topic title: Unsupported browser
Posts: 216
malanrich
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
#1
Hi all,

I'm getting error flags from Yahoo about using antiX 11's default Iceape 2.0.13 browser. Yahoo's new beta email interface wants Firefox, IE, or Safari. For now I can revert to the old site, but change is in the wind...

I have several questions about this:

1. Does Iceape not register as Firefox when connecting to sites like Yahoo's?
2. Is Iceape"unsupported" because it's not Firefox or because it's somehow not as current as the latest Firefox?
3. Is there any way to mask Iceape as Firefox (the way Opera would let you identify as IE or whatever)?

I don't want to install Firefox just to access a rarely used email account, but this could become a bigger problem for use of re-branded browsers.
Posts: 1,062
Dave
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
#2
I can only answer the first question based on browser access to my server, the other two I cannot unfortunately.

Iceape shows as"blank based compatible web browser" in my server access logs.
antiX being a debian base, iceape shows as"debian based compatible web browser". However firefox shows up as firefox. Not exactly sure how it is worded but from memory it is something like"Firefox debian based, firefox browser platform". Iceweasel does show up differently as well, but it gives recognition to being a firefox derivative. EG:"Iceweasel debian based, firefox browser platform"

My guess is that Iceape is not as familiar to the world, so it seen as a generic browser. As some other browsers I have tried register in the same way.
Posts: 216
malanrich
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
#3
Thanks, Dave.

If I understand, Iceape identifies itself as a Firefox derivative, therefore to some degree Firefox compatible. It would be nice if Iceape could identify itself"as" Firefox for purposes of accessing websites. But maybe that runs into the problem of why Iceape had to be distinguished from Firefox in the first place. I know that Iceape isn't"the same as" Firefox, but I'm assuming the differences aren't the differences that matter when accessing a site like Yahoo's.

Usually when I get a flag about an unsupported browser, the browser still works fine. If something goes wrong, I'm glad to switch or update the browser. What bugs me is when major sites like Yahoo.com decide to block access entirely until I've got an official install of Firefox, IE, or Safari.
Posts: 4,164
rokytnji
Joined: 20 Feb 2009
#4
Haven't tried it. Wife Yahoos. I Google.


========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"https://addons.mozilla.org/af/seamonkey/addon/user-agent-switcher/"
linktext was:"https://addons.mozilla.org/af/seamonkey ... -switcher/"
====================================
anticapitalista
Posts: 5,955
Site Admin
Joined: 11 Sep 2007
#5
You might need to 'cheat'.
Once in iceape, type about:config in the browser menu, then general.useragent and change iceape to firefox. This *might* work
Posts: 216
malanrich
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
#6
So far, roky takes the plume. The user-agent-switcher gave me just what I'd missed from the opera-browser. The link takes you to the download page for a plug-in that installs easily in iceape. It adds a user-agent-switcher toggle to the tools menu and got me right into Yahoo's email page without a burp.

Tip: The default user agents are limited to IE and some others for different media, but there's a link to a fuller user-agent file that is simple to install. This means I can switch my user agent to Firefox Linux (and not have to send out a false advertisement for IE). Very nice.