All my computer and phone equipment is Apple.
All my blogging is done on Google: Blogger, Google App, Gmail, and Chrome.
I have multiple Google Mail accounts because I've always found it easier to have separate accounts for personal (family and friends) and personal (public), buying, travelling, blogging (for 3 separate blogs) and so on. This separation has worked exceedingly well until very recently.
Last week I noticed that Rhymes With Plague had a transparent grey layer across it. I could not access it for comments.
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I opened it in Firefox and by signing in at the comment stage using my Google Eagleton account. I was able to comment. However , I had to go though verification hoops before I could do that and if I have to do that every time it will be tiresome.
It would appear that Google now wants to synchronise every account on the same computer and 'owned' by the same person for the purpose of giving the user a better and more targeted service (including adverts when you use Google search). In other words making sure that it knows as much about you as it possible can.
So far I haven't managed to sort out how I might ever use my iPhone and presumably my iPad to comment on blogs easily.
The problem seem only just to have arisen. Is anyone else having any problems.
I have the same problem with Robert's blog, whether I am signed in or not and no matter which device. having said that, I use android and windows. I suspect I'm not actually answering the question but it's the best I have right now.
ReplyDeleteWell, Kylie, you have answered the question in that it's not just me having the problem with Robert's blog. Oddly last night I managed to get on and comment on his blog using Firefox but I can't get on this morning using Chrome and I cannot get Firefox to open. What irritates me most is the time wasted.
DeleteI use Mozilla Firefox instead of Google and I search with DuckDuckGo. I try to avoid Google and Chrome and Microsoft as much as possible, although I do have an annually-paid subscription to Microsoft Office so that I can use Word and Excel. I do not know whether any of those facts are relevant to the problem with my blog. I hope the end of my blogging career is not imminent.
ReplyDeleteBob, the only thing I use Chrome for is on my laptop and for blogging because Blogger, being a Google product, has never give me the problems on Chrome that it gave me on Firefox. Ironic that it is now giving me those problems on Chrome and not on Firefox. However I am now in the position that I cannot open Firefox on my laptop this morning. I will get to the bottom of it and I hope that this is not the end of us blogging. I shall keep you updated although this could get boring for those without a problem (yet).
DeleteNot this problem but once in a while google misbehaves.
ReplyDeleteWell, Red, that's encouraging.
DeleteSimilar to rhymeswithplague, I use Firefox for most things. Yes, of course Google wants to know as much as possible about you - their services may appear being "for free" but you pay with your data, which are a treasure for them.
ReplyDeleteMeike, I don't care what they know about me because I have nothing to hide but I do care when they try and make life difficult.
DeleteI know what to do. It's what one always does when such things happen.
ReplyDeleteClear Cache.
Remove Ad-Blocker
Switch off
Switch on
Shout lots of special words.
Yes, Adrian, I thought about that on my laptop (I'd already done it on the phone) but it then means logging back in and, at the moment, I can't log in to my Google Mail on my iPhone and they won't let me log in on the laptop without me acknowledging the 2 part verification on my Google Mail iPhone App (which until now I've never used). Unfortunately it won't let me use the app for the account to which it's sending the notifications. I've been using some words that I didn't know I knew. If I hadn't been in hospital for 48 hours and therefore had masses of spare time I'd have abandoned it all.
DeleteI use Google and Microsoft for everything and find I often have trouble trying to interface with a friend who has an Apple phone. I'm of the opinion that everything technological that we engage in will always record information about us, and as I am aware of it and never do anything illegal I never worry about it. There is enough in life to worry about, without that as well, LOL.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, you are absolutely correct in that everything we do electronically is money to someone. Like you I don't do anything illegal, immoral or fattening on the electronic media so don't worry about it either.
DeleteLOL Graham - how on earth do you do "fattening" on electronic media?
Delete(Thanks for the chuckle) Mxx
I use Android and Google which is convenient for me. I am not unduly concerned about how much they know about me. I am a very boring person.
ReplyDeleteJayCee we all seem to be in the same boat. Unfortunately that's not helping me sole the problem as to why some of can't comment on Bob's blog.
