A question from a MAC user...

Hope this isn't too OT, but I have a question about free live feeds. I'm thinking about getting the live feeds ('cause I feel so left out missing the catfights, and all!). The last time I saw live feeds was season one, when they were free. I had a lot of trouble connecting, staying connected, my connection was slow, computer would freeze, etc. So I'm wary of paying for something that might not work that well. I have a slightly better, faster computer now, so maybe it'll be okay.

But I thought I would try the free sample first, just to see. What's the deal with that? Where can I get it, is it still available, etc.?

If it makes any difference, I'm on a Mac.

Wendo

Friday, August 16, 2002 - 06:08 am EditMoveDeleteIP
bump, because Mac users seem to be having problems again...like myself...

Wendo

Friday, August 16, 2002 - 07:09 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Just got off the phone with Real. According to the tech I spoke to (forgot to get his name...oops!) they are having authentication problems and are hoping to have them resolved in an hour or so. I explained to him that the feeds were working on my PC, but that I'm having the sign-in loop problem on my Mac. (Apparently, PC and Mac users are both affected, though for some the feeds work, and other they don't.)

I did take it upon myself to suggest that Real.com seriously consider creating some type of Real.com Alert/Status Page so that we users, who are paying for the content, can find out what issues are going on with the system. That we get more frustrated at not knowing and if Real would just tell us, they'd have fewer frustrated subscribers.

Anyway, here's hoping the problem is rectified.

Cwoody222

Friday, August 16, 2002 - 08:22 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks for the bump. I'm a Mac user having problems.

Work = Windows = works fine Friday AM.

Home = Mac = Couldn't login after Thurs. show. RealPlayer 8 in OS 9 DID work, RealOne in OS X (my preference) did NOT work.

I emailed support Fri. morning - waiting to hear.

Fuddyduddy

Friday, August 16, 2002 - 09:25 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Just posted on the thread, Real Player 8 suddently asks for password...... Here is the post:

Everyone....(with a Mac OS X) or any Mac, perhaps...Just had a great talk with Rick at tech support..

He said his supervisor says the problem is with the Mac servers at CBS. (Wouldn't you know?)

They are getting lots of calls, etc. but they can't do anything because it is CBS's problem.

I told him about Wendo's suggestion to the tech she talked with, and he asked me to email him a copy so he could show it to his supervisor. (Re: giving a heads up to users when there is a major problem)

I am emailing my suggestions to him also....and asked him to come over here and read our posts and perhaps post something himself!!

Wendy, you were told it was authentication problems, I was told it was CBS server problems......I just hope they get whatever problem it is fixed SOON!

Sanfranjoshfan

Friday, August 16, 2002 - 10:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Cwoody222

"Home = Mac = Couldn't login after Thurs. show. RealPlayer 8 in OS 9 DID work, RealOne in OS X (my preference) did NOT work."

ditto here