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My software may be outdated, but if I’m having the problem others may as well.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
PS: On Win XP or my other Comp.. on Win 7
Recommending using software versions with known security holes is irresponsible advice and a receipt for getting infected with malware. Windows XP SP3 + all later security updates is necessary if you have any interest in keeping your system secure,
Microsoft stopped supporting Windows XP SP2 on July13, 2010. Extended support for Windows XP SP3 is through April 8, 2014 at which time it is recommended you upgrade to Windows 7, 8 or a current Linux Distro.
Windows lifecycle fact sheet
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle
The problems people have had with upgrading to Windows XP SP3 (or any service pack) are almost exclusively due to malware infections or faulty hardware. Make sure your system is clean before installing any service pack by running the following,
1. Kaspersky Anti-rootkit TDSSKiller, http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363
2. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Malwarebytes-AntiMalware/1186760019/1
Overview of Windows XP Service Pack 3:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/8/7/687484ed-8174-496d-8db9-f02b40c12982/Overview%20of%20Windows%20XP%20Service%20Pack%203.pdf
“Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes. It also includes select out-of-band releases, and a small number of new enhancements, which do not significantly change customers’ experience with the operating system.”
Firefox 2.0.x has 154 security vulnerabilities,
http://secunia.com/advisories/product/12434/
WUWT works fine with;
Chrome v18.x
Firefox v11.x
IE v9.x
Opera v11.x
Please use the latest version of each browser.
Chrome shows a wrench symbol in the upper right corner. That will have a symbol with it – an arrow pointing up – when an update is available. With a click on the wrench (“tool kit”) (“tools”) a drop-down menu appears and you can learn the version number you have or okay an update.
18.0.1025.142 this is the current version as of 4/3/2012 8:43:19 PM PST.
Using Palemoon which is Firefox without some of the bloat.
I am rather Puzzled that people don’t mention “Opera”, much. It’s been available for about 20 years or so, the Computing magazines are ignoring it, now, after having put it in their CDs and DVDs. My question is, WHY do they ignore it?
This is probably the best of the web browsers, but no one seems to know it.
REPLY: Probably because the name sounds hoighty-toity. That, and I hate opera, you couldn’t drag me into a theater. Dislike by association. – Anthony
Just a note, if you cannot make up your mind what browser to use, try Google Chrome, since it auto-updates itself it should effectively eliminate this problem in the future.
Anthony, I think it was the second week of February I first noted odd behavior. I was running Firefox 10.0.6 on an XP OS with SP3. I have since updated to Firefox 11.0, and see no change. If they want to call it continuous scrolling, fine. My only complaint is the lack of access to the recent ‘older’ posts beyond the first page, without going to the monthly files. I can live with it, it seems a shame software ‘improvements’ often are not.
I’ve never had a problem on your site. I’m using Palemoon pretty much exclusively now. It’s basically a 64-bit port of Firefox.
Opera works best for me [on dial-up] but it does not load the whole WUWT home page. Blank after several posts are listed as Gary mentions above.
Not a problem using Opera because I just scroll down to archives and click on the current month. Loads everything.
Firefox loads the whole homepage but is slower than my patience allows for most functions.
Using a gateway 2.2ghz pc,
WinXP, serv pac 3
Firefox ver 11 [up to date as of a few minutes ago]
Opera ver 11.61 [up to date as of a few minutes ago]
Oh, noes! My poor Links2 text browser (on eLive 2.0 v 3 Linux) will get all covered in dust, from trailing all those bright shiny High-powered Windoze browsers!
Interesting effect: now the comments don’t show except when the Page Source is displayed….
This, by the bye, is being posted from Iceweasel 3.0.6 (light-weight version of FireFox).
Have any of you been reading E M Smith (Chiefio)? I strongly suspect some of that heavy load of data which is slowing your page-loading might be all those Tracking Scripts which seem to be all the rage at present.
I had to quit using Opera for most stuff because of that heavy load of pix and scripts. One page (Best of the Web Today) took over a minute to load; it loads in Links2 in about 10 seconds….
I love Links2 because it *doesn’t load videos. * doesn’t do any other moving graphics *doesn’t do tracking scripts *displays the text in a nice, readable decent-sized serif font…
And it still shows still images.
Just give me the reading material! I want to read, not squint at jittery images…!
Call me an Unreconstructed Old Fart!
After enjoying this web site for the last four years I never thought the over worked guy would have to browbeat us to upgrade our browsers. Every member of the Watts Hoard owes it to the man to upgrade his or her browser.
Opera mini 6.5.27309 on a Nokia E6 running Symbian Anna and set as one of its RSS feeds works perfectly.
Posted from my Nokia E6, etc. 🙂
Ummm … so does Opera. (Website: http://www.opera.com/ , pitching for informational purposes only)
Wiki pitch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_(web_browser)
Disclosure: Successfully using Opera since Version 6 on a 500 MHz P3 (Piii) Pentium under Win98SE … It blew the socks off IE and Netscape back then even.
If you liked a particular previous version (for whatever reason) those are available too (like for use on old hardware like a Pii or Piii Pentium):
http://www.opera.com/browser/download/?os=windows&list=all
.
As a web developer I can tell you all that for the best online experience Chrome is the best browser with the most modern features. If any of you are using Internet Explorer, PLEASE change your browser. The web developer community can only get better and faster the sooner we kill off Internet Explorer.
Firefox used to be good, but they have now moved to rapid release (basically means they upgrade almost everyday, but the user will get browser bugs and all). So no longer the best option.
My 2 cents. Always wanted to contribute here, but I’m no scientist.
@Alan Wilkinson
You are correct, that is bad (code) development. Nothing to do with the browser.
My mobile browser had been doing the same thing for more than a month with going blank or displaying just the Google Ad after the home page loads. I updated browser today (Dolphin) and no change. DAMN THAT GLOBAL WARMING.
Turning off Java scripting solves the problem on older browsers
Safari 5.1.5 and OS X 10.7.3 and all works fine.
No problem on iPhone or iPad for me. Late version Firefox works just fine too. I refuse to use Microshaft so cannot comment on that.
If you are on Mac PowerPC your choices are limited. Try TenFourFox or OmniWeb.
F. Ross,
Opera is on 11.62 now. Your few minutes ago is really stretched!! 8>)
Looks like it’s time to throw out those closed proprietary systems and install Linux. Who ever heard of an OS that wouldn’t let you upgrade your browser, what a ridiculous notion.
I use an imac G3 with OS10.4.11 and Safari 4.10.3. The old G3 is my print and ftp server also hosts the scanner. It is slow but reliable. Just Tested WUWT it works fine with WUWT or most other sites.
I get crashes with firefox 14.0a1 (aka “Nightly”, an alpha testing version for upcoming releases). no problems with FF 11.0 or IE8.
Firefox can indeed not be updated on Mac OS X 10.4.11 to version 4 or higher. This is indeed annoying for those of us with older Power PC macs.
There are possibilities however. As has already been mentioned Camino browser on OS X works well on PPC architecture and is actually my full time browser on my G4.
If you insist on using Firefox, then there is the excellent tenfourfox! Mozilla don’t build FF anymore for PPC, but these guys continue to do so. I believe they’ve even managed to adapt JaegerMonkey. http://www.floodgap.com/software/tenfourfox/