New TV programme on Gardens

[Maggi Young]

When I tried using Ian's i-pad to do something in the forum last week- authorise a new registration, I think,  I couldn't do it. Ian says that not everything that works on a pc works on these mobile devices. 

[ChrisB]

He's right of course.  Something else that doesn't work is the cookie or whatever that target adverts on yahoo mail or Facebook, and I'm grateful for that!  So it's not all bad, just a bit inconvenient sometimes...

[Brian Ellis]

Whenever anyone posts a link to what I assume is a link to video, there is just a blank space on my screen on my ipad.  Is it some sort of setting on my machine or something else?

I think it is probably an App that is needed to play that type of video...but which one is the question!  When I first got an iPad I downloaded a free manual from the iBook store, there may be an updated version available.

[Matt T]

Chris, It would be worth checking whether there are any outstanding software updates for your operating system - you should get a automatic pop-up window telling you when updates are available (sometime I ignore these if I'm too busy to bother and then forget about them), but if you go to your App Store and click on the 'Updates' button any uninstalled updates will show there. A quick search on the Apple discussion forum suggests that this may solve the issue.

[ChrisB]

I've got Utube app on it Brian.  Took a look at updates Matt, only Spotify needed one and I don't think that would impact videos anyway.  I have recently done the update to the operating system so it's not that either.  Love this wee machine, I look at the forum much more often now I've got it.  I can live without the video links anyway, was just curious... And I can watch using my PC upstairs...

[Matt T]

I was about to say that the snowdrop pollination video on Anne's website has never worked for me (blank space like the vids on your iPad)... but I've just gone to the Dryad webpage and it's there today (pencil poised over 'drop) but I still can't make it play. It is ok on YouTube though.

Can you watch BBC iPlayer on your iPad, or videos by going directly to the YouTube site? If so, your problems may just be to do with the way videos are embedded? Maybe the videos are running using Adobe Flash Player? Flash doesn't come as standard on Apple products, and whilst you can download Flash for Apple this is not advised because it doesn't seem to work terribly well and may cause more problems than it solves. I understand that HTML5 (a standard 'language' used to structure the www) should solve these problems in the future (but don't quote me on that, I'm not a techie!)

Glad to hear you have a work around on the PC so you can still enjoy all the great content on the Forum

[ChrisB]

Hi Matt,  yes both Utube and Iplayer work well for me, and video on various news web sites play just fine too.  It's just here where the link just isn't visible on any posts people make.  And it's only video, other links to web sites show up just fine.  So I just go upstairs and view them from there.  Yes ran into the Flash problem shortly after I got this, went onto the Apple forum to find out why I couldn't get to play on my games web site and found out it wasn't possible.. Grrr. I may download their app sometime to try again but on the whole trying to limit how much time I spend playing games anyway, so it's probably for the best.  Wouldn't swap my ipad though, now I've got used to the Apple way of doing things, navigation etc, I just love it.  So handy when I take photos and can then use them on the PC or my phone.

[Matt T]

You're not the only one. We bought my mum an iPad for her 60th last year. She had asked for a Kindle, but we thought an iPad would be better - she can read books on it but also do so much more. Well now it's almost impossible to prize the thing out of her hands she's that attached to it!

[rgc]

Hi
I note that a new series of the 'Great British Garden Revival' is starting on Tuesday 6th January at 7pm. In the second episode on Wednesday 7th January, Carol Klein champions daffodils.
Also note that on Tuesday 6th January at 8pm, Alan Titchmarch is starting a new series on STV (plus I assume other ITV regions) titled 'Britain's Best back Gardens.
Bob

[rob krejzl]

Just watched the Carnation segment of the latest series of 'Garden Revival'. What a pity they didn't mention Thomas Fairchild - you would have thought that the first deliberately produced hybrid was worth celebrating.

[mark smyth]

'Britain's Best Back Gardens' is crap compared to 'Great British Garden Revival'