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CARBONTV OVERVIEW
CarbonTV System Requirements
To watch CarbonTV videos on your computer, you will need:
- Personal Computer
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1 (.53.64) or above
- Internet Explorer 8.0 or above, Firefox 2.0 or above, Safari 3.0 or above, or Chrome
- Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or above, Macintosh OS X 10.5 "Leopard" or above, or Linux
- JavaScript and Cookies enabled
In addition, you will need a broadband internet connection.
- For Standard Definition videos we recommend a downstream bandwidth of at least 1.5 Mbps for a smooth playback experience.
- For High Definition videos we recommend a downstream bandwidth of at least 3 Mbps for a smooth playback experience.
For the best possible viewing experience on CarbonTV, we recommend the following software updates:
- Microsoft Windows 7 or above, Macintosh OS X 10.6 or above, or Linux
- The latest version of your web browser
Accessing CarbonTV from your Mobile Device
You can enjoy CarbonTV content on most mobile devices with internet connections.
- Android – We recommend and support Google Chrome browser.
- iOS – We recommend and support Safari and Google Chrome browsers.
Getting Started
Why Sign Up?
You can enjoy most of CarbonTV's content without signing up for an account, but signing up lets you take advantage of the following great features:
- With Facebook connected accounts, you can share your favorite shows with friends
- Share on other social sites like Twitter and Pinterest
- Maintain a video playlist and add videos to it for future viewing
- Follow shows and have new videos added to your playlist automatically
- Access Recommendations and Trending videos tailored exclusively to your viewing preferences
A CarbonTV account is also necessary to access any content intended for mature audiences.
In order to sign up, you'll need to visit CarbonTV's Sign up page. There, you'll either be able to login using Facebook Connect, or by entering some information about yourself (name, email address, etc.).
How Do I Organize My Videos?
The main tool for organizing videos and shows in CarbonTV is via the playlist. This allows you to view your favorite programming at a later time.
Watch Later
Your Watch Later playlist is your to-do list for viewing. When logged in, you'll always have access to your playlist by either hovering over or directly clicking on your NAME at the top right-hand corner of the site.
There are many ways to add content to your Watch Later playlist. For instance, you can add an episode or clip to your playlist by clicking the 'Add to Watch Later' button when you hover over a thumbnail of the video. You can also click the 'Add to Watch Later' button when you are watching an episode or clip in the video player.
You can always remove items in your playlist at any time.
TopYour Account
Account Settings
Creating an account on CarbonTV allows you to manage your viewing experience. To access these settings, you'll need to log in to your account. Once you do, click your name in the upper right corner of CarbonTV.com and select "Edit".
I'm Having Trouble with My Login
If you're having trouble logging in or accessing CarbonTV, below are some common scenarios and how to help resolve them.
I can't log in at all
If you do not see the Log In link in the upper right corner of CarbonTV.com, or nothing happens after you enter your login information and click submit, please be sure you've enabled JavaScript and Cookies in your browser.
I forgot my password
Uh oh! No worries, simply click "Log in" at the top right of CarbonTV.com and select "Forgot Password". We'll email you instructions to the email account you registered with.
Parental Controls
Users are required to be logged into an account in order to view mature content (TV-MA shows) on CarbonTV.com. At this time, we do not have a setting that allows for more customized parental controls.
Facebook Connect FAQ
When I log into CarbonTV using my Facebook account, what information does Facebook share with CarbonTV?
When you log in to CarbonTV using your Facebook account, Facebook will present you with a permissions screen that lists what information it will share with CarbonTV. Facebook also explains its information sharing policies in more detail within the Facebook Data Use Policy available here.
What information from Facebook will be copied to my CarbonTV profile when I use Facebook to sign up for CarbonTV or connect my CarbonTV account to Facebook?
When you use Facebook to sign up for a CarbonTV account or connect your CarbonTV and Facebook accounts, we will copy your name into your CarbonTV profile.
During sign up, if you do not provide us with a different email address for an existing CarbonTV account, we will also use the email address you have provided to Facebook to create your new CarbonTV account. Your CarbonTV account email address can always be viewed or edited here.
How do I update my CarbonTV profile while my account is connected to Facebook?
While your CarbonTV and Facebook accounts are connected, your CarbonTV profile will be synced to your Facebook information and can only be updated on Facebook. If you disconnect your Facebook and CarbonTV accounts, you can update your CarbonTV profile information separately, but this information will be replaced with your Facebook profile information if you reconnect your accounts.
How do I disconnect my Facebook account from my CarbonTV account?
