End of Adobe Flash and IP Cameras
- Thread starter alba2
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The software no longer works for me on PC. It worked up to now if I enabled Flash in a browser but none of the browsers can connect to the camera and I have several computers. Camera Live still works in Windows 10 and there are no issues at all using an iPad. So far as a PC is concerned the camera isn't found and with an old XP desktop it's the same. I contacted ucam247 and they seemed convinced that Flash would keep working on Firefox and said that they were releasing a camera firmware update. They've had plenty of time and not delivered so it's probably time to be thinking about upgrading to a new camera from a different manufacturer. I cannot face going up a ladder to connect with an ethernet cable having had to do so twice this year. They haven't kept up to date although I will say that they answer enquiries. I'll be looking for a lot more from my next camera - ease of set up and a solid connection in particular.
Flash has never been supported on any iPad or iPhone.
They are wrong.
Flash is dead. Adobe won't support it after 31 Dec 2020, and that announcement was made in July 2017, well over 3 years ago.
"Flash has never been supported on any iPad or iPhone" - flameport. I don't think anybody has said it was but the iPad ucam247 app works fine through some magic or other. I installed Bluestacks in Windows 10 and was able to access the security camera with the Android version of the software which is available in Google Play. Unfortunately although the SD card shows up I can't access it so it is just another Camera Live substitute. I've failed to find any software that does the job in Windows and cannot face setting the camera up yet again.
Firstly, I decided to research which camera to buy in 2021 as my system doesn't support Adobe Flash and I want to be able to use a Windows PC as the main way to use a new security system.
There doesn't seem to be anything available. There is a lot of reassurance that existing cameras will have firmware updates or software changes but nothing has happened although this has been a long time coming. As the majority of the cameras are made in China and their software capabilities are not great this is a big problem. Top of the marque names like Eufy and Arlo don't currently have a dedicated Windows app. Their expensive packages are typically for multiple cameras which are overkill and a sign of paranoia in smaller properties. They are basically for use with smart phones.
It gets worse because although Adobe said that Flash would cease to work at the end of 2020 Microsoft have already taken measures. Windows updates in December 2020 have been installed which prevent Flash from running on Windows PCs. If you believe all you have to do is roll back the particular Windows update so the cameras can use Flash in browsers think again. This update cannot be reversed. From what I understand unless you have a restore point for before the update you no longer have the ability to view camera footage in a browser on a PC. If you were to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch and make sure the update wasn't installed presumably things would continue to work.
Having tried some of the software available for PC it doesn't match what I had for free when I had my ucam247 camera working properly until a few weeks ago.
Hopefully this is accurate and not "fake news." I'm not an expert on security cameras or anything else so would be interested to hear suggestions on how to move forward.
There doesn't seem to be anything available. There is a lot of reassurance that existing cameras will have firmware updates or software changes but nothing has happened although this has been a long time coming. As the majority of the cameras are made in China and their software capabilities are not great this is a big problem. Top of the marque names like Eufy and Arlo don't currently have a dedicated Windows app. Their expensive packages are typically for multiple cameras which are overkill and a sign of paranoia in smaller properties. They are basically for use with smart phones.
It gets worse because although Adobe said that Flash would cease to work at the end of 2020 Microsoft have already taken measures. Windows updates in December 2020 have been installed which prevent Flash from running on Windows PCs. If you believe all you have to do is roll back the particular Windows update so the cameras can use Flash in browsers think again. This update cannot be reversed. From what I understand unless you have a restore point for before the update you no longer have the ability to view camera footage in a browser on a PC. If you were to reinstall Windows 10 from scratch and make sure the update wasn't installed presumably things would continue to work.
Having tried some of the software available for PC it doesn't match what I had for free when I had my ucam247 camera working properly until a few weeks ago.
Hopefully this is accurate and not "fake news." I'm not an expert on security cameras or anything else so would be interested to hear suggestions on how to move forward.
Just to add to this.. blocking updates to browsers and windows will not work - Adobe flash has a kill-switch that triggers on 12th Jan, at which point it will stop working on old browsers too. (you can test this in your configuration by moving the system date forward to a date post 12th Jan 2021)
Browsers will remove support completely in their next monthly update (mid Jan)
Microsoft will also release a patch in the spring that will remove flash completely from the OS (the patch is only optional at this moment)
Browsers will remove support completely in their next monthly update (mid Jan)
Microsoft will also release a patch in the spring that will remove flash completely from the OS (the patch is only optional at this moment)
It's looking as if those of us preferring to use Windows are left with mainly viewing a live feed rather than accessing movement triggered clips recorded to SD card or Cloud. I do wonder about Apple hardware though because my iPad seems to work. I can access the clips though I don't know how to reach any of the camera settings from it. Apple hardware apart from the iPad is unfortunately horrendously expensive. They now have a Mac mini entry level PC with M1 processor that's starting to look interesting - if it will do what my Windows 10 system can't. So has anybody tried running these cameras on Apple computers? Or better some news about how we can get the security cameras working properly without Adobe Flash? I draw the line at expensive and complicated software.
