Apr 5, 2016, 8:44 am
Last edit by: JDiver
FAQ: Technical issues subsequent to the 28 Mar 2016 software update
Please use this thread to report bugs experienced with the new FT software
Please use this thread to report bugs experienced with the new FT software
Please browse the FAQ below to see if there's already an answer to your concern. Thank you for your patience and feedback.
For some issues you may be experiencing, try the following (all "in quotes" originally posted by IBobi from Admin, below):
Q. What can I do to make it easier for Admin / Tech to help me resolve issues?
Post information about the operating system and browser, specific versions and plugins you are using, whether using full desktop or mobile site, and screen shots of appropriate size to illustrate what you are seeing.
If you're unsure how to add photos or thumbnails, please read "Posting a photo / picture / image; how to embed an image in a post".
Q. Why so many problems with Windows 10? What can I do to troubleshoot the issues I'm having?
"Windows 10 is very problematic. Only a few users, and if you combine it with IE rather than Edge (which it comes with), moreso. There will only be so much we can do for you.
First, again, I recommend just switching browsers to Chrome or Firefox.
From tech, here are some other steps you can take:
1. If a user has any 3rd party plugins installed in their browser, that can sometimes cause problems. To test this, turn off all the plugins and see if the problem still occurs. If yes, then the plugins are not the problem. If no, then one or more of the plugins is probably the problem (turn them back on one at a time to identify the culprit)
2. Please confirm what browser(s) is being used on Windows 10. When they say IE, do they really mean Edge? Or did they actually install an old version of IE?
3. Are there any other non-standard configuration changes that they made on their browser. If yes, try turning them off like #1 above.
4. Provide any specific page URLs that have the problem (if problem does not occur for all pages)"
Q. What can Windows 10 and Edge, Internet Explorer users do?
"Guys, this software combo seems to be a real Edge case, so there is just not much more we can do right now.
Using a configuration that's as close as we can get to yours, our techs have not been able to replicate your issues.
This is not to say that the issue doesn't exist -- if you google "internet explorer blank tabs issue" you will see that this is IE-related and has been happening to people for years (some suggestions that it is related to having used Norton AV as well...).
I doubt there is much more we can do at this time, other than to again recommend you change browsers to Chrome or Firefox".
Q. Why am I not seeing the thread start date?
"Because this is cookie based, it may help to clear your cookies and starts fresh. Or it may just take some time for the database to reset for all threads and users."
Q. Why can I occasionally and intermittently fail to jump to the first unread post in a thread, or fail to quote for a reply, or attempt to reply and have my post jump to another thread?
We don't know yet, but these seem to be unpredictable, intermittent and possibly contained to a handful of fora. Be assured Tech is aware of these and working to solve these issues. (It's generally more difficult to solve issues when they are intermittent and not readily replicable at will.)
Q. I can't read FT on my iPhone app any longer. Why not?
The app has been unsupported for some time now; it could only be downloaded by surreptitious ways to bypass the App Store. Since the upgrade, the app no longer works. Options include the mobile skin, or using the browser on your mobile with the full desktop version.
Q. I get "500" errors trying to use the mobile site on my Blackberry. What's wring?
"We are looking into the possibility of reviving the Blackberry version, but we are not hopeful given the age and the closed nature of the Blackberry code."
Q. I can't read Wikiposts or subscribe to threads on the mobile site. Why not?
A future version of the mobile site will support both.
Q. How can I switch to the mobile or full web site?
Scroll all the way down to select Mobile Site or Full web display. This will last until ockies are replaced (~24 hours).
Q. Is there any chance FlyerTalk can reverse the "upgrade"?
"There is zero chance we are rolling back. Sorry guys.
There have indeed been a number of issues, but that doesn't mean we just stop innovating. We fix the issues and move forward. This update was an absolute necessity due to some google requirements. Going back is not an option.
We apologize for the inconvenience this caused, and we spent a great deal of time QAing the software prior to going live. But we'll address the issues and move forward, onward."
FAQ & feedback: Technical issues following the March 28 2016 software upgrade
Mar 31, 2016 | 10:26 am
#91
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
As it is now, FT makes money (by ads, presumably) due to the content provided--for free!---by its posters.