DeleteI have had the problem with Bob's blog, as he knows. As the grey disable came with the bloodstone post I assumed the Google blogger automatic sweep for content picked up on the word bloodstone and didn't like it, erroneously of course. Bob probably needs to send Blogger some feedback on the feedback form. As for Apple products, I have never found them compatible with Blogger and for that reason the one Apple product I have lays at the back of a drawer and is not used. All the comment problems people address to me relate to iphones and ipads. Apple just do not get on with Google and Apple Safari is best avoided in respect of blogs. Clear cache and ditch Safari.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I agree with you about the incompatability but I have always found a way around it until now. I've not used Safari with Blogger for years but Google is now making it very hard to use Google on an iPhone without it taking over.
DeleteHaven't had that problem (yet!), possibly because my google accounts are linked to different non-google email addresses, and I use different browsers for different things. Some of my browsers are set delete all cookies on exit. I manage not to get too confused.
ReplyDeleteTrst
DeleteI can't offer any advice on this, Graham. I have but one gmail account and it is working well.
ReplyDeleteDavid, it sounds like you are more sensible than I am!
DeleteWe have taken notes - Mr B, F, and I, the Tigger, all have our own google accounts depending on what each pursues or saves online, and occasionally they are all used on the same bit of googling equipment. If we understand you correctly, we guess we can now expect some 'separation' issues between the accounts. regards Mr T
ReplyDeleteTigger, I hope that you don't experience any problems. My problems seem to stem from my iPhone originally but Apple and Google and multiple accounts obviously cause Google some angst.
DeleteNo problems here except for Chrome shading enlarged photos, but it disappears on some blogs.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Edge, unless watching videos because too often Edge won't allow videos to run.
As for Google consolidating gmail addresses/accounts, huge no thanks to that. It is a very bad idea to force on users. As an option, user choice, it is okay. I see major problems on that.
I'm guessing consolidation might free up space. The last year I have noticed Google put limits on inactive accounts. Many blogs I visit from links and searches are inactive, some for years.
Maywyn, I've never heard of Edge. All my accounts are active. If they were inactive I could kill them off but it's the active ones Google wants me to combine.
DeleteI quote from Oscar Wilde:
ReplyDeleteThe only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
So true, Bob, so true!
DeleteI've not encountered these problems but then all my devices are Android. For my main blog I use a different email service, and Firefox as browser. My other blog is on gmail with a different alias and I use Chrome. Using different browsers for different things saves me from a lot of logging in and out on blogger/google
ReplyDeleteYou are fortunate, Monica. When I ran both my blogs I used two browsers but I only use this blog now on a regular basis. I've been using Firefox since the problems started but I've not been accessing the blog on my phone since I left hospital.
DeleteI should perhaps add that sometimes I do find myself logged out from blogging (and commenting) on my phone and tablet and have had trouble sorting that out, but I blame that mostly on my "forgettory" (as I think you sometimes call it)... I.e. I tend to forget how I solved things last time they happened! I don't do much blog commenting from the phone as I'm usually at home snd it's easier to use the bigger devices. I can't recall that thing with a grey layer happening to me though. (But I'm not following that particular blog on a regular basis.)
DeleteMonica, thanks for the email heads-up. I am still not getting email comment updates from you. Like you, I tend to forget how I solved a problem very soon after I've solved it. That can be a nuisance - one of many caused by, in my case, a poor memory.
DeleteI couldn't possibly cope with different devices, emails and browsers, that's way, way beyond me. More than ever. I believe in the keep it simple, philosophy.
ReplyDeletePauline I'm beginning to think that I'm getting to the same stage and should start simplifying things too.
DeleteI have experienced that greying out but only on Mr Brague's blog. I found I could get rid of it temporarily by changing the page size. This allowed me to comment.
ReplyDeleteThanks, YP, I'm back on Bob's blog but I'll try that if I have problems again.
DeleteGraham, I have had the "cannot sign in and comment" problem on every Blogger blog for years, and I am quite sure it is a Google vs. Apple thing.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I a have Apple devices for everything, and on my iMac (desktop) I can get signed in to comment using Firefox. But not Safari (rolls eyes with frustration). Same if I use the MacBook. On the iPad I cannot leave any comments, even in Firefox. Nor can I sign in far enough to work on my own blog.
