Force YouTube to buffer your entire video

<div class="imageContainer580xX" style="width:320px;height:auto;clear:both;margin:auto;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px"><img class="largeImage imgId100052479 " itemprop="image" src="http://zapt0.staticworld.net/images/article/2013/09/youtube-center-100052479-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 320px; max-width: 100%;"></div> <div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden"><a class="topCatLink" href="http://www.pcworld.com/category/browsers" style="color:rgb(172,31,43);float:left;font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Back in the good old days, when you started watching a YouTube video, the entire thing would download (or "buffer") in the background, thus ensuring a relatively smooth playback experience.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">If you had a slow connection, you could simply pause the video until you saw the "buffer bar" complete its journey from left to right. But thanks to YouTube's switch to a new protocol (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP, or DASH, if you're interested), that trick no longer works.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Now, when you play a video, YouTube buffers only a small amount. And that can lead to stuttering, frequently interrupted playback.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Thanks to a browser add-on called<a href="https://github.com/YePpHa/YouTubeCenter/wiki" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">YouTube Center</a>, it's now possible to disable DASH, thus forcing YouTube to buffer your entire video.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">That's the good news. The bad news is that it can be a little tricky to install depending on which browser you use. The Firefox crowd has it easy: Just grab the extension via <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/youtube-center/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Mozilla's Add-Ons library</a> (assuming you're okay with installing a "non-reviewed" extension).</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">As a Chrome user, I had to jump through a few hoops. Here's the process:</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. <a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13162258/YouTube%20Center/YouTubeCenter.crx" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Download YouTube Center</a> in the form of a .CRX file, which was designed for the Opera browser but will also work in Chrome. Ignore any error message you see regarding compatibility.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. In Chrome, click the <em style>Settings</em> button, then click <em style>Tools, Extensions</em> to open the Extensions tab.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 3. Drag the downloaded .CRX file to that Extensions tab, then agree to the installation request.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">4. Now open YouTube in a new tab. You should immediately see the YouTube Center settings window. (If not, click the little gear icon in the upper-right corner of the YouTube screen.)</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. Click <em style>Player</em>, then clear the checkbox next to DASH. Close the YouTube Center window and you're done!</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Now, when you start a video, you'll see the buffer bar run all the way to the right, indicating that the full video is queued for playback, not just a few seconds' worth.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> By the way, the developer offers a tutorial for <a href="https://github.com/YePpHa/YouTubeCenter/wiki/How-to-use-YouTube-Center-with-Internet-Explorer" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">installing YouTube Center in Internet Explorer</a>, which definitely isn't easy. Sorry, novices, you may want to sit this one out.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">As you've no doubt noticed, YouTube Center offers a wealth of other options besides DASH disabling. Feel free to poke around and share any cool tricks you find!</p></span>

Force YouTube to buffer your entire video

Back in the good old days, when you started watching a YouTube video, the entire thing would download (or "buffer") in the backg...

Read more »

Force YouTube to buffer your entire video

<div class="imageContainer580xX" style="width:320px;height:auto;clear:both;margin:auto;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:19px"><img class="largeImage imgId100052479 " itemprop="image" src="http://zapt0.staticworld.net/images/article/2013/09/youtube-center-100052479-large.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 320px; max-width: 100%;"></div> <div class="department" style="margin:0px 0px 10px;overflow:hidden"><a class="topCatLink" href="http://www.pcworld.com/category/browsers" style="color:rgb(172,31,43);float:left;font-family:facitweb,sans-serif;font-size:16px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;margin-right:5px"><span style="line-height:1.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif;font-size:15px">Back in the good old days, when you started watching a YouTube video, the entire thing would download (or "buffer") in the background, thus ensuring a relatively smooth playback experience.</span><br> </a></div><span itemprop="articleBody description text" style><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">If you had a slow connection, you could simply pause the video until you saw the "buffer bar" complete its journey from left to right. But thanks to YouTube's switch to a new protocol (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP, or DASH, if you're interested), that trick no longer works.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">Now, when you play a video, YouTube buffers only a small amount. And that can lead to stuttering, frequently interrupted playback.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Thanks to a browser add-on called<a href="https://github.com/YePpHa/YouTubeCenter/wiki" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">YouTube Center</a>, it's now possible to disable DASH, thus forcing YouTube to buffer your entire video.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">That's the good news. The bad news is that it can be a little tricky to install depending on which browser you use. The Firefox crowd has it easy: Just grab the extension via <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/youtube-center/" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Mozilla's Add-Ons library</a> (assuming you're okay with installing a "non-reviewed" extension).</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">As a Chrome user, I had to jump through a few hoops. Here's the process:</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">1. <a href="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13162258/YouTube%20Center/YouTubeCenter.crx" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">Download YouTube Center</a> in the form of a .CRX file, which was designed for the Opera browser but will also work in Chrome. Ignore any error message you see regarding compatibility.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">2. In Chrome, click the <em style>Settings</em> button, then click <em style>Tools, Extensions</em> to open the Extensions tab.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> 3. Drag the downloaded .CRX file to that Extensions tab, then agree to the installation request.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">4. Now open YouTube in a new tab. You should immediately see the YouTube Center settings window. (If not, click the little gear icon in the upper-right corner of the YouTube screen.)</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">5. Click <em style>Player</em>, then clear the checkbox next to DASH. Close the YouTube Center window and you're done!</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> Now, when you start a video, you'll see the buffer bar run all the way to the right, indicating that the full video is queued for playback, not just a few seconds' worth.</p><p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em"> By the way, the developer offers a tutorial for <a href="https://github.com/YePpHa/YouTubeCenter/wiki/How-to-use-YouTube-Center-with-Internet-Explorer" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)">installing YouTube Center in Internet Explorer</a>, which definitely isn't easy. Sorry, novices, you may want to sit this one out.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em">As you've no doubt noticed, YouTube Center offers a wealth of other options besides DASH disabling. Feel free to poke around and share any cool tricks you find!</p></span>