Monetizing the free content that I give you only to then turn around and make the process of giving you free content more visually distracting---but then to offer a "cleaner" look at an additional cost, is simply too much for me to accept.
There are other free websites out there that are easier to use and more enjoyable to read than this one, and I suspect that they will be happy to accept my free content. I see no reason why I need to stick around with this one...
Mar 31, 2016 | 10:30 am
#92
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
I often open up threads using tabs, using Explorer.
Since the upgrade, about 15% of the time a tab opens up with simply the heading "blank page." And then every tabbed page gets stuck and stalls, and eventually I have to shut Explorer down.
Plus the additional ads are seemingly causing pages to load slowly, or--at the very least--cause scrolling down the page to stop and stall.
So now your website isn't just visually ugly, it is also operationally deficient.
Mar 31, 2016 | 11:21 am
#93
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
no way can they find a way to charge members for a free version LOL
Mar 31, 2016 | 11:41 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA 2MM - UA 1P / Hyatt Diamond - SPG Plat / Hertz 5* - Avis 1st
Posts: 3,933
I have waited a couple of days to comment, but this new iteration still has some UX problems.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
Last edited by Wilbur; Mar 31, 2016 at 11:43 am Reason: seriously, you are censoring .......?
Mar 31, 2016 | 2:11 pm
#96
Administrator
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Internet Brands
Posts: 4,438
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page.
Mar 31, 2016 | 2:22 pm
#97
Original Poster
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
Post a screen shot please so we can know what you are seeing. The full FT site is barely changed.
Mar 31, 2016 | 7:38 pm
#98
Original Poster
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
I have waited a couple of days to comment, but this new iteration still has some UX problems.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
As an aside, it isn't just this anymore either.
I often open up threads using tabs, using Explorer.
Since the upgrade, about 15% of the time a tab opens up with simply the heading "blank page." And then every tabbed page gets stuck and stalls, and eventually I have to shut Explorer down.
Plus the additional ads are seemingly causing pages to load slowly, or--at the very least--cause scrolling down the page to stop and stall.
So now your website isn't just visually ugly, it is also operationally deficient.
I often open up threads using tabs, using Explorer.
Since the upgrade, about 15% of the time a tab opens up with simply the heading "blank page." And then every tabbed page gets stuck and stalls, and eventually I have to shut Explorer down.
Plus the additional ads are seemingly causing pages to load slowly, or--at the very least--cause scrolling down the page to stop and stall.
So now your website isn't just visually ugly, it is also operationally deficient.
First, again, I recommend just switching browsers to Chrome or Firefox.
From tech, here are some other steps you can take:
1. If a user has any 3rd party plugins installed in their browser, that can sometimes cause problems. To test this, turn off all the plugins and see if the problem still occurs. If yes, then the plugins are not the problem. If no, then one or more of the plugins is probably the problem (turn them back on one at a time to identify the culprit)
2. Please confirm what browser(s) is being used on Windows 10. When they say IE, do they really mean Edge? Or did they actually install an old version of IE?
3. Are there any other non-standard configuration changes that they made on their browser. If yes, try turning them off like #1 above.
4. Provide any specific page URLs that have the problem (if problem does not occur for all pages)
Apr 1, 2016 | 7:25 am
#99
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
I'm running Windows 7 Enterprise, and using Internet Explorer 11.
Well, you could revert to how FT looked and worked prior to running the March 28, 2016, software upgrade.....
Well, you could revert to how FT looked and worked prior to running the March 28, 2016, software upgrade.....
Apr 1, 2016 | 7:37 am
#100
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,111
2) I find it amazing that you weren't aware of all the changes that would take place when the "up"grade was applied. On any software on which I'm offered an upgrade, I always read the complete list of changes to determine whether it's something I want to do. If there was not such list given to you before applying this "up"grade, why would you not demand such?
Bottom line: the site worked fine before this disastrous "up"grade, the changes are major not minor, there are numerous bugs, ad placement is terribly intrusive.
Please consider rolling back.
Apr 1, 2016 | 8:23 am
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Silver again, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,496
I can understand why "The Organisation" chose to clutter the pages with advertisements - money.
As to the new "Report" button, I have no idea why that was deemed a necessary 'high-voltage' visual distraction.