I suspect the problem is two-fold: one is that it's an operating system thing and I can achieve stuff with OSX that cannot be done with iOS (which is the case for many programs). The other problem - and I am sure no-one will ever admit to this - is that Google do not like me doing things in a sphere they cannot control or data-mine. This has been going on for years. I keep meaning to put Chrome on the iPad to see if that fixes things but it's not a browswer I like so haven't got round to it yet. But this post reminds me I should try it . . .
Jayne, I'm pleased to hear that I'm not the only one having the same experiences. I havn't tried my iPhone and iPad since I left hospital. I agree that with Google it's all about control. I may get the chance to try on the iPad before I go home. I'll let you know how I get on.
Deleteoh yeah that doesn't surprise me. Every now and again things on my laptop throw a spanner in the works, especially if I'm on a different device than usual. I thought android devices were easier but sometimes I wonder...
ReplyDeleteAmy, I have not used a Microsoft ot Android device for years so I'm pleased to hear that the problems are not only Apple related.
DeleteJust remembered that Google did email Tasker Dunham recently to say they had changed some of his settings to give more age-appropriate experiences because he is not confirmed to be over 18. A link asked him to provide proof of age by uploading a copy of his passport or driving licence. He won't be complying, not least because he has much in common with the Urban Spaceman.
ReplyDeleteAh, Tasker, but the Urban Spaceman, unlike the BDDB, didn't exist. Brilliant. You've taken me back to the uncharted areas of my mind.
DeleteI tried to comment on Rhymes with Plague, it was greyed out with Chrome but it was okay with Safari. I'm an apple user too.
ReplyDeleteWell, Diane, the problem seems to be common but random and inconsistent when it comes to which browser is in use.
DeleteMy apologies for being very remiss in commenting of late...for a week or so I was without phone, internet and streaming services.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering reverting to tom tom drums, smoke signals and carrier pigeons!!
Take good care, Graham.
So now I'm catching up reading blogs...I've a lot of running to do! :)
Hi Lee. I've just noticed that the response to your comment that I wrote last night didn't publish. Strange. It is slightly odd given that I said that I had read your last post but had been puzzled and had come away without commenting. I shall return just now and remedy that.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell that was a waste of time . . .
ReplyDeleteMorning Graham, thought I'd drop you a quick update. I went through the rigmarole of adding Chrome to the iPad and signing in to Google. And I am definitely "in" Google because I can see the Admin page of my own blog, edit posts, etc. But if I go to view my own blog, or yours, or anyone else's I cannot comment. Extreme top-right of the screen is the irritating "sign-in" link and when I click on it I go directly to Blogger's "manage blog" area, and seem to bypass the sign-in screen. So Chrome has been summarily deleted. Firefox remains the only way I can leave comments, and only when accessed via OSX. Nothing seems to function in iOS, and I'd love to know if/when any of your friends solve that one.
Hope you are feeling better. x
Jayne, I was out for lunch with friends yesterday and one of them (a retired doctor who doesn't blog but is reasonaby computer literate) and she happened to mention to the assembled four of us present the she had suddenly been told by Google on Chrome that she had been locked out. It came out of the blue and she could find no way of getting herself back in again. It seems that we bloggers are nowhere near alone from what I was then told. I am back using Firefox but have had to keep Chrome alive as the easiest way to get into my Google accounts on my phone at the moment.
DeleteI only have Apple so I have to make it work.
Just popping in to say hello! I know nothing about your computer troubles but want to comment so you know I am reading! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ellen. I'm just back in Blogland.
DeleteLike yourself Graham, I am also an Apple everything user and that goes for the browser, Safari. I tried Firefox a couple of years ago and had some issues with it (can't recall the specifics now) so removed it. I have never tried Chrome and have no plans to do so. I also have a couple of email address for personal correspondence and all others. I read not only this post but all the comments and have not had a similar issue. I have had bloggers tell me that are unable to follow my blog, and I don't have a solution. I have a reading list in bookmarks and use that to access and read blogs.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice, I've not had problems accessing your blog. I use different browsers for different things. I've occasionally found problems with Blogger on most of them. C'est la vie.
Delete