This is unfortunately going to catch many people out - as even if camera manufacturers have released firmware to remove flash (ill use reolink as an example here as they have had firmware out in the last couple of months to remove reliance on flash - they also have a windows app, but i cant comment on that) - theres still likely thousands of devices left on shelves in warehouses that now will not work without a firmware update.. cue lots of angry consumers.
But this is also the nature of cheap Chinese tech - they are under no obligation to patch/update their kit to work when they can just sell an updated model.
without a doubt there will be ways round it, with third party "reverse engineered" flash plugins and special browsers etc - but these pose significant security risks to the average consumer, so as painful as it is, i think the industry has made the right move by not only dropping but blocking support to make it as difficult as possible. they have had 3 years notice that the day was coming!.
But this is also the nature of cheap Chinese tech - they are under no obligation to patch/update their kit to work when they can just sell an updated model.
without a doubt there will be ways round it, with third party "reverse engineered" flash plugins and special browsers etc - but these pose significant security risks to the average consumer, so as painful as it is, i think the industry has made the right move by not only dropping but blocking support to make it as difficult as possible. they have had 3 years notice that the day was coming!.
Sally2000 "I can monitor, control, and playback video from our Hikvision cameras using their own apps on Windows, Android and Apple.
What is missing?"
I had no problems with Windows, Apple or an Android phone until a couple of weeks ago so you may well find things changing soon. I've had a look at the Hikvision cameras on Amazon but couldn't find info about how they operate going forward in relation to the end of Flash. I keep Windows 10 fully updated. Are you running W10 fully updated too?
MisterG81 Reolink seems worth following up but none of the reviews I've read mention Flash - the elephant in the room.
What is missing?"
I had no problems with Windows, Apple or an Android phone until a couple of weeks ago so you may well find things changing soon. I've had a look at the Hikvision cameras on Amazon but couldn't find info about how they operate going forward in relation to the end of Flash. I keep Windows 10 fully updated. Are you running W10 fully updated too?
MisterG81 Reolink seems worth following up but none of the reviews I've read mention Flash - the elephant in the room.
E
EddieM
You really want to move away from Flash if at all possible it's riddled with security vulnerabilities and as such compromises your devices security.
Flash has gone. Finished. It's not an elephant in the room or a mouse behind the skirting. We haven't used it for years.
Our Hikvision cameras are connected to a Hikvision NVR. It doesn't use Flash. We access the NVR with apps created by Hikvision. They work on our Windows desktop, a Windows laptop, two Samsung phones, a Samsung tablet and an Apple Air laptop.
Flash is not to be seen anywhere.
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"Flash has gone. Finished. It's not an elephant in the room or a mouse behind the skirting. We haven't used it for years."
Thanks for explaining that so clearly Sally2000. Hikvision have a bullet camera that looks good but there are few reviews on Amazon and they are not from the UK. It's annoying that the information given about cameras currently on sale seems to totally ignore this Flash issue. If Hikvision are on top of this you'd think they'd say it loud and clear because nobody else seems to be.
Could you please give some more info about Hikvision concerning whether the Windows app is easy to use? Is it suitable for a single camera system and how much does it cost to use?
Thanks for explaining that so clearly Sally2000. Hikvision have a bullet camera that looks good but there are few reviews on Amazon and they are not from the UK. It's annoying that the information given about cameras currently on sale seems to totally ignore this Flash issue. If Hikvision are on top of this you'd think they'd say it loud and clear because nobody else seems to be.
Could you please give some more info about Hikvision concerning whether the Windows app is easy to use? Is it suitable for a single camera system and how much does it cost to use?
Only buy your cameras from an authorised UK supplier, or they will be unsupported. There are stories of fake items sold on eBay.
There are a number of suppliers who sell retail, their prices vary considerably. Google "Hikvision authorised UK suppliers"
The Hikvison iVMS software is free, you can download it from the web. We use it with the Hikvision NVR.
I suggest you speak to a supplier if you want to use it differently.
There are a number of suppliers who sell retail, their prices vary considerably. Google "Hikvision authorised UK suppliers"
The Hikvison iVMS software is free, you can download it from the web. We use it with the Hikvision NVR.
I suggest you speak to a supplier if you want to use it differently.
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You should be able to run software updates on the cameras themselves, as well as the DVR.
That being said, mine are up to date and still using Flash, and Flash does still work in Chrome for me despite the warning that it would be dead Dec 2020. Google disabled Flash by default a while ago, but they didn't remove it, you have to reenable it.
There are also alternative players, like Lightspark. It may take some work to get it running on the chromebook, and if you get it working it may not work perfectly. The website says it handles 76% of the Flash functionality.
That being said, mine are up to date and still using Flash, and Flash does still work in Chrome for me despite the warning that it would be dead Dec 2020. Google disabled Flash by default a while ago, but they didn't remove it, you have to reenable it.
There are also alternative players, like Lightspark. It may take some work to get it running on the chromebook, and if you get it working it may not work perfectly. The website says it handles 76% of the Flash functionality.