[Bug 769168] [NEW] playback of wmv files randomly stops

[matteo sisti sette]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: firefox

Steps to reproduce:

1. Write the URL of a wmv file on the address bar. For example: http://mediapolis.rai.it/relinker/relinkerServlet.htm?cont=yugX1OZaMIUeeqqEEqual
2. Start playing it (click play button)
3. Pause it (click pause button)
4. Wait a few minutes.
5. Resume playing (click play/pause button again)

Expected results: 
playback should resume and go on until the end of the file

Observed result:
Playback resumes fine, but after an unpredictable time (can be several seconds or a few minutes), it suddenly stops and rewinds to the beginning. You can't resume playback from the point you were at, nor can you even _know_ where you were.


It looks like the following is happening: when you pause, after a while, firefox stops downloading the file. Then it looses the connection with the server so it will never be able to resume downloading the file. So after a long pause, you can only play the remaining part of the portion of file that had been downloaded.

Instead, firefox should do any of the following:
A. If it stops downloading the file after a long pause, it should be able to resume downloading the file when you resume playing. If resuming download after a long time of inactivity is impossible, then it should do whatever is needed to prevent the connection with the server from being closed. 
B. If for whatever reason resuming download from an arbitrary point is impossible, or if maintaining alive an idle connection is impossible, then Firefox should NEVER stop downloading the file even if you pause playback. When you pause, it should go on downloading the file untill the WHOLE file has been downloaded. Either this or A.

No matter how long you leave it in pause, it should always be able to
resume playback after a pause, even if it is hours or days after a
pause, provided that you don't close the browser or hit the STOP button.
Stop is stop, pause is pause.

If for whatever reason, guaranteeing the possibility to resume playback at any moment is not possible, then the user MUST be warned at the very moment the condition is detected. For example, if at some point the browser cannot go on dowloading the file, and it knows it will never be able to, it should warn the user that the playback will stop at time X (the portion of file that is already downloaded): so the user knows in advance and may work it around by opening the same file on another window while she keeps watching the part that has already been downloaded.
OR (even better) the portion of file that has been downloaded should be displayed together with the playhead position as it is on all decent streaming video players. So the user could see it does not grow any more.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: firefox 3.6.16+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-30.59-generic 2.6.32.29+drm33.13
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-30-generic i686
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Apr 22 21:14:26 2011
FirefoxPackages:
 firefox 3.6.16+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
 firefox-gnome-support 3.6.16+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
 firefox-branding 3.6.16+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.10.04.1
 abroswer N/A
 abrowser-branding N/A
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release i386 (20100429)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: firefox

** Affects: firefox (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: apport-bug i386 lucid

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/769168

Title:
  playback of wmv files randomly stops