Email notifications from Apple Support Communities

Question

Level 2

307 points

Email notifications from Apple Support Communities

Hi 😕

During a recent discussion here, I received many email notifications; here is one example:-

The text (x2) shown in blue looks like an active link (my mouse pointer changes from a black arrow ➘ to a hand with a finger pointing☝︎) but the link simply doesn't 'work' on my iMac - nor, I've since discovered, does it 'work' on my Microsoft Windows machines!

Here is the 'link' expanded ......

https://btmail.bt.com/cp/applink/mail/LoadMessageContent?cKey=1422174775337-1175 0&iframeID=x-mail-msg-iframe-box-1422174777762&cw=892#27539569

My question is - SHOULD the (apparent) links 'work'?

If so, might the 'problem' lie with BT (my ISP) rather than with my computers?

What do YOU think?

Posted on Jan 25, 2015 1:19 AM

Reply

Answer 1

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Feb 14, 2017 4:54 AM in response to SiHancox

Thank you, 'SiHancox'!

An extra question for you, if I may. Can you explain how I should set up matters so that when a post such as yours is added to a thread, I'm sent an email by Apple to so advise me? (It's so long since I did it, I've now forgotten!). I only saw your reply when I came here to ask about my iPod problem today!

Cheers

David B.

Reply

Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

685,221 points

Feb 14, 2017 9:47 AM in response to HunterBD

Go to the top right side of the page and you should see a Follow box. Click to change to Following.

Reply

Answer 3

SiHancox

Level 5

4,953 points

Jan 25, 2015 4:18 AM in response to HunterBD

Yes, the link should work - it does on my clean install of yosemite (latest iMac) also on the iPad mini. When the mouse pointer is moved over the link (it highlights the web address) and clicked it opens Safari at the desired post - also to the right hand side you should see a "downwards" pointing arrow, if that's clicked it opens a window instead of going to Safari so leaving you still in Mail, but you can scroll all the other replies.

The reason why your links are not working - not sure. If not working on another system not related to OS X then I would think the issue is elsewhere, but not sure how it could be ISP related - it might be worth looking at how you have your mail programmes configured, could it be they both happen to be set in a way that does not allow this sort of ability (ie plain text or some sort of similar setting). Think someone else might come along and expand on this idea if correct.

Reply

Answer 4

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Jan 25, 2015 5:30 AM in response to HunterBD

Since the link has a bt address, my guess is BT is readdressing it through their system--the likely excuse will be some spam/phishing/security filter.

Reply

Answer 5

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Jan 25, 2015 6:47 AM in response to Barney-15E

It appears as if you are as cynical as me, Barney-15E 😉

Oddly, though, the "Correct Answer" and "Helpful Answer" buttons DO work. 😕

All the other links at the bottom of the notification email work too! 😮

Do the 'blue' links 'work' for you? Do the 'grey' links work for you?

I appreciate your response. Thank you.

Reply

Answer 6

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Jan 25, 2015 7:15 AM in response to HunterBD

While I am cynical, that really has nothing to do with it. The link you posted goes to BT. Apple isn't going to send you a link that redirects through BT.

I have all the emails from Apple disabled, so I can't check mine.

Reply

Answer 7

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Jan 25, 2015 7:38 AM in response to SiHancox

Many thanks for advising, SiHancox

On all machines I've been using BT's own Web Mail to read my messages (rather than Apple Mail).

⚠

I've just done a check with Apple Mail - this time the blue links DID work!

Perhaps BT web mail IS at fault as suggested by Barney-15E!

Reply

Answer 8

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Jan 25, 2015 3:18 PM in response to Barney-15E

What a shame that you were unable (unwilling!) to check your links, Barney-15E. 😟

Perplexed, I forwarded the Apple email to MYSELF both to my gmail AND to my Microsoft 'Outlook' email addresses.

In each case, on arrival, the blue link was now underlined in the forwarded Apple email (I'm not sure of the relevance of that fact!).

Most importantly, though - clicking the underlined link in each of the forwarded emails DID now work and brought me directly to this thread!

RESULT! 😎

It thus appears that BT Mail *is* the culprit, just as you, Barney-15E, had suggested. Thank you. 🙂

BD

PS Do you recognise the aircraft in my avatar?

Reply

Answer 9

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Jan 25, 2015 3:39 PM in response to HunterBD

HunterBD wrote:

What a shame that you were unable (unwilling!) to check your links, Barney-15E. 😟

I don't have any links. I do not get any emails from this website. They are all turned off.

Reply

Answer 10

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Jan 25, 2015 3:52 PM in response to Barney-15E

FYI - it's easy! 😝

https://discussions.apple.com/user-preferences!input.jspa

Like I said, "What a shame that you were unwilling to check your links".

EOD

Reply

Answer 11

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Jan 25, 2015 4:00 PM in response to HunterBD

HunterBD wrote:

FYI - it's easy! 😝

https://discussions.apple.com/user-preferences!input.jspa

Like I said, "What a shame that you were unwilling to check your links".

EOD

I know how to do it. How do you think I turned it off? It's off for a reason. It won't be turned back on.

Reply

Answer 12

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Mar 29, 2015 6:16 AM in response to Barney-15E

Tell me, Barney ..........

WHY did you turn off all the emails from Apple?

I'm still trying to help BT discover the problem with BT's web mail! 😕

David B.

Reply

Answer 13

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Mar 29, 2015 6:58 AM in response to HunterBD

HunterBD wrote:

WHY did you turn off all the emails from Apple?

Because I don't want an email every time someone posts a comment here. I show up here when I have time and look at the content that has changed since I last viewed it. No need to be bombarded with email notifications when I don't have time to deal with them.

Reply

Answer 14

HunterBD Author

Level 2

307 points

Mar 29, 2015 9:52 AM in response to Barney-15E

I understand, Barney. I'd like to apologise to you for my previous bad attitude - no doubt prompted by my frustration at being unable to determine the reason for the apparent 'fault'. My bad - I really am sorry.

I'm still trying to help BT discover the problem with BT's web mail! I've just spent well over an hour talking to a guy in India who works for BT. I even gave him control of my iMac so he could try out for himself. He SAW the problem, but doesn't understand HOW this error can occur! Sadly, he was unfamiliar with OS X and tried to persuade me that the error was probably because Apple has designed it's link to only work correctly with Apple Mail!

He has promised to investigate further and call me back on my home number. We shall see!

Thank you for your comment. I was able to use it as a current example post/email response from Apple.

Cheers! 😎

David B.

Reply

Answer 15

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,144 points

Mar 29, 2015 2:36 PM in response to HunterBD

Sadly, he was unfamiliar with OS X and tried to persuade me that the error was probably because Apple has designed it's link to only work correctly with Apple Mail!

It isn't Apple. There is no way Apple could embed a BT URL into an email message. The URL points to a location on BT's servers with a "message id" which the BT server would have to resolve. Apple doesn't have access to BT's servers, so it couldn't craft a URL that points to private storage on BT's server.

BT is causing the problem.

Reply