Gale Database access that use to work without any login now is asking for one. What gives?

My school is very lucky that we access some of Gale's databases via our membership in our State Library system.  We have been able to access them without any logins, then when we went remote/hybrid, some instances occurred on devices that prompted the user to login with their member name and password. Now, if you had a library card from the local library that worked and gave you access but if you did not have one you were out of luck.  When I started to look into this problem, it did not just occur on certain types of devices.  It happen on ipads, macbooks...mostly Apple stuff with the user using the Safari browser and it wasn't happening to a lot of students, just a handful.  I don't know why I though of this but I went into (i.e. on iPad) Settings, Safari  and scrolled down until I saw Location.  Then the lightbulb when off! On the devices that were asking for a login the setting for Location Access on All Websites was set to Deny.  When I changed it to Ask or Allow and tried the database again, they got in and was not requires to provide any name or password.  So that is my theory and I'm sticking with it!.

Savvas Realize and issue with iPads (video plays but no sound).

This post deals with an issue my school had with Savvas Realize.  Our students would log in on an iPad using Google Chrome or Safari. They could navigate through the module (Elevate Science Module).  Choose a chapter (Systems, Reproduction, and Growth: Reproduction and Growth), choose a lesson (Lesson 1: Patterns of Reproduction), click on a video (Patterns of Reproduction). On a Macbook, PC, Chromebook the video worked fine, but on a iOS device (iPad or iPhone) the video played but had no sound with it. 

The teacher contacted Savvas support and provided all the info they asked for; what device was she using, current iOS, size of storage, memory, bla, bla, bla.  They sent her link to show her how to: clear the cache of the iPad, double check to see if the iPad was compatible (it was), bla, bla, bla.  After a couple of back and forths, they informed the teacher that they had "elevated her case status and were looking into it.  After all this she came to me with the issue.

Can't lie, I was stumped at first.  I was able to replicate everything mentioned above but still no solution, then it hit me like a bolt out of the blue.  A number of years ago our Science Department was having problems accessing websites with flash videos on the iPads, Apple has never support this on the iPad.  I did some research and found another browser (Puffin Browser), that allowed Flash to work on the iPad. 

Well I downloaded the Puffin Browser on the iPAD and LO AND BEHOLD the video worked, sound and all.  

I wish I could give you the exact details of why but at this stage of the game, I'm just glad it works.

I find it hard to believe that a multi-million dollar company like Savvas (formerly Pearson Learning) could not figure out why it was not working especially in today's world of remote leaning.  I was informed by the teacher that when Savvas came out to train our Science Department, she asked if there were any know issues with iPads-since we are 1:1.  The response was "No.  You are still using iPAds? Everyone else is using Chromebooks".  YIKES!!! Let's just say I'm not impressed. That being said, today will be my last day working at Georgetown Middle/High School.  I will be working at Savvas next week as a consultant---KIDDING!! :-)