I’ve been getting a lot of support emails like this, so I figured it is time to bring the issue front and center:
Thought I would let you know that for the past week or two, I’m having a problem with your website (wattsupwiththat.com).
I can read the first few stories, fine but as I continue to scroll down, the screen goes blank (all white), and does not come back.
I am using Firefox 3.6.28 on an Imac running Mac OS 10.4.11.
My software may be outdated, but if I’m having the problem others may as well.
WordPress.com (my hosting provider) recently made yet another unannounced upgrade to the blog software that provides for continuous scroll, adding new stories as you scroll down. There seems to be no way to turn off this feature, so the only way around the problem in older browsers (Like Firefox 3.6 which is out of date) is to upgrade. Upgrades are free, just do it.
Firefox is now up to version 11.0 – get it here: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/fx/
Chrome is up to 18.0 – get it here: http://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/
Internet Explorer 9 is out, though IE8 will work just fine. IE 6/7 not so much.
Safari/Opera/others – I have no experience with them, please advise in comments
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“I am using Firefox 3.6.28 on an Imac running Mac OS 10.4.11.”
OS 10.4.11 may not be able to run anything higher than Firefox 3.6x.
I have Firefox 2.0.0.20 on XP Service Pack 2. I use it because it is light and fast with my ISP. This Browser has the issue described, except your site attempts to re-load (unsucessfully) at about mid scroll down and yours is the only site that does this. You-Tube does constantly point out that they must load “lightweight” videos to support this browser and I would say (hurray) that makes loading faster. But their attitude is somewhat odd since news sites like Yahoo and HuffPost insist on loading massive pix and videos on my system (what a DRAG). I also run Better Privacy which helps the speed.
Many of the newer software programs insist on Service Pack 3 which is generally not necessary for an XP home computer and has it’s own problems there-in. Yep, don’t plan on converting anytime soon and as long as I attend your site frequently, my particular problem is not too noticeable.
Rats! I hate upgrading because it messes up my bookmarks every time. I have been pressing the back button, and I get the original page again. Then if I scroll down very quickly I can see what I missed the first time around. Eventually it goes blank again, but by then I will have at least looked at the current crop of entries.
Have had no problems with Safari 5.0.5 on Mac OS 10.6.8.
/Mr Lynn
What upsets me most is the fact that wordpress won’t let me share on my FB page. I have to do that C+P thing all the time. Apparantly, there’s no love.
If Wheeples that don’t have the whathereto to keep their own browser working properly, (snipped it myself. :-p)
Safari Version 5.1 under Mac OS X Lion (10.7.3) works just fine with the latest changes to WordPress.
XP works ok except to paste into reply I have to type a few spaces then use directional arrows to back into the spaces then paste.
Update for the reader Anthony cites:
I think Firefox 3.6.x is the highest version the OS 10.4.x user can run. FF 4 requires 10.5.
/Mr Lynn
Just FYI – I’ve been having this same problem for a couple of months now, when I read the site on my iPad, and I assure you it is completely current on all updates. Sometimes the next few stories will load when I get to the bottom, and sometimes they won’t (more often, not).
I don’t like to complain, though. You do such a great job, and I know it ain’t easy!
There’s no problem at all under Windows 7, and IE9. WordPress blogs all display flawlessly at my house.
Never had a problem at WUWT with various computers, XP and Win 7 at home and office.Running Firefox, some of them on beta test of the latest Firefox.
But then the 57 Chev does not have cruise control.
Keep up the good work. Don’t let the complaints drag you down.
Yes I had noted this change to scrolling perhaps a couple of weeks ago.
I run Firefox, which is regularly and automatically updated, on XP. I have had little trouble with the changeover, if you are in a white space below the last article it is only necessary to move the cursor, presumably to show you are active, and WordPress then fills in the rest.
I am undecided as to whether I like the change but I do not have a choice. It took a few days getting used to but it seems to work.
Kindest Regards
Suck it up people… get some new toys… life is change.
Macmini , Lion , firefox 11.0
Regular quadcore desktop PC with IE9 and Windows 7 Ultimate, has always worked like a charm. Good, reliable Microsoft did the job again.
For older OS X versions, try Camino (Google “Camino Browser”). The latest version is supported on 10.4. Camino uses the same Gecko rendering engine that Firefox does and is optimized for OS X. I always keep an updated copy around for those rare times that Safari has an issue with a site. The author does an outstanding job and it’s always free.
Firefox 11.0? Heck, I’m on version 12.0, although I believe that it’s technically still a beta build. 🙂
Opera 11.62 working just fine on WUWT Anthony … under Win Xp 32-bit SP3 on a 2.8 GHz Intel Pentium w/2 GM RAM in the from of a Dell OptiPlex GX270 platform, an old workhorse that does show it’s age (speed wise) these days on the more ‘feature-rich’ websites running gobs and gobs of CPU-cycle stealing scripts!
The new (to me) Dell 755 Intel Core 2 Duo (destined to replace the Dell GX270) runs like greased lighting though, so maybe it’s time to switch to it and leave this old dog for backup or ‘fallback’ service.
.
Been having more and more problems with WUWT for the last couple months. I’m using Firefox 3.0.19 on XP SP3. MY main problem is with the WUWT home page load time: >12 secs on a 15MB/s Comcast line which is twice as long as it takes to load Yahoo with all its extra fluff. Not planning on upgrading my Firefox as I agree with Master of ObsoleteTechnology, so I may have to change my homepage from WUWT to something else.
REPLY: My goodness what obstinance. The download time is directly proportionate to the speed of the obsolete rendering engine in your ancient version of FireFox. Try Chrome, and if you don’t want to do that, then you’ll be left out, because the Internet isn’t going to stop for you and there’s nothing I can do to help you if you don’t want to help yourself. – Anthony
I have had no problems with Chrome or Firefox on Win7. But I check the site 3 or 4 times a day and don’t get more than two or three stories down the list unless I am going back to check on conversations in the comments. Sometimes I learn more there than the original articles (though the articles are always good too).
“Dennis Cox says: (April 3, 2012 at 7:45 pm_
There’s no problem at all under Windows 7, and IE9. WordPress blogs all display flawlessly at my house.”
I too have Windows 7 & IE9, but I have seen this problem on my laptop.
i scroll down and get a white out after 4 or 5 headings, using mac os10.4.11 and safari 3.04
REPLY: Which means you need a modern browser and/or a more recent OS, the reason for this post – Anthony
@Master of ObsoleteTechnology 7:17 pm
“…news sites like Yahoo and HuffPost insist on loading massive pix and videos on my system (what a DRAG).”
Yeah, HuffPo got so cluttered, I gave up on it. So much stuff is dupes, and I can’t even find what I want.
Steve Garcia
I run Chrome with its auto updates and never have a problem here. Occasionally Climate Audit gives a problem with long headings wrapping and overlapping the next line, but I suspect that is the site, not the browser.
Firefox 11 0r Win Explorer 8 or up + Backup your bookmarks = no problems ever!
I’m using SeaMonkey Version 2.8. I have never had any problems viewing WUWT with any version of SM. SM is similar to Firefox, except that it comes with its own email client.