Q: OSX Lion + 2011 iMac 27'' + Video = Freeze

Submitted a tip to one of the Apple Blogs.  Trying to get publc attention for the issue.  It is encouraging that some are saying that Apple is acknowledging a problem.  I have submitted several feedback reports to apple as well. Man, I LOVE this computer though.  It is so fast!  I trust it will be solved soon.

Just wanted to note that there are multiple threads regarding this issue. Example: https://discussions.apple.com/message/15891015#15891015

This seems like a video driver problem rather than a Flash/ other video player problem, no? I started another thread initially thinking the crash only occurs after resuming from sleep and attempting to utilize a flash player, but others have the same problem with Quicktime/iTunes.

I have had to disable the Sleep function and I worry that so many hard reboots have damaged my brand new iMac. Shame on you, Apple. I hope you release a patch very soon. I switched from PC to Mac a few years ago thinking I would avoid this type of b.s.

2011 iMac 3.4GHz Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM

A few minutes ago I got a pop-up telling me to update flash-player. It said that it fixes some known Lion issues.

Let's hope the freezing was one of them.

I too had the update for Flash Player, but just this morning I wole the mac from sleep went to watch a youtube video through facebook and it froze again, so as others have indicated it does not seem to be flash related as even with the update it still happened.

I phoned apple care this time to log the issue. He had me try and attempt to recreate the problem whilst on the phone, on two occassions it did not work, sods law I know. He had me do some disk repairs and that was all. I'm told to call back if the problem persists.

unfortunately no solution from flash (yet):

Flash Player may cause higher CPU activity when playing a YouTube video. This issue is possibly related to disabled hardware acceleration. 

UPDATE: The final release of Mac OS X 10.7 provides the same support for Flash hardware video acceleration as Mac OS X Snow Leopard (10.6).  The previous known Issue suggesting that video hardware acceleration was disabled in Lion was incorrect and based on tests with a pre-release version of Mac OS 10.7 that related to only one particular Mac GPU configuration.  Adobe continues to work closely with Apple to provide Flash Player users with a high quality experience on Mac computers.

Try the following:

Go to http://www.youtube.com/html5 and switch to HTML5 youtube display.

It worked for me 2-3 times. Too few to become satisfied or rely on it. But it is a possibility

This is just insane! I'm getting 2-3 crashes a day on my 21" 2011 iMac. It's crazy, nothing less. I'm losing important documents left and right and there's not much I can do about it. I am actively avoiding anything with video in it, because it seems to be the number #1 cause (not Flash, per se) but it's virtually impossible. If I click a link to a site with a video banner on it (I can't know about that beforehand) my iMac dies. If I click a tweet-link that goes to video, but the tweeter neglected to specify that so I'll click it, my iMac dies.

The weird thing is, my iMac dies ASAP as the video starts, which typically is immediately (especially with banners and stuff). BUT when I reboot it, the same video is brough back by Safari, and then it seemingly works (since it's not looping with crashes).

Anyway, sorry for not providing a solution and whining, but I figure that the more we keep this thread active, the more acknowledgement this problem will get.

Ever since I turned off Sleep mode, I've not had the issue (I had it before) with my new 21.5" iMac. It's obviously a video driver issue with Lion. I heartily agree that Apple needs to get this fixed ASAP.

I plan on calling Apple Care today to bring up the issue with them for the fifth time. I will direct them to a link of this.

great! keeps us updated

for the 50th time, this problem is not isolated to Flash. HTML5 video will cause the crash, iTunes video, VLC, Quicktime, Quicklook, etc...

Just about anything that uses H.264 hardware decoding.

Flash video is generally just H.264 video with a flash-player wrapper.

I too have not had a freeze since turning off Sleep. I shut down at the end of the day. I watch whatever I want, work in many complex programs, edit video, etc. iMac i7 14 days old... Was freezing 2-5 times a day. Now been 2+ days without a freeze. Left rendering last night, fine this morning.

Clearly not fixed, but workable while we breathe through the time until the update happens.  Yes unacceptable. Understandable, later forgivable, annoying... But here we are. Going forward as best we can.  This is still the fastest and best OS and computer I have used (many kinds for 25+ years). Lion is amazing and yes, incomplete.  I think the road will smooth out soon.

Everyone, if you can, should call Apple Care or Apple Tech Support and report the issue.

Reinstalling the OS, Resetting the PRam, clearing caches, deleting Flash, etc. All have no effect.

But letting them know helps them and us... Gives them a sense of how big the issue is. I still email the Advance support Apple woman daily on the issue, and get replies. So they know we have not settled into mediocraty.

Hi everyone, so glad to find others out there with the same issue, at least I am not the only one going insane!

I have a brand new 2011 iMac 27". I upgraded to Lion and everything was fine but until about 1 week ago I started getting the issues mentioned here. Wake up from sleep, open safari, try to watch video = immediate Freeze. Mouse is moveable, but no input method accepted. So Keyboard dead, mouse moving but unable to click anything.

I have also swtiched off sleep mode for now as I was worried about cold booting my new imac so often (about 2-3 times a day) and I don't want to lose any work in progress. I have also started shutting down my imac before I go to bed which I never used to do...

Though I have been a loyal Apple supporter for many years, I too can't believe Apple would release an OS with such a major issue. Especially when the iMacs are one of their major flagship products. Not like they can say they didn't have a chance to fully test it!! I am sure there are many Apple employees who use iMacs, how can they have not come across this issue? Just beggars believe!

Anyway, we can only hope Apple gets their act together soon or more people will be outraged... it is so frustrating.

I told applecare that it happens in HTML5 and they told me to contact the manufacturer of HTML5.

Made me Laugh out Loud, down the phone.