To disconnect your Facebook from your CarbonTV account:- 1. Visit your Profile page and log in if prompted
- 2. Under the Login Information section, click disconnect
- 3. In the confirmation window, click confirm Social Sharing to Facebook Update
Advanced Features
CarbonTV Recommendations
CarbonTV's Recommendations help you discover interesting shows, episodes and clips you may not have heard of, but are likely to enjoy. The discovery engine suggests new videos for you based on other content you've watched while logged into your CarbonTV account. Check out your Recommendations by clicking the Recommendations link on the Home Page or other pages where the Recommendations link is found.
CarbonTV Recent
CarbonTV's Recent items help you discover shows, episodes and clips that have been released in the last 30 days. Check out Recent items by clicking the Recent link on the Home Page or other pages where the Recent link is found.
CarbonTV Popular
CarbonTV's Popular items help you discover shows, episodes and clips that are popular. The discovery engine suggests new videos for you based on the content other users have historically watched. Check out Popular items by clicking the Popular link on the Home Page or other pages where the Popular link is found.
CarbonTV Trending
CarbonTV's Trending items help you discover shows, episodes and clips that are not only popular, but popular right now. The discovery engine suggests new videos for you based on the content other users are watching in the last 30 days. Check out Trending items by clicking the Trending link on the Home Page or other pages where the Trending link is found.
Search
You can search for videos on CarbonTV using titles and keywords. The Search bar, found at the top right of CarbonTV will take you to the Search Results page where you can filter the results further.
TopTech Support
How to Enable JavaScript and Cookies
In order to use CarbonTV.com, we require JavaScript and Cookies to be enabled in your browser. Outlined below are the steps necessary to do this in several popular browsers.
Chrome
Mac
- Click the Chrome menu
- Select Preferences
- Click Show Advanced Settings
- Click the Content Settings button in the "Privacy" section
- Choose the Allow local data to be set radio button in the "Cookies" section
- Make sure that "Block all third-party cookies without exception" and "Clear cookies and other site data when I quit my browser" are not selected
- Choose the Allow all sites to run JavaScript radio button in the "Javascript" section
- Close the windows
Windows
- Click the Wrench icon in the upper right corner
- Click Settings
- Click Show Advanced Settings
- Click the Content Settings button in the "Privacy" section
- Choose the Allow local data to be set radio button in the "Cookies" section
- Make sure that "Block all third-party cookies without exception" and "Clear cookies and other site data when I quit my browser" are not selected
- Choose the Allow all sites to run JavaScript radio button in the "Javascript" section
- Close the windows
Firefox 3.5 - 3.6
Linux
- Click the Edit menu
- Select Preferences
- Click the Content tab
- Select the Enable JavaScript checkbox
- Click the Privacy tab
- Select the Accept cookies from sites checkbox
- Close the window
Mac
- Click the Firefox menu
- Select Preferences
- Click the Content tab
- Select the Enable JavaScript checkbox
- Click the Privacy tab
- In the "Firefox will:" section, select Remember history from the drop-down menu (or "Use custom settings for history" and select the "Accept cookies from sites" checkbox)
- Close the window
Windows
- Click the Tools menu
- Select Options
- Click the Contents tab
- Select the Enable JavaScript checkbox
- Click the Privacy tab
- In the "Firefox will:" section, select Remember History from the drop-down menu (or "Use custom settings for history" and select the "Accept cookies from sites" checkbox)
- Click OK to confirm
Internet Explorer 8
Windows
- Click the Tools menu
- Select Internet Options
- Click the Security tab
- Click the Custom Level button
- Scroll down until you see the "Scripting" section, and select the Enable radio button for "Active Scripting"
- Click the OK button
- Click Yes to confirm
- Click the Privacy tab
- Click the Default button
- Move the slider to Medium
- Click OK to confirm
Safari 5.0 & below
Mac
- Click the Safari menu
- Select Preferences
- Click the Security tab
- Select the Enable JavaScript checkbox
- Under "Accept cookies" select the Only from sites I visit radio button
- Close the window
Windows
- Click the Gear Icon in the top right corner
- Select Preferences
- Click the Security tab
- Click Enable JavaScript
- Under "Accept Cookies" select the Only from sites I visit radio button
- Close the window
Safari 5.1
Mac
- Click the Safari menu
- Select Preferences
- Click the Security tab
- Select the Enable JavaScript checkbox
- Click the Privacy tab
- Under "Block cookies" select the From third parties and advertisers radio button
- Close the window
Windows
- Click the Gear Icon in the top right corner
- Select Preferences
- Click the Security tab
- Click Enable JavaScript
- Click the Privacy tab
- Under "Block cookies" select the From third parties and advertisers radio button
- Close the window
FAQ
My videos start and stop repeatedly
For a smooth playback experience, you need a broadband internet connection. We recommend first performing a speed test of your connection. Visit speedtest.net and click on the green Begin Test button. Once the test is complete, compare the results against our requirements.
