It has come to our attention that small segment of users have had issues with our slideshows based in Apple's QuickTime. We are still working on discovering the combinations that are causing issues, but the most common cause seems to be a mismatch with the client's version of QuickTime, Internet Explorer and in some cases type of connection. We are working on solutions that would move slideshows into another medium, such as Flash, but until that time we will attempt to post common solutions here. We would like to note that QuickTime is working for most users and we did fix a small path issue on the server that may have augmented the issue, please try the slideshows once more before reading on.

What version of QuickTime is supported?

We currently support version 7 of QuickTime or better.

How can I tell which version of QuickTime I have installed?

The easiest way is to go to one of our slideshow pages. If you are receiving the broken QuickTime icon, generally it is the QuickTime blue Q with a question mark (?) or an (X) through it, you can right click on the Q and click "About QuickTime plug-in... " on the menu option. You will then receive a pop-up detailing the version of QuickTime you currently have installed. Example:

About QuickTime

Alternatively, you can click your Start menu; click on All Programs; click the QuickTime folder; click About QuickTime and you should receive the same information as indicated above. If you don't have QuickTime installed or you have an older version, proceed to the next question.

How can I get the latest version of QuickTime if I discover I have an older version?

You can download the latest PC version of QuickTime from Apple here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
You will then need to install the application using the standard installation process from Apple.

What if I still am receiving the broken link or the video doesn't load after getting and installing the latest QuickTime?

More than likely you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8. The latest version of this browser shipped with some quirks that affect plug-ins, including Flash and QuickTime. In this case you have some different options. You can either change the default behavior of Internet Explorer or you can download and utilize a more modern browser (no Microsoft is not the be-all, end-all when it comes to Internet surfing and there are far superior, free products available).

How can I change the default behavior of Internet Explorer 8 to use Compatibility View Mode?

With the many issues currently affecting IE8 and the view of web content, it may be a good practice to configure IE8 so that all websites are loaded in IE7 Standards Mode. IE8 provides an easy way to let user decides if an individual website (or a domain) should be displayed in compatibility view, with a tiny "broken paper" icon at the end of the address bar. In order to minimize any risk of browser crashes, it's best to force all websites and web pages to display in IE8 Compatibility View browser mode, which loads the pages in IE7 Standards document mode.

In order to enable and turn on Compatibility View mode for all web pages and websites within Internet Explorer 8, click on Tools menu, and select Compatibility View Settings. In the "Compatibility View Settings" dialog, tick the check box for Display all websites in Compatibility View option. Click on Close button when done. The IE7 Standards document mode in IE8 Compatibility View mode is activated immediately, which makes IE8 behave a little more like IE7.

How can I download a more modern browser?

As a PC user, you have many options available to you beyond the factory installed version of Microsoft Internet Explorer that came with your machine. Internet Explorer is convenient and so many never stray from its origins, but it by far not the best solution, nor the most elegant, and worst of all it terribly lags behind in its compatibility with the World Wide Web consortium (W3C) which governs the code standards for the Internet and how they should be displayed.

By contrast, modern browsers are loaded with slick new features, are a bit more secure and less prone to crashes. Best of all, most of them keep their browsers at the pinnacle of the W3C standard and they are all FREE. The most popular choices are:

Mozilla Firefox

The favored among web developers and web enthusiasts due to built-in tools that allow you to find code on any web page and quickly figure out where common coding issues lie. It also has a tabbed interface, and has many downloadable plug-ins and skins to allow you to customize the browser to suit your needs. Don't be afraid, the vanilla form is very easy to use for the non-tech savvy. You can download it here:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/

Google Chrome

This is one of the more secure browsers on the Internet. Like Google itself this browser is VERY simple to use. It offers a home splash that can keep tabs of your favorite sites and allow you quick access to them from the opening landing page. Best of all you can perform Google searches from the same box you type the URL, so no extra toolbars needed. On the flip side, there are no toolbars, so if you like that sort of experience, better to go with Firefox. You can download Chrome from Google here:

http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/landing_chrome.html?hl=en

Opera

Reviews and tests recommend the free Opera web browser as fast and lean, especially for older or underpowered PC and Mac computers apt to bog down on more resource-hungry browsers. Despite its small file size, Opera beats the other browsers in compliance with web standards, and builds in loads of convenient features. It runs on Windows, Mac or Linux, and excels in synchronization. Reviews also praise its mobile version. You can download it here:

http://www.opera.com/download/

Safari

This is Apple's proprietary browser, generally installed on Mac but available for PC as well. Safari is designed to emphasize the browsing, not the browser. The browser frame is a single pixel wide. You see a scroll bar only when needed. And if you choose, you can hide almost the entire interface, removing virtually every distraction from the browser window. A great browser should get out of your way and let you simply enjoy the web. Safari does just that. And it does it regardless of platform. You can view more on Safari and download it here:

http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

Flock

A relatively new browser to the online space, reviews recommend Flock for people who 'live on the web' since it has all the speed, security and options of Firefox 3, but builds in a blog editor, photo-up-loader and big sidebar to keep current with social networking friends, RSS feeds and photo-sharing sites. You can learn more and download it from Flock's website here:

http://flock.com/

Why is taking so long for the slideshows to load?

We have tried very diligently to keep the size of the slideshows small. Unfortunately, the size of MP3 quality audio coupled with fair visuals leads to file sizes of approximately 3-9MB in size. That means the download speed of these files is entirely dependent on your Internet connection speed. Those using dial-up connections will more than likely be the most effected by these sizes, since most modems can only achieve 56-128KB download speeds, especially in the throttled free dial-up space. If you are in the slower connection space, you may have to practice the age old virtue of patience. 15 minutes is nearly enough time to pray an entire rosary! The following chart illustrates approximate download times based on a 6MB file: