Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: Admin on April 08, 2017, 04:59:15 AM

Title: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 08, 2017, 04:59:15 AM
Hi Zoners,

Over the next few days I am going to be updating the Zone (full site) to https (SSL).  We are doing all of our sites and the Zone is next in line :).

A few notes. 

1. This has gone smoothly on most sites so far but did cause some down time on one site.  I will try to keep that minimal.

2. Please let me know if you encounter any strange behaviors after this is complete.

3.  If you manage any sites, I would highly suggest that you also update to https now.  Google and others have been getting increasingly forceful about this and Google has indicated that the following will be displayed for http in Chrome on all sites later this year.  This applies to all pages and assets regardless of if the page has any forms, payment or info transfer that would have previously suggested a need for a secure layer.  This of course will be majorly frightening to any site user who is not aware of the risks and they would understandably think that the site has in some way been compromised. 

(https://www.wordfence.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/blog-image-2.png)
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 08, 2017, 07:13:50 AM
Hopefully some of the apps for managing HTTPS have become a bit more friendly. Last time I went through this for the old KeNalu site it was a day of fiddling and then a few hours every few weeks to fix problems. When I sold the biz to Lane he replaced the site--huge mistake. I warned him not to.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 08, 2017, 02:46:54 PM
We should be all set now.  Please let me know if you are noticing any site issues or pages that do not show the Lock and the word "Secure" in Chrome.

Thanks
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 08, 2017, 03:22:48 PM
This link still not working.  http://www.standupzone.com/forum/action=forum

Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 08, 2017, 04:41:07 PM
Hi Tall,

Thanks.  Please let me know where on the site you found that link.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 08, 2017, 05:12:08 PM
It's from a link that's been in my fav's for a long time. The link in my favorites shows as www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php
When I select the link, it loads like this.....
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 08, 2017, 06:21:19 PM
Odd. Had a strange error. Accessed with a different link. Read this post. All's well that ends well. Windows 10 phone.

Hardy har har!

Had to delete my old link from my favorites bar; reacccess from explorer and save the new one. Its now at the end of a long list. Sad!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 08, 2017, 07:29:55 PM
I will see if we can improve the redirects.  More soon.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 08, 2017, 07:59:03 PM
Thanks. Mo bettah unless I activate top sites in my explorer start. If I press on zone it blows up only from top site though.

And on the seventh day El Supremo created Windows 10 mobile for tablets. But the new creators update is actually better.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: manta on April 09, 2017, 12:00:41 AM
Viewing from Tapatalk has been problematic. It refuses to log in. All the other forums work. I just kept trying everything and eventually something worked. Not sure who else uses Tapatalk.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: yugi on April 09, 2017, 04:19:56 AM
Hopefully some of the apps for managing HTTPS have become a bit more friendly. Last time I went through this for the old KeNalu site it was a day of fiddling and then a few hours every few weeks to fix problems. When I sold the biz to Lane he replaced the site--huge mistake. I warned him not to.

The KeNalu site doesn't show up well on mobile devices. (to not say it sucks)

No info on shafts (or impossible to find)

Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 09, 2017, 05:28:35 AM
This link still not working.  http://www.standupzone.com/forum/action=forum

I had the same problem last night and this morning. I had to google the Zone site which gave me a different address. This is how I got back here. Now I've got to change the Zone address on my other 6 hard drives (Linux Mint 18.1, Windows 7) for my other 3 computers.

BTW, it is great to be back.  :)
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 08:03:58 AM
Hi guys,

Please try those bookmarks again now and let me know.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 09, 2017, 08:26:32 AM
I've got one small problem with one browser.

In Windows 7, I have four browsers in my arsenal. They are:

Pale Moon 27.2.1 (default browser)
SeaMonkey 2.46 (backup browser)
Firefox 52.0.2
Internet Explorer 10

I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10. I might be able to with Internet Explorer 11, but since one cannot disable tabbed browsing in IE 11, this is the reason I stuck with IE 10 since disabling tabbed browsing in IE 10 is allowed. Now I know IE 10 is not supported by Microsoft and I'm sure websites don't want to support IE 10 so I'm ok with that.

As long as I can access the Zone site with Pale Moon, SeaMonkey and Firefox; I'm not in any bind because I can still get my daily "fix" for the Zone with these three browsers. Besides, Internet Explorer came with Windows 7 and I hardly ever use it.

One nice bonus about linux. There is no Internet Explorer version for linux and all three browsers mentioned above, all have linux versions which allow me access to the Zone since I'm in linux Mint 18.1 (Serena) Xfce, 99% of the time.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 08:40:41 AM
I've got one small problem with one browser.

I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10.

What URL is failing in IE 10?
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 09, 2017, 09:29:50 AM
I've got one small problem with one browser.

I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10.

What URL is failing in IE 10?

With IE 10, the link below fails.

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 09, 2017, 09:55:06 AM
Another posting issue. If I type a post and leave to another browser or open a photo editing program while in the middle of my post, the '+ Attachments and other options' button doesn't work? I have to delete the post and restart a new post. Then paste in my text from the old post and without opening any other browsers or launch any programs, I am able to activate the 'Attachments' features. That's my work around for now.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 10:06:16 AM
I've got one small problem with one browser.

I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10.

What URL is failing in IE 10?

With IE 10, the link below fails.

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/

Please try this link: https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 10:11:24 AM
Another posting issue. If I type a post and leave to another browser or open a photo editing program while in the middle of my post, the '+ Attachments and other options' button doesn't work? I have to delete the post and restart a new post. Then paste in my text from the old post and without opening any other browsers or launch any programs, I am able to activate the 'Attachments' features. That's my work around for now.

Hi Tall,

Did we clear your earlier Favorites issue?  Is this new issue in Chrome?
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 09, 2017, 10:50:12 AM
I've got one small problem with one browser.

I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10.

What URL is failing in IE 10?

With IE 10, the link below fails.

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/

Please try this link: https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php

I'm using Windows 7 at the moment using IE 10. Clicking on the link above you gave me in your last post to me doesn't work either. The link redirects me to a page which says:

Quote
This page can't be displayed

•Make sure the web address https://www.standupzone.com is correct.
•Look for the page with your search engine.
•Refresh the page in a few minutes.
•Make sure TLS and SSL protocols are enabled. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Settings > Security

I'm not concerned I can't connect to the Zone forum site using IE 10. Like I previously said, I can get to the Zone with three other windows browsers (Pale Moon, SeaMonkey, Firefox). Besides, I'm using linux Mint 99% of the time now instead of Windows 7. The linux browser versions of Pale Moon, SeaMonkey and Firefox all work to get me to the Zone.

This may only affect someone else who is using IE 10 as their default browser in Windows and who doesn't have another browser as a backup windows browser.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: LaPerouseBay on April 09, 2017, 11:11:21 AM
/
I've got one small problem with one browser.
/
I can't connect to the Zone site at all with Internet Explorer 10.
/
With IE 10, the link below fails.
/
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/

Nightwing, do yourself (and everyone else on the zone) a favor and dump that Explorer shit.  Has Microsoft abandoned support for version 10 yet?  If so, you are begging for a virus.
 
Admin is beyond capable to keep the site safe, but what the hell is up with you?  Why would someone with the time to fart around with multiple versions of linux waste time with such a bloated/outdated/dangerous browser?

Please search google on the dangers of Explorer.  It's bad news.  Chrome is much safer.  Hackers love Explorer.  It's been that way forever.  I just did a quick search and all those old versions are going to get raped.  Tough days ahead for those that don't realize how dangerous it's getting on the internet.

Big thanks to our intrepid Admins for doing so much behind the scenes to keep the site going.   
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 09, 2017, 01:00:42 PM
Aloha Randy,
My last couple of posts had You Tube vid clip links that are invisible but screen space is reserved for them...checked on Chrome and Firefox...example attached...
BTW...site would not open with Safari...
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 02:15:04 PM
Hi Wardog,

The forums video embedder is a little picky about youtube URL's.  It likes this one

Code: [Select]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8s9JIDZgXo but it sometimes chokes on the youtu.be varieties.  I changed your post the full URL and get this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8s9JIDZgXo

I opened a ticket about this to see if we can get some improvement on the youtu.be links.

Are you using Safari for Windows?  Please let me know the version #.  Browsers that are are no longer getting updates can cause issues but they may still have settings that will allow use. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 09, 2017, 03:07:28 PM
Aloha Randy,
Gracias...and, much appreciation for keeping the site secure...

