Project F5: Reloading Opera info on the Web

By Lawmune. Thursday, 27. September 2007, 20:51:34

Project F5: Reloading Opera info on the Web

When it comes to helping Web developers adhere to open standards so that their sites will work properly in Opera, our storied (Storey-ed?) Open the Web team is always up to the challenge.

That said, there are other website issues we could use your help with. In particular, there are a lot of sites out there that have old, outdated, or simply incorrect information about Opera. For example, some sites still claim that Opera contains built-in advertising (unless users pay a license fee). That stopped being the case just over two years ago! There are other misconceptions as well, such as people confusing Opera Mini with Opera Mobile.

As an ongoing project, let's work together to correct websites that have incorrect information about Opera. Obviously, we don't have to fix every old news article talking about previous versions of Opera, but general information sites without a specific publication date should be corrected to reflect the latest info. In general, a polite letter to the relevant Webmaster should be sufficient.

When you've contacted a site, please post the URL below (so that others won't contact the same site over and over again) and describe what you asked them to fix. I'll send an Opera goodie-bag to the person who contacts the most sites in two weeks (deadline: Oct. 10th), and if you find/contact at least 5 sites with incorrect/outdated information about Opera, I'll enter you into a random drawing to win one other goodie-bag.

Good luck!

EDIT (10/17/07)

The contest is over, and we're really grateful you all participated to help us fix misconceptions about Opera. Without further ado, here are the winners!

Overall winner:

mabdul

The winner of the random drawing is:

seifip

Congrats all around!

Opera at DigitalLife in New York City Partying with Jon (Opera's CEO) in China

Comments

By Tamil, # 27. September 2007, 21:10:58

OK, my first one (I haven't contacted).

http://www.opera.com/privacy/ads/

It says that applies to opera 8 or so, but shouldn't you just redirect to a new page where it says: Opera IS FREE, Still using Opera 8 with ads? Get Opera 9 with NO ads and enjoy best web experience.

By DjiXas, # 28. September 2007, 09:54:40

http://www.9down.com/Opera-v9-0-build-8490-6755/

http://www.9down.com/Opera-v9-10-build-8692-8110/

And other posts in same site... Contacted and asked if they could change where it says that Opera got ads to something like Opera is free now and has no ads, hope they will fix.

Contacted http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid40_gci212712,00.html

Asked to change text where it says "Opera is free for download to all supported platforms. The free version of Opera contains ads" as Opera has no ads now.

By DjiXas, # 28. September 2007, 09:58:34

http://www.wave-report.com/tutorials/opera.htm

A tutorial on Opera, specifically Opera 5(!). Since this is linked to from the front page as just "Opera tutorial", it certainly seems like it ought to be updated.

I've asked them to either update the page for Opera 9, or at least add a note at the top that O9 has many improved features and that the rest of the tutorial refers to a much older version.

By Fyrd, # 28. September 2007, 12:41:28

Your Internet Browsers section is a bit outdated:
http://www.5star-shareware.com/Windows/Internet/BrowsersWWW/BrowsersWWW1.html

For example, the latest version of Opera browser on your site is 8.51 which is 2 years old already.
Last version of Opera is 9.23

By FataL, # 28. September 2007, 20:10:43

There is no Opera browser in your 449-items long list of browsers and addons:
http://www.download3000.com/showarticles-136-0-date.html

Why not include it?
It's completly free (AD too) browser since version 8.5.
The current version is 9.23 ( http://www.opera.com/download )

By FataL, # 28. September 2007, 20:43:17

http://www.gsc-game.com
http://www.stalker-game.com
http://www.heroesofae.com

Доброго времени суток, веб-мастер!

Я поклонник игр от GSC (Казаки, Сталкер, Веном)...
Но, неужели необходимо тратить внимание пользователей сайта (почти всех проектов GSC) на эту надпись?
Тем более, что никаких проблем Opera с этими скайтами не обнаружено (тестировал версии 8 и 9).
Opera Software products are not supported.
If any problem concerning the site functioning under Opera Software appears apply to Opera Software technical support service.

Так же это сообщение удивительно ввиду приличной популярности браузера на пост-СССР пространстве (около 10%).
По-моему на столь серьёзных проектах уже не место детским браузерным войнам.

Translation of letter to come...

By FataL, # 28. September 2007, 21:35:21

I found your description of Opera browser pretty scary and misleading:
http://www.bestvistadownloads.com/software/k-malicious-programs-t-free-opera-browser-download-pqhjbzcl.html
Description starts with:
... a form of online fraud in which a malicious< /span> party convinces users to visit a forged Web ...

You can found great example of Opera browser description here: http://www.fileflash.com/program/16983/

By FataL, # 29. September 2007, 05:13:46

http://my.opera.com/community/party/reg.dml this should be changed as well :-)

By DjiXas, # 29. September 2007, 17:38:43

A Find and contact/fix(userjs etc.) broken sites contest will be much more useful for both opera and opera users

By AyushJ, # 30. September 2007, 16:41:27

can someone open aol radio?

