Tech: Are others getting this problem

Subject: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: GUEST,McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 05:39 PM

This has just started happening the last few days. Every time I open up the Mudcat aftresh it seems to insist I sign in again.

Are other people getting this problem? I'm using an ipad - I haven't tried whether it happens on a PC.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 05:46 PM

I'm fine here, McGrath. I suggest checking with the PC.
Cookies aren't removed from your computer unless you request it. Sometimes, I need to log back in ONCE if Max changes something major, but that hardly ever happens. I'd guess you might have your IPad set to clear the cookie out when you leave the page or when you shut it down.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 06:06 PM

I thought of that, so I checked and its set not to block cookies from sites I visit.

I suspect the problem is in the ipad rather than the cat itself. Like you, my normal experience is that once I'm signed in on a computer or a tablet, I stay signed on more or less indefinitely.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 06:23 PM

Hi there too McGrath. On your iPad you would be using Safari. Have a look at Safari preferences and click on the Privacy Tab. There you should find an option to block cookies and other website data. Then you have three choices: From third parties and advertisers; Always or Never. I rarely if ever have problems with Mudcat cookies and have the first option re third parties and advertisers selected.

Whoops, that was me looking at Safari settings on a MacBook Pro. Just checked an iPad and its a little different.

Go to the Setting Icon and scroll down to Safari. In the right hand window pane go down and check the Privacy and Security option. Our iPad is set for: Do not track; Block Cookies- but allow from websites I visit and Fraudulent website warning is turned on. Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 06:40 PM

Tried that already Andrea, and its set to allow cookies from sites I visit. But every time I close down the tab on which I've got mudcat open, when I come back it wants me to sign in. It doesn't happen if I leave the tab on, but start another and visit other sites. i tried clearing all my history etc, but that didn't. Help either.

It's pretty clearly a problem with Safari though - when I try using another browser on my ipad tge problem doesn't arise. That would be one way to solve it, stop using Safari - but it's the most convenient browser for me, I'd be reluctant to lose it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 07:41 PM

Sorry to hear that didn't help McGrath. Just did a little googling and found this procedure that might be of use. If not i'll let a smarter elf than me try and help. Good luck!

Cheers,

Andrez

Enabling Cookies in Mobile Safari (iPhone, iPad)

Go to the Home screen by pressing the Home button or by unlocking your phone/iPad
Select the Settings icon.
Select Safari from the settings menu.
Select 'accept cookies' from the safari menu.
Select 'from visited' from the accept cookies menu.
Press the home button to return the the iPhone home screen.
Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.
Before the cookie settings change will take effect, Safari must restart. To restart Safari press and hold the Home button (for around five seconds) until the iPhone/iPad display goes blank and the home screen appears.
Select the Safari icon to return to Safari.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are othersgetting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 08:01 PM

Thanks - but it still doesn't work. Maybe it's some Safari bug that'll get sorted out in an update. In the meantime I'll get my head round using Firefox instead. It's what I use on my PC, but the ipad versiin is a bit different.

We get so used to the magic it's a bit jarring when it stops working. You get the feeling someday there'll be a solar storm or a cyber war, and it'll all suddenly go walkabout.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 09:23 PM

No worries McGrath. As a last resort you could always try the wise advice from the guys from the IT Crowd TV series: turn off the iPad (powering it off completely) and start it up again. Its amazing really how often this actually does fix things on all OS platforms :-)

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 09:27 PM

I'd tried that as well. Most times it does work like magic - for example when suddenly there's no sound on youtube. But not this time. I suspect it might be a side-effect of a recent OS update.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 24 Aug 16 - 11:39 PM

Ah now thats a whole 'nuther story. Can I ask from what old OS version to what new version? Although its different software I recently updated two Airport home wifi base stations to the latest firmware versions and found the updates completely stuffed my household wireless network: no internet, no printing, no backups. Had to uninstall the upgrades and reconfigure the whole feckin system….. no fun that job at all.

As far as standard Mac OS's I haven't gone beyond 10.7.5 despite all the so called improved user 'experience' as I don't want the expense of upgrading other key software that works perfectly fine as is. This works on that other classic piece of IT wisdom: "if it aint broke, don't fix it"! In your case as you say the Firefox options should work just fine. One thing though watch out as Firefox keeps being updated and the interface keeps changing all the time too.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Gurney
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 03:25 AM

I'm having a little trouble too. It is OK to log on on this W10 laptop, but the cookie has lapsed on my WXP desktop, and it won't reinstall. Or, it won't reinstall with anything that I've tried so far, anyway. And since only members can post nowadays.....

Not that it matters much. It's cold in the office. Winter here in Godzone.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 03:25 AM

I have iOS 9.3.4 on my iPad - all absolutely fine here.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 03:27 AM

Fine on my Win 10 laptop (Firefox) too.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: DaveRo
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 05:24 AM

McG: This is odd. How do you open a new mudcat tab? If using a bookmark is the URL exactly 'http://mudcat.org' - no www or anything? Check by looking at the bookmark in the bookmark editor - not by seeing what comes up in Safari when you use it.

Firefox on iOS is pretty new and primitive, but at least it will sync bookmarks, history, etc. with Firefox on desktop.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: GUEST,Dr Who fan (early series)
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 07:10 AM

'Only members can post' - ah, no...

I've just posted in another thread and I'm a guest. I only pop in once in a blue moon so I've never bothered to create an account.

Maybe you have a problem of a different nature to the thread-starter, Gurney?