Sheesh...I see that the last update to Safari for Windows was 5.1.7 ~ three years ago...no longer supported...FWIW, I almost never use it...haven't been on a Mac or Apple product since the mid-80's...'cept for wifey's iPads and waterproof iPods......;-)

Here is my other post today where the You Tube links are invisible...TIA for retro fix...

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,31607.msg350883/topicseen.html#new

BTW, here's another anomaly...I had an issue where I had two SUZ windows open and it wouldn't let me upload an image to a thread until I shut both windows down and re-logged on to modify my original post...

Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 09, 2017, 03:56:23 PM
@LaPerouseBay

The Windows 7 operating system is my BACKUP operating system. My DEFAULT operating distribution is linux Mint 18.1 and it is the one I use everyday. So in linux, I have three linux browsers and they are:

Pale Moon 27.2.1 (Default browser which is my everyday browser I surf the net with)
SeaMonkey 2.46 (Backup browser if some site doesn't work in Pale Moon)
Firefox 52.0.2 (which is installed by the the linux Mint Update Manager and I don't use Firefox)

It is a lot harder to get a virus in linux than it is in Windows since most viruses and malware programs are targeted at Windows. For an experiment, I once downloaded one of the ransom ware programs and it couldn't install on my linux Mint experimental hard drive.

In Windows 7, I use the same browsers above but in their windows versions. IE 10 is installed in all of my Windows 7 hard drives. I didn't install IE 11 because one can't disable tabbed browsing in IE 11. Also, if one looks in Programs & Features in the windows Control Panel, IE 10 is not listed so one cannot uninstall it. In order to uninstall IE 10, one would have to go into Windows Update to find the list of updates where IE 10 is listed as installed and then uninstall it. But I think some things in Windows are tied to IE so it might not be wise to uninstall IE 10. So for me, with regards to IE 10, it is better to be safe and leave it alone and not tempt fate with Murphy's Law if you get my drift.

It does not bother me that I can't connect to the Zone site using IE 10. As long as I can connect to the Zone site or any other site which interest me using the other three browsers listed above, this is fine with me. I just thought is was odd that my other three browsers can connect to the Zone site, but IE cannot. This is just the long and short of it.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 09, 2017, 05:22:48 PM
Surfed today. Just went back and added Top Sites back in my Explorer 11 Windows 10 browser with the Creators Update. Sounds wholly to me.

All fixed Randy! Can access from the Task Bar or Top Sites. Muchas gracias compadre!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: LaPerouseBay on April 09, 2017, 05:44:24 PM
/
In order to uninstall IE 10, one would have to go into Windows Update to find the list of updates where IE 10 is listed as installed and then uninstall it. But I think some things in Windows are tied to IE so it might not be wise to uninstall IE 10. So for me, with regards to IE 10, it is better to be safe and leave it alone and not tempt fate with Murphy's Law if you get my drift.
/

Microsoft stopped updating IE10 back in Jan of 2016 and warned everyone using it to move on. 

If you choose to keep running it, that's on you.  Hackers exploit IE10. 

Admin's recent update of the zone inspired me to spend all day yesterday cleaning up my system and updating security.  A bit more to go, but almost there. 

My data gets shared across all platforms automatically, on the cloud.  Improvements come fast, along with threats.  I'm an eternal novice at this stuff and need it safe, dependable and seamless for my work.  I'm a bit frazzled.  Sorry I snapped at you, hope your shoulder is healing up well.     
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 09, 2017, 06:00:17 PM
Hi Guys,

I think we have found the source of the video issues.  I will see if we can get video in much better shape.   I will keep chasing these stragglers down.  I appreciate your patience.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Night Wing on April 10, 2017, 12:22:04 AM
Microsoft stopped updating IE10 back in Jan of 2016 and warned everyone using it to move on. 

If you choose to keep running it, that's on you.  Hackers exploit IE10. 

Admin's recent update of the zone inspired me to spend all day yesterday cleaning up my system and updating security.  A bit more to go, but almost there. 

My data gets shared across all platforms automatically, on the cloud.  Improvements come fast, along with threats.  I'm an eternal novice at this stuff and need it safe, dependable and seamless for my work.  I'm a bit frazzled.  Sorry I snapped at you, hope your shoulder is healing up well.   