- If your video download speed is slower or inconsistent,pause the video until the buffer is full and then try playing the video. You may also want to consider limiting your viewing experience to low quality. You can do this by mousing over the little gear icon in the bottom right-hand corner of our video player.
- If you are running any bandwidth-intensive applications on your computer, or any other device on your network (e.g. Dropbox, BitTorrent, other downloads, internet phone services such as Skype, Vonage, MagicJack, and online gaming), you may want to pause these applications while watching videos on CarbonTV.com.
- If you are watching video over a wireless connection and your video is stuttering, try watching over a wired connection or move your computer closer to your Wi-Fi router for a stronger signal.
I'm experiencing slow and choppy playback
- Pause the video and allow the buffer to reach "full." Once it's full, try playing your video again. If the video is still stuttering, you may be experiencing issues with your CPU performance. Try turning off any CPU-intensive programs you're running, or rebooting your computer.
- Try lowering the video quality setting. Lowering the quality will reduce the processing demand on your computer. You can do this by mousing over the little gear icon in the bottom right-hand corner of our video player.
- Some video cards may lack the proper decoding technology for Flash based media. Try disabling "hardware acceleration" in Flash -- Right-click on our video player and select Settings. Click the leftmost tab on the panel that appears (which is labeled as "Display") and uncheck the box next to Enable Hardware Acceleration. When you're through, close the panel and restart your browser.
- If video is stalling or slowing only during full-screen mode, try lowering your desktop resolution.
- Check to see if you encounter the same playback issues in another browser. Here is a list a list of recommended and supported web browsers.
My video player window is black, not functioning, or there is discoloration or lines through the video
- Try disabling "hardware acceleration" in Flash -- Right-click on our video player and select Settings. Click the leftmost tab on the panel that appears (which is labeled as "Display") and uncheck the box next to Enable Hardware Acceleration. When you're through, close the panel and restart your browser.
- Clear your Flash cache by visiting here and clicking Delete All Sites in the Website Storage Settings panel. Keep in mind that this step may require you to log back into Flash based applications and websites.
- Make sure your video card drivers are up to date. You can find more information on how to do this on your computer by visiting your video card manufacturer's website.
- You can find additional information and make sure your computer is set up properly for Flash by checking out Adobe's Advanced Troubleshooter.
Videos won't start at all
- Try clearing your browser cache.
- In order to connect quickly and accurately to our servers, a fast ping speed is required. Go to pingtest.net and click on the green Begin Test button. For optimal performance make sure your ping test is below 50ms with no packet loss.
- Temporarily disable popup blocking software installed on your computer to test.
- Allow CarbonTV.com as a trusted site in your Firewall software.
Audio/Sound Issues on CarbonTV.com
Most of the audio issues that our users experience when watching on CarbonTV.com can be fixed with a few simple adjustments. Here are some suggestions:
- Verify that the volume settings in the CarbonTV player have the correct settings. Make sure that the video you're watching isn't muted and that the volume is not set too low. (The volume controls are found in the lower right corner of any video you are watching)
- Verify that your computer speaker volume and settings are correctly set. On a Windows computer, you can check this by double-clicking the volume icon in the System Tray and making sure that none of your volume settings are muted. On a Macintosh system, the volume controls are located in the top right corner of the screen.
- Verify that other media speakers such as Windows Media Player or QuickTime can output audio. Are you able to hear a video that's stored locally on your computer?
- Restart the browser and try watching CarbonTV videos again.
- Clear your memory dedicated to Flash by performing the following:
-
- Go to the CarbonTV.com homepage.
- Click on the big video image in the middle of the screen (this will bring up the video player).
- Right-click on the video and select the "Settings..." menu option.
- Click the third tab with the folder icon. You should see a menu that says "Local Storage".
- Drag the slider all the way to "0" and then click "OK".
- Drag the slider back up to "100KB" and then click "Close".
- Try to play any video at CarbonTV.
- Try re-booting your computer.
If these steps do not resolve your issue, you may need to reinstall your Flash drivers. To do so:
- Uninstall Flash following these steps.
- Restart your computer.
- Reinstall the latest version of Flash following these steps.
My Playlist Isn't Updating
If you are having trouble viewing your playlist, try logging out and then logging back in. If that doesn't work, clear your browser cache and cookies, then try again. If you aren't receiving email notifications, be sure to check the settings in your profile. You may also want to check your email's Spam/Junk folder to see if the emails are being caught there.
I can't watch CarbonTV on Google Chromecast
CarbonTV is viewable on Chromecast with desktop and laptop computers when using Chrome as your internet browser with the Google Chrome Cast Extension. For more information regarding the extension please click here.
Mobile and tablet devices may not support the Google Chrome Cast Extension and will not allow you to view CarbonTV via Chrome Cast on those devices. Some exceptions are Netflix and YouTube.
