Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Cup of Java, just what Verizon needed!

Plugging in... 

How many readers have NOT been enticed by the inexpensive bundles from Verizon or Comcast?? I thought so. Many savvy consumers have done something to trim their communication expenses, and a client this week was no exception. Verizon rang, client answered, voilà, bundled phone, internet and TV service for two years at a HUGE savings.

How nice that voice messages can be read and/or heard on the computer. Or not. The Tutor's client wanted to hear the voice messages, not read them and there began the research to find out why the audio player wouldn't even show its cute little face on the Verizon webpage.

The computer was a MAC. The internet brower? Safari. The operating system: OS 10.4. And Verzion posted a message at the top of their webpage: this browser is unsupported. The Tutor's client said a resounding HUH and shrugged a "now what"?

Indeed the MAC operating system was dated, as was Safari. Safari couldn't be updated without updating the OS and the MAC computer was old enough that it didn't warrant the attempt and expense. But the Tutor looked at software updates for the computer anyway. And lo and behold... a potential answer sat lurking in the update window. Java. Not a vente decaf, extra cream, mocha, whipped java. But full strength Java updates (notice the plural) for the MAC.

The Tutor suggested the MAC grab a couple of cups of Java*, drink them straight down, and see what would happen. As it turned out, the Verizon webpage message of "unsupported browser" still headlined the webpage BUT, the audio player showed up, and when clicked on, played every voice message - perfectly.

*Java: high-level, object-oriented computer programming language used especially to create interactive applications running over the Internet.

Even though Verizon clearly stated the browser was unsupported, THAT was not the problem. Don't you just love an error message needle-in-the haystack? 

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is JAVA updated, and is it turned on?

Unplugged

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