I don't think you get it. The IE 10 browser does not run in linux Mint. Linux Mint is my daily operating distro just like your daily operating system you use is Windows. I do not have any antivirus program installed in linux Mint either because at this point in time, an antivirus program installed in linux is basically bloatware. And I don't share my files with anyone. Now, as an experiment, there is a way to run the windows Internet Explorer browser in linux, but it would have to run under Wine, but when I tried it, Internet Explorer was buggy as hell. In linux Mint, I only use the linux browsers which I've already named.

The only reason I have to use Windows 7 is because I take care of my sister-in-law's computer since she is not tech savvy and runs Windows 7. I put the Windows version of Teamviewer on her computer running Windows 7 and I put the linux version of Teamviewer on my linux Mint distro. Since she lives 221 miles from me, any problems she encounters that she can't fix on her own, I can fix by taking control of her computer remotely. If I can't solve her problem in her Windows 7 hard drive, I load the same problem in my Windows 7 experimental hard drive and then I figure it out. Then I call her back with the solution where I put the fix on her Windows 7 hard drive by way of Teamviewer.

If you ever decide to learn another operating system other than Windows, there are many linux distros out there for anyone to play around with and about 95% of them are free to download as an iso which you can burn to a live DVD disk which means you can play around with the distro without installing the distro to your hard drive. The best place to find many of these linux distros is at the DistroWatch site and the link to it is below.

http://distrowatch.com/

Now, I'm always curious when it comes to computers, linux and I enjoy experimentation. As for hackers, there are many linux distros out there on the internet for downloading and playing around with. One linux distro is strictly used for "penetration testing" which is a politically correct way of saying, "hacking" since this distro comes fully equipped with many programs you would need to learn hacking. This linux distro is named, "Kali" and I've played around with it strictly for "educational purposes" on my part which means I like to expand my horizons by self learning if you get my drift. The link to it is below if you ever feel "adventurous".  ;)

https://www.kali.org/



Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: LaPerouseBay on April 10, 2017, 04:08:42 PM

I don't think you get it.


Precisely.


The IE 10 browser does not run in linux Mint.
/

I don't have the chops for Linux.  I honestly wish I did, Linux sounds fascinating. 

Start a thread on Linux.  Or continue to talk to yourself about it in random threads.  You are not the only zoner using it (or capable thereof as you have insinuated in a previous thread).  A pro that earns money working with Linux pointed that out to you a while back.  I could get charming and dig up your posts, but I'll stick to this thread and leave it there.     

/
And I don't share my files with anyone.
/

I do.  Protocol is important to the contractors I work with.  Concerning the web they are as risk averse as I am - some far more.     

/
I'm using Windows 7 at the moment using IE 10.
/

Hope that works out well for you. 
Admin's response to your statement above allays my fear of malicious code on the zone. 

Regardless, I will avoid clicking any links you post up.  (note to self, review hovering and inspecting links.  Sigh...)   
Am I overly suspicious of the interwebs? 
Probably without a doubt to those in the know.  I'm not a member of that club. 

/
One linux distro is strictly used for "penetration testing" which is a politically correct way of saying, "hacking" since this distro comes fully equipped with many programs you would need to learn hacking. This linux distro is named, "Kali" and I've played around with it strictly for "educational purposes" on my part which means I like to expand my horizons by self learning if you get my drift. The link to it is below if you ever feel "adventurous".  ;)
/

No, I don't get your "drift".  I'll take the same approach with "Kali" as I would with potential violence.  Step 1, if possible, run away. 
I think it's in my DNA.
   
Never had trouble and hope to keep it that way.
Knock wood.

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj308/risley47/JagJQ1_zps3orp1tp9.gif) (http://s275.photobucket.com/user/risley47/media/JagJQ1_zps3orp1tp9.gif.html)



 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: surfinJ on April 10, 2017, 10:28:03 PM
Vimeo doesn't embed anymore.

https://vimeo.com/212286904
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Dusk Patrol on April 11, 2017, 01:06:22 AM
Would love to see Blue Crab's "Spring Downwinder" if you're able to debug that.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 11, 2017, 01:52:59 AM
Hey J, mondo bizarre. No problemo in Windows..
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 11, 2017, 06:00:31 AM
Hi guys,

We are working on the video embedder.  Some video types are not playing well with this recent update and are not showing up.  Not to worry, we will get those working again and hopefully we will get rid of some previous video oddities in the process.  This may take a couple of days so thanks for your patience.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 11, 2017, 06:02:50 AM
No worries!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Board Stiff on April 11, 2017, 07:18:21 AM
Hi Admin,

In case it helps with your troubleshooting, I noticed this morning that Chrome was showing a little shield icon in the far right of the URL bar. When I clicked it and selected "run unsafe scripts", the videos starting working. Unfortunately the security indicator at the left of the URL bar is now showing "Not secure".