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 08:33 AM

'Only members can post' applies only to the BS Section (a.k.a. 'Below the Line'). Anyone can post in the Music and Tec Section.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 12:09 PM

McG
I'm very un-techy but

Have you tried turning blocking ON, then turning it off again. Maybe shutting down completely in between.

There was some problem i had an age back and that sort of thing mended it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 08:11 PM

Yeah, I've tried tha, Freddyt. No luck.

I've set my ipad to automatically update the OS. You always have to in the end, I've found, even if you hold off for an update or two. And most time Apple gets it right. (I'm more careful when it comes to Microsoft.)

I'm not sure how I'd go about following Dave.Ro's advice - don't know about any bookmarks editor on Safari. It might be they've removed that in this version, or hidden it somewhere. But I cleared all the history and website data, and that didn't help.

Since this only happens with Safari and not other browsers what I really need to do is delete Safari and reinstall it. That's what I'd do on a PC. But I don't know any way to do that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 25 Aug 16 - 09:35 PM

We can agree to disagree re automatic updates for any OS without (a) knowing what the updates are and what they do and (b) waiting for a time and researching user feedback re bugs that might be introduced as a result of upgrading. The issue of suddenly finding third party software incompatibilities and associated costs to upgrade should also be a consideration.

My preference is to set things to notify me when an update is available which lets me stay in control of the process.

Another useful strategy is to have a look at a machine that has been updated especially if there has been a significant change to OS appearance and configuration. That way you can make some sort of informed decision as to the utility of upgrading as it suits your needs.

On a stand alone Mac you can go to Safari preferences and choose the Tabs option and this gives you some choices re how a new page opens up as a window or a tabbed page etc. The bookmarks editor can be found under the Bookmarks menu on the stand alone Mac Safari version. I've just had a look at a nearby iPad and cant see a similar option there suggesting differences between OS's. That said, I suspect that deleting and reinstalling safari might not be a real option there as it is a system file.

Looking at what Google is offering as a solution, the info seems a little contradictory and possibly risky when suggestions are made to reset to default OS settings etc.

I don't know if you have access to an Apple shop in your area but it might be useful to have a talk to someone there or look for some user resources such as offered at a site like this: https://www.takecontrolbooks.com They have an iPad book that might be helpful to you. I've found their Wifi and security resources particularly useful and well priced too.

Out of interest can you tell us what version of iOS you have on you iPad at present?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Andrez
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 02:07 AM

Having said what I did about accepting random iOS updates this time it seems as it may be worth reading about this security issue and accepting the recommended update installation. See for yourselves folks. The warning applies to iPads as well

http://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-releases-important-security-update-for-iphone-after-malware-found/

It seems it gets installed from getting things like an SMS message or email and then clicking on the link provided in the message. Worth keeping in mind not to click on links in messages sent by people you dont know. In this case I think we need to bear in mind the old adage about an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure.

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: DaveRo
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 02:23 AM

McG: you didn't say whether you actually used a bookmark (favourite) to get mudcat, but if you do...

In Safari, tap the book icon at the top - you get a sidebar (column on left).
If the sidebar book icon is not selected. tap it to see bookmarks.
Find the mudcat bookmark. If you put it along the top of the screen, tap 'Favourites'. If you put it in a folder, tap that. Repeat until you find it.
Once you can see it, tap 'Edit' at the bottom of the sidebar.
Tap the mudcat bookmark. You can then edit its name and URL.
Check the URL is exactly http://mudcat.org - if not edit it.
Tap 'Done' on the keyboard.
Tap 'Done' at the bottom of the sidebar.

(That longwinded procedure is an Apple mandatory standard - you'll find it in other apps.)

If you change to Firefox for iOS I'd be interested in what you think of it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 07:53 AM

Thanks DaveRo - I've just done it, and the URL was what it should be. So I've learnt something, but it didn't fix it.

And thanks Andrez too. The trouble with being careful about updates is that though the ipad is magic, a ot of the magic is hiid, so you can't fiddle around with it so easily as you can with a Pc or Mac. I'm a lot more choosy when I'm on my PC.

I think going back to Apple to sort this might be necessary. There's no way to reinstall Safari - I've hunted roundabout that.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: DaveRo
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 11:03 AM

McG: Are you stuck in private browsing mode? Is the background darker than usual? (Surprisingly it survives a reboot.)

Press the double-square icon at top right. On the next screen if the word 'Private' is black-on-white, press it.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Aug 16 - 11:21 AM

By George, I think he's got it. Thanks Dave.

I don't know how that happened - I know I've never intentionally set it to private browsing.

I had a feeling it might turn out to be something simple.

You'd think there'd be some indication in settings as to whether the browser is set to Private or not. There's a note in there about the facility, but nothing to indicate you're in it or not. Just a mention of a slightly darkened scree, which I would never notice, because I often turn the brightness down to save the battery.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: KarenH
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 07:20 AM

I cannot get the front page to load, it keeps saying not found or not available. The only way in seems to be via a search engine link to another page. Anybody else experiencing this.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 07:34 AM

Whole day outage for me yesterday.   Never mind. Was able to give my unallloyed attention to Anfield...

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Gozz
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 07:58 AM

Yesterday started out okay for me, then the site was unreachable for the rest of the day. Okay again today, so far.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 08:12 AM

Mudcat was down for repairs yesterday.

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 11:05 AM

it wasn't just me !

Subject: RE: Tech: Are others getting this problem
From: Richard Mellish
Date: 12 Dec 18 - 04:32 PM

I don't come here every day, but when I try to and can't I feel seriously deprived.

Was anything significantly wrong or was it routine maintenance?

Is it time we chipped in some more cash, or is that not a problem just now?