Safari (11.1.2) on Early 2008 iMac (10.11.6) quit streaming cableTV website mid-watching

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Safari (11.1.2) on Early 2008 iMac (10.11.6) quit streaming cableTV website mid-watching

Hello!

I’ve been using a trusty 24” Early 2008 iMac (10.11.6) running Safari (11.1.2) as a media server. For well over a year now it’s been great for music, movies, Prime, and Plex (Plex app for Mac OS). The Prime website doesn’t run on Safari but it does work on the Chrome browser.

I’ve also been streaming my local cable TV website (watch.spectrum.net) as an alternative to a conventional TV and cable box with no problems. Yesterday, in the middle of a news show, the feed just cut out. The cable website frames with channels, On Demand listings, and all remain but no live or On Demand feed. A tech support guy at Spectrum took me through every option possible: reboot modem, AirPort Extreme, unplug coaxial, resend signal, clear cache, reboot computer, etc. but nothing changed. The iMac is maxed at its final OS with all updates.

However, it does work on Chrome (like Prime does). I’ll settle for using Chrome but my long love of all things Apple and curiosity has me wondering, why did Safari just stop working? Is this a situation where Apple discontinued issuing some sort of security certificate for older Safari browsers that now won’t allow them to communicate with Spectrum’s servers? And was yesterday (1/17/20) the final day? Why does Chrome seem to work with more streaming services than Safari? Prime never did work with Safari.

As always, much gratitude and appreciation to the generous Apple community in advance!

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jan 8, 2020 11:57 AM

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Answer 1

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CyberFinch Author

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Jan 8, 2020 12:27 PM in response to MrHoffman

I just now tried it on a smaller 2012 iMac in my office running High Sierra and it did work, so I guess you’re right. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that except that I do have a mental wall between work and play.

It’s just bizarre that it worked one minute and was gone the next, like someone flipped a switch or pulled a plug at 18:35 PST. Yet Chrome keeps chugging along. I don’t want to move the newer iMac or watch TV in the office, so Chrome it is.

Thank you for your quick reply and have a great day!

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Answer 2

Jan 8, 2020 12:00 PM in response to CyberFinch

Tried the same tests with Safari running on something newer than OS X 10.11? Your OS X security is aging out, and it's distinctly possible that the network connection security as far back as OS X 10.11 is no longer sufficient for the content security that streaming services seem to want.

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Answer 3

Jan 8, 2020 12:58 PM in response to CyberFinch

CyberFinch wrote:

It’s just bizarre that it worked one minute and was gone the next, like someone flipped a switch or pulled a plug at 18:35 PST.

That's pretty much how any network will transition from working to not-working.

Secure network connections—SSL/TLS support—are among the areas most noticeable.

When an old and outdated and insecure TLS version finally gets expunged, piles of old clients get disconnected.

Anything older than the most recent three macOS releases is aging out.

Whether for TLS, or just for app support.

macOS High Sierra 10.13 is the oldest still getting security patches.

Chrome will age out here too as El Capitan ages out, though that browser likely has its own embedded TLS support.

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Answer 4

CyberFinch Author

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97 points

Jan 8, 2020 1:06 PM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for that insight. That’s what I was curious about and I didn’t realize this sort of abrupt halt is standard in networking. I guess since it was 1/7/20, a week after a new year, it makes sense that it’d be the time to pull the plugs and move on to newer tech.

Again, thank you. Always love that there are such knowledgeable people here at discussions. I learn something new every time!

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Safari (11.1.2) on Early 2008 iMac (10.11.6) quit streaming cableTV website mid-watching

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