Some temporary disruption is well worth the benefits of going to SSL, so thanks for your work on this!  :)

BS
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 11, 2017, 07:32:27 AM
Yes.  We need to switch video embedder versions but the best version is in conflict with our portal and our image embedders.  We will get that worked out shortly.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 11, 2017, 07:46:38 AM
One of the problems I ran into with SSL is that insecure links on a secure page aren't permitted. If a link is from a secure site (like Youtube) but is shared as insecure content through URL conversion, then it makes the page insecure. Chrome, in particular, gets bitchy about this, but all browsers at least report it and a lot of them block it. Could be your problem.

The unconverted page URL for the video above doesn't work either, though it pops out space for the viewer. Probably a combination of both embedder issues and SSL wankiness. The bitch is that it's harder to isolate problems when they combine.
https://vimeo.com/212286904

And YES, if you tell Chrome to load the unsafe script (red icon on the right side of the browsing bar) then the video does indeed embed, and the icon changes to Not Secure, turns https red, and strikes it through. Maybe the embedder itself is insecure? Is it running in an SSL directory? I note that once I tell Chrome to run the insecure script then it works sitewide, and all the videos appear, but every page with a video is marked insecure.

(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-11%20at%208.11.09%20AM.png)

(http://www.ponostyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Screen%20Shot%202017-04-11%20at%208.11.32%20AM.png)

Interesting that it doesn't bitch about photos from an insecure site. Local buffering? I don't really understand SSL. On the KeNalu site I had to stamp out issues one at a time.

The Wild Coast video is a ten, though it made me super horny to go surf (maybe that's why they call it surf porn), even if I have to wear a wetsuit. Might have to hit the Oregon Coast and suffer a bit. Seven to eight foot swell coming on Thursday. Hmmm.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 11, 2017, 09:14:12 AM
Interesting that it doesn't bitch about photos from an insecure site.

We are using a proxy to handle image requests from the forum.  The video thing will be fixed when we get the best embedder version running.  The old version is working for most of the accepted video sources.  Youtube standard is working but Youtube short URL and Vimeo are failing.  They will load in Edge and Safari but both Chrome and Firefox need a script warning override.  The best version of the embedder that we use will correct these issues, but it is blowing up other functions.  We will get this sorted. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Dusk Patrol on April 11, 2017, 11:14:29 AM
^ Seeing this post, I used Safari (iPhone 6; IOS 10.2.1)  to load the Zone, but the 'Late Spring Downwinder' video still did not appear.  If helpful at all...

I'm fixated on seeing that video because I had a family obligation that day in Seattle and I want to see what I missed!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 11, 2017, 02:35:22 PM
^ Seeing this post, I used Safari (iPhone 6; IOS 10.2.1)  to load the Zone, but the 'Late Spring Downwinder' video still did not appear.  If helpful at all...

I'm fixated on seeing that video because I had a family obligation that day in Seattle and I want to see what I missed!

This will all clear up at once when the fix is worked out...in theory :)
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 11, 2017, 03:12:30 PM
Aloha Randy,
On a small related bug fix note...my animated .gif profile image is kinda broke...it shows up on the UI under SUZ logo when I log in...but, not on individual posts...
Weird, because it's working for BluePlanet Robert's avatar...
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 11, 2017, 03:36:31 PM
Hi Wardog,

That is an odd one.  Would you mind saving your avatar to your desktop, deleting it from your profile and then uploading it again?  Please change the file name before you upload. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 12, 2017, 07:45:51 AM
Hi Wardog,

That is an odd one.  Would you mind saving your avatar to your desktop, deleting it from your profile and then uploading it again?  Please change the file name before you upload.

