I now have figured out:

the error in "accessing the internet" message in the app still displays even when the connection is up;

the app always starts paused (that might be ok);

the app will not load the image until one re-selects the camera from the drop-down menu (this is true from start-up AND in using the pause/resume function and on return from sleep ie. when pause is showing).

The widget will also produce the error in "accessing the internet" message after returning from a disconnection of the wifi and manual screen blank. The image will then not load until the webcam is re-selected as is in the case of the app.