Back Online

My son discovered why the webcam wasn't working. Basically, nobody had told the software that it was okay to get information from the camera. It's fixed now, and I've got another 'look for this' item for the next time there's technical difficulties.

Related post:

• "No Picture, No Clue"
  (June 19, 2013)

Aha! Webcam's Back: and I've Got a Clue

As I posted yesterday, I've had some trouble with the webcam:

• "That's Odd: But the Webcam's Back"
  (September 25, 2012)

Today, the webcam went offline again: but this time my system told me that the problem was that Shockwave had crashed.

I'm hoping that this is a rare occurrence. If it's not, at least I know what questions to ask next time.

Back Online: Ustream Malware Issue Resolved?

The webcam's back online.

I've got some pretty good security keeping a virtual eye on my in-house software. Not even that trigger-happy crew of AI guards got concerned when I checked Ustream.tv out a few minutes ago.

Whatever was behind the malware issue that apparently affected every Ustream feed earlier today, it seems to be resolved.

Chris Crumn's updated post about the malware alert issue that plagued Ustream.tv today is the best I've found so far:

• "UStream Hacked Ahead Of Apple's WWDC?"
  Chris Crumn WebProNews (June 11, 2012)

Hats off to Chris Crumn, by the way, for providing detailed information: including (screenshots?)

Judging from some of the, ah, imaginative postings I saw elsewhere, there may be new versions of the old Google conspiracy theories brewing.

More-or-less-related posts:

• "Offline, For Now"
  (June 11, 2012)
• "Mayan Apocalypse Transition: Book a Galactic Cruise; or Take the Cosmic Bike Tour"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (February 3, 2012)
• "How to Not Sound Crazy - or - THE PARANOIDS ARE AFTER ME!!!"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (June 12, 2011)
• "Nuclear Weapons, Space Aliens, Conspiracy Theories, and Getting a Grip"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (September 24, 2010)
  Particularly
  • Threat From Boogabooga!
• "Want to be Paranoid, but Just Can't Find the Time?"
  Apathetic Lemming of the North (August 27, 2008)

Webcam, Software, and All That

I discovered that a new bit of software does not play well with my webcam. Actually, it's rather old software: but newly-installed on my computer.

This has happened before, so I know what is the easiest solution: Not run the two at the same time. That has the regrettable effect of taking the webcam offline for an hour or so on some days.

I'll try to have most of my planned outages in the evening, when there's not much to see.

Thanks in advance for your patience. Like everything else in this world, the present situation will change.

I Overslept

There are about 12 minutes of "morning" left in the Central time zone, where I live. I got the webcam up and running a minute ago, so it did return 'in the morning.' With 13 minutes to spare.

I overslept.

That's the disadvantage of using the USTREAM service. It's great: quite reliable, pretty good image quality. But, it makes demands on my system that make shutting down now and again to let the system sort itself out a very good idea.

Besides, my computer is about five years old, and I have to keep it running as long as I can. My budget is so tight, eagles on my quarters are screaming.

Enough venting for now: Enjoy the show!

Re-Thinking the Situation

Another month spent chasing down blind alleys, with no budget and little time to work on the webcam issue. And, no success.

Today, My oldest daughter, my son, and I uninstalled and re-installed all software related to the webcam. Then my oldest daughter and I spent a good part of the afternoon, looking through the software's 'help' and the publisher's website. (It's a Creative Labs product: they've got decent products and support, IMO.)

At least I now know that I will not be using the webcam's own software to post photos to the Web. The webcam is what I wanted: a working, low-cost, no-frills digital camera. But, that means that it came with no frills: including ftp / posting functions.

I'm not giving up: but in the short run, my efforts now are to find a substitute for the once-a-minute still photo posting.

Software Problems: Sorry!

Sorry about that blank picture!

I'm having what I hope are temporary problems with my webcam software.

Thank you for your patience: I am working on a solution.