Aloha Randy,
When the GIF is uploaded it doesn't animate...it shows the first static frame only...similar to a post image attachment...so, I used the "Specify avatar by URL" function which displays the animated GIF hosted and served from my website...

http://supsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/sups_wd_anim2a-2a.gif
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 12, 2017, 09:57:48 AM
Hi,

Please try to downsize the gif to 90 pixels largest dimension and use the upload feature again.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 12, 2017, 10:47:07 AM
Hi,

Please try to downsize the gif to 90 pixels largest dimension and use the upload feature again.

Done...but, still only displays first frame of the GIF animation for profile on posts and the member welcome area under SUZ logo...before the upload, that top avatar was animating with GIF from my URL...
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 12, 2017, 11:24:31 AM
Hey Wardog, I don't remember ever seeing your avatar animate. I'm pretty sure it's always just looked like it does now, the first frame. I'm wondering if you could see it on your end, but we never could?
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 12, 2017, 11:39:35 AM
Hey Wardog, I don't remember ever seeing your avatar animate. I'm pretty sure it's always just looked like it does now, the first frame. I'm wondering if you could see it on your end, but we never could?

It definitely animated...same program that I use to generate our GIF animated banner ads on the left...and, similar to BluePlanet Robert's animated avatar...
Do you see his?
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 12, 2017, 01:03:17 PM
Wardog,
Your avatar link looks like this on Chrome   https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=82802;type=avatar
   Roberts looks like this                              https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=67390;type=avatar
This may be meaningless?

When I open your index.php in a separate window it shows a static image. Robert's shows animated. Your's probably was animated, I just wasn't paying that close attention. Drop Robert a pm to see how he loaded his. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 12, 2017, 02:14:18 PM
Hey Wardog, I don't remember ever seeing your avatar animate. I'm pretty sure it's always just looked like it does now, the first frame. I'm wondering if you could see it on your end, but we never could?

It definitely animated...same program that I use to generate our GIF animated banner ads on the left...and, similar to BluePlanet Robert's animated avatar...
Do you see his?

I gave you a little bad info above.  The largest dimension is 80 pixels.  I manually changed the dimensions to 80 in Photoshop and it took. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 12, 2017, 04:58:58 PM
No worries Randy...it auto-resized the GIF linked from my site before...
Any progress on the video embedding?
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 12, 2017, 05:19:10 PM
Still working on that one.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 12, 2017, 06:08:14 PM
This is all way too familiar. I assume the newer SSL systems rescue all your search engine rankings. the first time I moved KeNalu to HTTPS all my links broke and we disappeared. Poof

So that was fun.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: SUP Sports ® on April 12, 2017, 06:29:44 PM
This is all way too familiar. I assume the newer SSL systems rescue all your search engine rankings. the first time I moved KeNalu to HTTPS all my links broke and we disappeared. Poof

So that was fun.

LOL...zackly why my original hand coded .asp site www.surfingsports.com pretty much remains structurally the same after 18 years...which is like centuries in the internet age...don't want to lose all of the organic SEO traction we gained before Amazon and You Tube existed...however, do I have some stories about keeping www.supsports.com at the bleeding edge of crosstown traffic...;-)
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 12, 2017, 07:46:35 PM
I assume the newer SSL systems rescue all your search engine rankings.

We have htaccess managing redirects to the new secure URLs from outmoded links.  The search engines will crawl right through that and update themselves to the new versions over time.  That is already happening.  Our sitemap updates a few times a day and provides correct links for the bots to help this along.  That all seems to be solid now. 

We are having some conflicts that still need resolving.  Video is sloppy.  We should have this squared shortly. 

Always a hassle but it is better to get ahead of this stuff.  Google decides. 
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: southwesterly on April 12, 2017, 09:48:11 PM
 I've found that since the upgrade I have some big blanks where videos should be.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 13, 2017, 05:15:04 AM
I've found that since the upgrade I have some big blanks where videos should be.

Noted with thanks.  That is the issue mentioned above.  Youtube short URL, Vimeo and two minor video sites (the embedder allows 40 sites) are throwing script warnings on some browsers.  There is a better version of the embedder software but it is in conflict with some of our other software.  We have open tickets on this with the developers but we are on their schedule.  This is not going to be a DIY fix but rest assured, we will fix video. 

You can override the warnings and view the videos for now.

