Instructions from Adobe on How to Download Flash -- Which Doesn't Download for Me. YouTube Is Dependent on Adobe. Tough Luck, Google.
June 25, 2012
I have lost access to YouTube. Google surrendered control over its its product to Adobe. YouTube needs Adobe's Flash to operate.
I went to the Flash download page. Here, I read:
Your download will start automatically.
If it does not start, click here for troubleshooting information.If a dialog box appears with the option to run or save, click run.
For Firefox users, please see the Installation Instructions.
Learn more | System requirements | Distribute Flash Player | Installation instructions
I could download Flash. I run Windows XP. I have long had problems downloading Flash.
The screen says Flash will download automatically. It doesn't -- not on Internet Explorer 8 or Firefox 3.6.
I removed Firefox and reloaded. Flash will not download.
I was told to go to a troubleshooting page. I did. Here, I read:
2. VERIFY INTERNET EXPLORER SECURITY AND ACTIVEX SETTINGSMake sure that Internet Explorer security is set to the Medium: Default level, which allows viewing ActiveX controls.
Alternatively, configure the Custom level to view ActiveX controls with these steps.
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Choose Tools > Internet Options.
3. Select the Security tab.
4. Select the Custom Level.
5. Find the section "ActiveX controls and plug-ins."
6. Set Download Signed ActiveX Controls to Prompt.
7. Set Run ActiveX Controls And Plug-ins to PromptContact your System Administrator for more information.
I did all this. It did not help.
Next, I am told that I must contact my systems administrator. Hundreds of millions of Flash users apparently have systems administrators. In China. In Latin America. Everyone has system administrators on call.
Let me translate this: "Contact your System Administrator for more information."
Buzz off, Bozo. It's your problem now, not ours.
It's Google's problem, too. Google is dependent on Adobe's instruction writers to solve YouTube's problem. Google trusts Adobe's technicians to write instructions. Google has zero authority over Adobe. Nevertheless, Google is dependent on Adobe for YouTube's success.
I say this is risky. What do you say?
If I were Google's senior decision maker, I would go to Adobe and ask for a link on the Flash download page. This would lead to a Google page with instructions -- beta-tested instructions. It would offer videos -- not YouTube's -- that would take the installer through the procedure.
It is in Adobe's interest to get free help from Google. Adobe wants more people using Flash.
Will managers of two big firms work out a deal? If they don't, both firms will suffer.
Google's first solution: its Chrome browser. It has Flash built in.
Google's second solution is in experimental phase: //www.youtube.com/html5.
My son, a specialist in Windows, was able to get the progam to install on IE 8 and Firefox 3.6. He used LogMeIn to access my computer. He went through some procedures that were not listed in the instructions. So, my "system administrator" did figure it out. Not many people have someone like this to assist them