Having got that off my chest, it's their train-set, and they can lay out the tracks as they choose. Will it stop me using FT? Of course not - it's a literally priceless resource, thanks to the population here. I would just happily pay for an ad-free version but I can understand why that might be too difficult to apply.
Getting back to the Thread Title ... I have no "Technical Issues" (iMac/Safari, iPad/Safari) - but then I don't use the FT-Lite version on mini-devices. YMMV.
Last edited by IBobi; Apr 1, 2016 at 2:08 pm
Apr 1, 2016 | 2:06 pm
#102
Original Poster
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
There is zero chance we are rolling back. Sorry guys.
There have indeed been a number of issues, but that doesn't mean we just stop innovating. We fix the issues and move forward. This update was an absolute necessity due to some google requirements. Going back is not an option.
We apologize for the inconvenience this caused, and we spent a great deal of time QAing the software prior to going live. But we'll address the issues and move forward, onward and upward!
There have indeed been a number of issues, but that doesn't mean we just stop innovating. We fix the issues and move forward. This update was an absolute necessity due to some google requirements. Going back is not an option.
We apologize for the inconvenience this caused, and we spent a great deal of time QAing the software prior to going live. But we'll address the issues and move forward, onward and upward!
Apr 1, 2016 | 3:07 pm
#103
Original Poster
No longer with Internet Brands
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: DL DM 1.6MM, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 5,343
As an aside, it isn't just this anymore either.
I often open up threads using tabs, using Explorer.
Since the upgrade, about 15% of the time a tab opens up with simply the heading "blank page." And then every tabbed page gets stuck and stalls, and eventually I have to shut Explorer down.
Plus the additional ads are seemingly causing pages to load slowly, or--at the very least--cause scrolling down the page to stop and stall.
So now your website isn't just visually ugly, it is also operationally deficient.
I often open up threads using tabs, using Explorer.
Since the upgrade, about 15% of the time a tab opens up with simply the heading "blank page." And then every tabbed page gets stuck and stalls, and eventually I have to shut Explorer down.
Plus the additional ads are seemingly causing pages to load slowly, or--at the very least--cause scrolling down the page to stop and stall.
So now your website isn't just visually ugly, it is also operationally deficient.
I have waited a couple of days to comment, but this new iteration still has some UX problems.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
If I use IE (Windows 10), every single view page now has an ad on it. I don't mean every single thread, I mean every time I press the "PgDn" key, FT serves up an ad that takes up about 20-30% of the screen. Sometimes a new ad, sometimes the same ad over and over again, and sometimes as a bonus, the identical ad will be displayed on the right hand margin of the now-shrunk FT page. The AOL that came on CDs in the mail in 1995 literally had fewer and less intrusive ads than this version.
Furthermore, some tabs fail to load anything at all in IE. I only use IE to read FT, as this has been the doctrinaire way to use FT since Randy sold it, but for the last few days reading FT on IE is an exercise in frustration.
So if I switch over to Chrome, I get several ads per thread, which is less than an ad every single screen view, but still annoying. And sometimes the page size is altered, with the FT content squeezed onto the right or the left with an ad beside it, and on one memorable occasion, the FT content was fully centered, as if e.e. cummings was the new administrator. Furthermore, some threads or fora barf on the types of ads (Flash, maybe?) that FT tries to serve up and thus fail to load at all.
So if I switch over to the Chrome with ad-blok, the ads are no longer consuming the pages or dropping the site, but now the page display has an extra 20% width of empty white space on the right hand side. Still, this is infinitely better than IE or Chrome without ad-blok, so IB might want to rectify the site before more folks switch to this cleaner view.
So if I switch to a mobile version of Chrome, well, you know the story already from previous posters above.
Using a configuration that's as close as we can get to yours, our techs have not been able to replicate your issues.
This is not to say that the issue doesn't exist -- if you google "internet explorer blank tabs issue" you will see that this is IE-related and has been happening to people for years (some suggestions that it is related to having used Norton AV as well...).
I doubt there is much more we can do at this time, other than to again recommend you change browsers to Chrome or Firefox.
Apr 2, 2016 | 1:02 am
#104
Join Date: Jul 2014
Programs: Skywards
Posts: 937
Am I the only 1 with this "error"? really annoying, scrolling and scrolling only to get to the point I finished. Should not been that hard to fix it as it worked before..