I mentioned this in my first post but, for clarity, these changes are really not optional for site owners.  Sites that do not update to full site SSL (so that all of their URL's begin with https) will begin to throw glaring warnings soon on Chrome at least.   That would be serious in itself but more significant is the likelihood that Google will also deprioitize or delist non-secure links.  Google is strong on the carrot and stick.  OK, 1 part carrot, 2 parts stick.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: mrbig on April 13, 2017, 06:27:29 AM
WD avatar always animated on Windows phone..  ;D
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 13, 2017, 07:35:45 AM
They went through a cycle of this before--about 2010 I think, which is the reason I made the effort with KeNalu. At that time they were threatening to delist the site and were blocking it in chrome with a warning that there was malware on the site. But there was no malware, it was just not secure. But since we were getting ready to do eCommerce I thought it was worth fixing. I don't know how they were choosing who to push around--none of my other sites had the issue.

It took months of effort to get the site to work reliably with all browsers, and months more to get external links to work properly. I had to hire some help to smooth out the last few nits. Total bitch, but I got it done.

I wonder if this is a Whole Internet policy.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 13, 2017, 08:31:07 AM
I wonder if this is a Whole Internet policy.

It is.  Google announced a 3 stage roll-out to get rid of plain old HTTP on all pages on all sites across the entire web. 

The first stage happened in January with the release of Chrome 56.  That made it so any website that was not running HTTPS on pages that collect passwords or credit cards showed a non-secure message.

In an upcoming release Google Chrome will label all non-HTTPS pages in incognito mode as “Not secure” because users using this mode have an increased expectation of privacy.

The final step in the staged rollout will be that Chrome will label all plain HTTP pages as “Not secure”.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: TallDude on April 13, 2017, 09:18:27 AM
Thanks Admin. The most useful tidbit of info I've heard in a while.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 15, 2017, 07:13:59 AM
Hi guys,

We have the desired embedder installed and we are logging any errors or seeing any conflicts yet.  Please let me know if video is now working for you as expected.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: jrandy on April 15, 2017, 08:34:40 AM
One of the videos DavidJohn posted on my WindSUP thread was gone but is now back. Thanks for the fix!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 15, 2017, 09:08:27 AM
Ah, I see how the proxy works. Interesting.  https://www.standupzone.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ponostyle.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FGF51.JPG&hash=47f6aa687769ca0a700eb5ad5b3ba054

So is the picture content sent as encrypted data or does the redirect just make Google happy? I could look that up if you're too busy to answer, I imagine you're managing a few spinning plates.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 16, 2017, 05:30:55 AM
Ah, I see how the proxy works. Interesting.  https://www.standupzone.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ponostyle.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F03%2FGF51.JPG&hash=47f6aa687769ca0a700eb5ad5b3ba054

So is the picture content sent as encrypted data or does the redirect just make Google happy? I could look that up if you're too busy to answer, I imagine you're managing a few spinning plates.

The proxy.php file is part of the forum software.  It was originally for managing external images on more conventional SSL pages such as secure forms, etc but it can be used for all pages if that is directed.  It is partially obscured so I cannot see exactly what is going on there.  If you are converting a Wordpress site, https://really-simple-ssl.com/ works very well and i believe it has a similar proxy feature.  We used it on three of our Wordpress sites and it was literally 1 click and done.  Those are very simple sites with no user generated content.  Users creating and linking to content is where things can get a little messy.   I hope we are all good now!
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: Admin on April 16, 2017, 05:54:21 AM
Thanks Admin. The most useful tidbit of info I've heard in a while.

Hi Tall,

Google is actually pretty measured about this stuff.  They started this push a long time ago https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html but site owners are always reluctant to make changes because they hate disruptions and creating a negative user experience.  But, when things move from a minor ranking signal to potential delisting that is a call to action :).

Google is not going to both label a site "not secure" in red letters in Chrome and also list it in any meaningful way in Search.  That is where soon turns to now.
Title: Re: Site Updates
Post by: PonoBill on April 16, 2017, 07:45:53 AM
Nice to see things calmed down. I bet that was fun for you.

The KeNalu site got Google's attention after we installed and tested but didn't leave active some eCommerce software. Their bots might somehow have found the stuff. KeNalu was a wordpress site, but the SSL software was anything but click and go. Nice to hear things have changed, since I have a dozen sites to switch over. Most of them are semi-abandoned projects (like the Waterman's Workout) but I might do something with them someday.
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