Force YouTube to buffer your entire video

Back in the good old days, when you started watching a YouTube video, the entire thing would download (or "buffer") in the backg...

Read more »

How to share Internet service with your neighbors, and why you shouldn't

<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"><em style="line-height:1.75em">Mrs. Reddy and her neighbors want to get on the same network, and share the same Internet connection.</em></p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">You can do this, and depending on your homes' geography, it might even be relatively easy. I'm going to tell you how to do it, but I'm also going to tell you why you probably shouldn't.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">If your router's Wi-Fi signal is powerful enough to be accessible throughout your neighbor's home--or if their router's signal is powerful enough throughout yours--the logistics are easy. All you have to do is share the Wi-Fi password.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">And the signal probably is powerful enough if you live in adjoining Manhattan apartments. But in large suburban, stand-alone houses, the signal may need a boost. See <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2053948/extend-your-wi-fi-network-throughout-the-house.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Extend your Wi-Fi network throughout the house</a> for some suggestions.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">But however far the Wi-Fi reaches, there are plenty of good reasons not to share a connection.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">With more people on the same Internet connection, you're likely to experience a performance hit. You may be able to fix this problem by paying more for faster service, but that would cancel out some of the savings you get from sharing an Internet connection.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">And there are other potential complications. Ever lose your Internet connection, and fix it by rebooting your modem and router? You can't do that if the modem and router are in your neighbor's house and they're on vacation. They'd have to leave you a key.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Which brings up another issue: How well do you trust your neighbors? After all, you'll be sharing a network with them. You protect your Wi-Fi networks from strangers for a reason, and you'll need to be sure that the neighbors won't use your network against you. What's more, law enforcement agencies may mistake a neighbor's questionable online activities for yours.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Finally, should your ISP find out about your little arrangement, it won't be happy. Chances are this practice violates your service agreement. Before sharing the network, read your service agreement carefully.</p>

How to share Internet service with your neighbors, and why you shouldn't

Mrs. Reddy and her neighbors want to get on the same network, and share the same Internet connection. You can do this, and depending on ...

Read more »

How to share Internet service with your neighbors, and why you shouldn't

<p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif"><em style="line-height:1.75em">Mrs. Reddy and her neighbors want to get on the same network, and share the same Internet connection.</em></p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">You can do this, and depending on your homes' geography, it might even be relatively easy. I'm going to tell you how to do it, but I'm also going to tell you why you probably shouldn't.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">If your router's Wi-Fi signal is powerful enough to be accessible throughout your neighbor's home--or if their router's signal is powerful enough throughout yours--the logistics are easy. All you have to do is share the Wi-Fi password.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">And the signal probably is powerful enough if you live in adjoining Manhattan apartments. But in large suburban, stand-alone houses, the signal may need a boost. See <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2053948/extend-your-wi-fi-network-throughout-the-house.html" style="color:rgb(37,167,215)" target="_blank">Extend your Wi-Fi network throughout the house</a> for some suggestions.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">But however far the Wi-Fi reaches, there are plenty of good reasons not to share a connection.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">With more people on the same Internet connection, you're likely to experience a performance hit. You may be able to fix this problem by paying more for faster service, but that would cancel out some of the savings you get from sharing an Internet connection.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">And there are other potential complications. Ever lose your Internet connection, and fix it by rebooting your modem and router? You can't do that if the modem and router are in your neighbor's house and they're on vacation. They'd have to leave you a key.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Which brings up another issue: How well do you trust your neighbors? After all, you'll be sharing a network with them. You protect your Wi-Fi networks from strangers for a reason, and you'll need to be sure that the neighbors won't use your network against you. What's more, law enforcement agencies may mistake a neighbor's questionable online activities for yours.</p> <p style="line-height:1.7em;margin:0px 0px 0.7em;color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:'Helvetica Neue',Arial,sans-serif">Finally, should your ISP find out about your little arrangement, it won't be happy. Chances are this practice violates your service agreement. Before sharing the network, read your service agreement carefully.</p>

How to share Internet service with your neighbors, and why you shouldn't

Mrs. Reddy and her neighbors want to get on the same network, and share the same Internet connection. You can do this, and depending on ...

Read more »