How to use SopCast on Mac OS X

[rockwater]

You don't need Windows to run SopCast!  If you have an Intel Mac, you can run it using a program called CrossOver (make sure it's 6.2.1 or newer).  CrossOver is a commercial program - you are on your own in getting a hold of that but it's not difficult.  Once you do that, follow these instructions:

1. Install CrossOver
2. Start CrossOver and install IE6 from the list of supported software.
3. Download installer of media player 7 from: http://www.microsoft.com/...yer/version7/default.aspx
4. Install media player 7:
    a) In crossover installer choose 'install unsupported software
    b) select the bottle, which you created for IE6
    c) mark option 'Choose intaller file'
    d) click 'install' and browse to the media player installer file (mp71.exe or whatevere you downloaded)
    e) step through the installation process
5. Download media player 9 from:
http://www.microsoft.com/...ayer/9Series/default.aspx
6. Install it in the same way as media player 7
7. Download sopcast installer from http://www.sopcast.com/download/
If you download the zip file, unpack it . There should be sopcast installer file, like Setup-SopCast-2.0.4-2007-11-20.exe
8. Install Sopcast in the same way as mp7 and mp9, always select the same bottle although crossover might disadvise it.
9. Start sopcast and have fun.

NOTES:
If you can't get a picture in SopCast after following all these steps, click the button near the bottom of the player window that looks like two boxes overlapping.  That opens the stream in Windows Media Player externally.  Windows Media Player will look for the appropriate codec and install it.  You can then close Windows Media Player and the SopCast player should work fine.

The SopCast Web Player won't work on a Mac.  If you have a site which requires the SopCast Web Player, you can find the link by reading the source code of the site (cmd+U or option+cmd+U) and looking for a line of code that says:
<param name="SopAddress" value="sop://broker1.sopcast.com:3912/41999">(the value will vary).  Copy the area inside of the value= quotes and paste it into SopCast.

Similarly, I haven't figured out a way to launch SopCast by clicking sop:// links in Safari.  You can copy them and paste them into SopCast.   

Using VLC if you get no picture in SopCast after following all the previous steps:

If you are getting a blank picture or one flickering white in SopCast when the stream claims to be playing, download VLC for Mac here:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

You don't need to do it through CrossOver - it's a regular Mac program.  Then, when you have SopCast open and it claims to be playing, go into VLC and choose File >> Open Network then paste this into the box at the top:
http://localhost:8902/tv.asf

Click OK.  Then go up to Playback >> Repeat All.  A video window should by now pop up, and will initially be mostly gray, but will eventually get better in quality, assuming you are getting a decent download rate on the stream in SopCast. 

Good luck. I will try to help anyone if they have questions.  Cheers

[andrey]

Hi - my husband's a football nut but not a computer whiz so I'm trying to set up our Mac so he can watch the games. So far I've got everything set up as you explain but I'm not getting a picture in sopcast (it says it's playing but no pic). I tried clicking the overlapping boxes but I get this message in WMP: Windows Media Player encountered an unknown error.%0

Any ideas?

Thanks for your post

Sian

[rockwater]

Sian - I have added a section at the bottom of my post about using VLC to play the SopCast videos.  Try following those instructions.  That is likely to help.

[PanesarV]

This seems like a codec problem. As rockwater said, try using VLC. If it doesn't work, ask for more help.

[andrey]

Thanks very much for your help - VLC's worked a charm. Now I'll have to get my Dad set up so he can watch cricket (he's a West Indies man)!

[PanesarV]

Very Nice to know that, Andrey. All credits to rockwater for this wonderful tutorial.

[icicleta]

Hi Rockwater,

Thanks for your crossover guide, I have one problem when I try to install IE6, first it's installed windows OLE, that's OK, but then when ask me to install Microsoft Internet a message tell me: " Installation program can't download files from the folder c:/windows/installation files of windows update because the folder is just to read. Change permitions of this folder o specify another folder.
I was trying everything I know, what it's not too much, I was in chats but nobody said nothing about that, so finally I give up and I have to ask you for help, do you know what I have to do, I'd appreciate it a lot.

Thanks

[rockwater]

Hi icicleta,

I know that we already discussed this over PM, but for everyone else's benefit, here is what I recommended:

Download it ON YOUR MAC from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/...tical/ie6sp1/default.mspx

Save the file somewhere where you can find it from Crossover (i.e. your Mac desktop).  Then go into CrossOver and go into the installation of IE6 as before.  The first dialog box asks where to get the installer from.  From the dropdown labeled 'Installer Source', select 'Choose an Installer File...' and find the EXE you downloaded from your Mac.  That may work.  It's my best guess.

[Majik]

Afternoon guys

I've managed to install everything, however SOPcast just hangs when I try to access it.

I am a complete novice to the whole thing, therein I've never even used SOPcast before.

Is there anything I'm not doing properly?

[rockwater]

Hi Majik,

So when you say that it hangs, does the SopCast window show up but you can't click on anything?  Just want to see if I can find out as much about the error as I can; thanks.

[Majik]

Good Afternoon Rockwater,

Yeah SOPcast loads up but I can't click anything, instead I have to force quit the application.

I'm running a trial version of CrossOver as I didn't want to download anything 'permanent' just yet.

[jgaugust]

Hey Rockwater,

I'm getting the same error as Majik. My SopCast client freezes after about 3 seconds and when I tried to do it manually through a player by clicking on a SopCast channel link, that too freezes in the same amount of time.

Not sure what it's doing so any help is appreciated.

[eman]

Good Afternoon Rockwater,

Yeah SOPcast loads up but I can't click anything, instead I have to force quit the application.

I'm running a trial version of CrossOver as I didn't want to download anything 'permanent' just yet.

Hey guys:
For those of you who cannot use sopcast because it freezes, I had the same problem for a week or so. It was because I used the trial version from the original website.
I didn't want to buy the software until I knew for sure it works. So I downloaded an older version 6.2.1 for free from a torrent. I can't really advertise that kind of stuff so it's your job to find it:)  And it works!!!
I don't know whether it's because the older version is better or because it's not a demo. Try it yourselves.

[jonbags]

Yo yo yo. Just thought I'd mention that the above poster seems to be correct, the newest version of crossover hangs when sopcast is ran (doesn't get past the channel screen thing after the login bit) Installed 6.2.1 (demo version) didn't have to install any more media player or anything as it'd remembered it from the 7.x registered version and worked from the off.

Ta for the topic though been waiting TIME for sopcast to release a mac os x version appose to the bloody run bootcamp bla bla bla lazy way.

[max]

Hi when i try to install unsupported software the software I am tryingto installis grey out please can you advise.

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