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Embedded MOV videos cannot be played

flowstate
8 days ago

In some cases, a MOV file that's posted in the forums is embedded using the outdated object tag, and not the standard video tag.

When this happens, the file will not play when the user clicks on the video, and it may not be obvious how to play/download it at all. This applies to both Mac and Windows users.

e.g. Someone posted a MOV video [probably recorded on their iphone], and it's not directly playable by left-clicking on it, even on Apple platforms:

https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-955-series/421165/clock---jumping-minutes

  • 8 days ago

    Notes:

    - there's a generic video placeholder image instead of a real thumbnail

    - if you click the placeholder, it either goes away completely or is replaced by an error message -  "plugin unsupported" - along with a graphic of a jigsaw puzzle piece (representing old-style browser plugins which haven't worked in years)

    - both of the above things happen for Mac, iOS and Windows users, even in Safari on Mac or iOS

    - the only way to download and play the video is to right click and select Open In New Tab/Window or Open in Quicktime Player, which may not be obvious to everyone

    - I don't know why the video in this post was embedded using <object> and not <video>, as other other videos (both MP4 and MOV) have been embedded with <video> in the past and present

    - it's a problem that the forum allows MOV videos to be posted in the first place (without conversion), as Windows users will not be able to play them by default, even with the correct <video> tag. In the recent past someone posted a MOV video showing a technical problem with their watch, and a Garmin employee was unable to watch the video

    Suggestions:

    - never use <object> to embed videos, always use <video>

    - if the user uploads a MOV file, warn them it won't be viewable for many users. It would almost be better to prevent MOV files from being posted in the first place. The best solution would be to automatically convert MOV files to MP4

    [as per usuge I had to edit this post several times and split it into 2 pieces before it was accepted by the forums. Note that even "normal" forum posters, who don't make super long posts or post code, are still noticing that their posts are rejected.]