By cjwilding, # 30. September 2007, 19:55:22

http://www.drweb.de/lexikon/opera.shtml
Told them, that opera no longer contains advertising.

http://www.galileo-webdesign.de/service/lexikon.php?article=42
same as above.

By dduenker, # 30. September 2007, 20:34:24

http://www.aidex.de/internet/browser.html
old, very short "internet-wiki"
send them a mail for a small update

By mabdul, # 1. October 2007, 14:41:57

In the page http://my.opera.com/chooseopera/blog/2007/09/27/contest-project-f5-reloading-opera-info-on-the-web there are links in at the right "Opera around the web" and the "Opera fanlisting" is outdated.

By suribe, # 1. October 2007, 15:28:47

suribe: did you tell the fanlisting owner about it?

By the way, great job everyone. Keep it up!

FataL: really funny (scary description of Opera)

By Lawmune, # 1. October 2007, 15:33:56

http://www.brothersoft.com/internet/browsing_tools/opera_59501.html

Asking to add other OS support than Windows too.

http://www.cs.indiana.edu/Facilities/FAQ/WWW/opera.html Asked to update FAQ :-)

http://www.opera.com/buy/ title says
Buy Opera. I think this should be changed as you can't "BUY OPERA". Only support or so...

Buy Opera<meta name="keywords" content="buy, browser, opera, web, e-mail, client, CD-ROM, ISP, speed, purchase, price, order, campaign, special offer" /><meta name="description" content="Buy the Opera browser for a better and faster Internet experience." />

Should be changed as well.

Haven't contacted Opera as people from Opera are here anyway :-)

By the way, I think you should fix whole Opera.com site before asking others to fix their ;-)

By DjiXas, # 1. October 2007, 15:51:05

http://www.hledejceny.cz/pridat-k-oblibenym/ - Opera shortcuts on this site are outdated. Sent them a mail...

UPDATE: Just received an email from Ivo Lašek, their admin. They fixed the outdated info... thnx!

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 16:07:40

http://radio2.iglu.cz/broswers.html - "Which browser to choose?" They say that Opera isn't free (displays ads) and installation of czech language is pretty hard. Sent them an email asking for correction...

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 16:24:11

http://www.manazery.cz/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=6 - Their descriptions of adding a new search in Opera was too complicated, I sent them a mail suggesting to simplify it (right-click > Create search... > OK)

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 16:41:07

http://blog.webovy-servis.cz/snadne-analyzovani-webovych-stranek - Same as the previous one... Their descriptions of adding a new search in Opera was too complicated, I sent them a mail suggesting to simplify it (Right-click > Create search... > OK)

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 16:46:42

http://jyxo.cz/d/toolbar - Same as the previous one, but this time even more complicated (search.ini editor)... I sent them a mail suggesting to simplify it (Right-click > Create search... > OK)

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 16:52:05

seifip, it's about out dated information only, and one of those even got Opera 7 or so skin/pic or whatever :-)

By DjiXas, # 1. October 2007, 16:58:36

2DjiXas: Hi, personally I understand outdated shortcuts and outdated search adding descriptions (the process was simplifyed in the newer versions) and outdated information

2Lawmune: Please correct me if I'm wrong

By seifip, # 1. October 2007, 17:20:43

seifip: I think that's fair.

DjiXas: We know we have a lot of work to do on opera.com. Luckily, it's something we have direct control over, and we're already working on it. That said, thank you for bringing certain outdated parts of our site to our attention.

By Lawmune, # 1. October 2007, 17:27:23

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/rmurray34/Opera.html

At first, Opera was unencumbered sharewhare, which meant you could pay $30 and own a copy, or just go on using the fully functional shareware. As of Opera 5, it became adware, with a bothersome banner ad. But the features, functions, and speed increased constantly, making it such a clear winner over the competition that I, miser that I am, actually paid $39 for a copy of it.
Let me be clear that Opera is not yet perfect, but it's better than Netscape or IE and every indication is that it will only get better. Maybe you should check it out?

Haven't find a way to contact yet...

By FataL, # 1. October 2007, 19:06:00

I have found outdated info about Opera browser on your site:
http://www.howtopcguru.com/computers/The_Opera_Alternativ.html
While Opera does have a paid version, you can also download a sponsored version (with ads unobtrusively placed in the browser control area), which is free.

Opera now completly free and does't have any ADs.
Last version of Opera is 9.23

By FataL, # 1. October 2007, 19:19:04

http://doupload.com/Opera-Browser.htm

Opera Browser is the Shareware version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 31.00 USD.

Haven't find a way to contact yet...

By FataL, # 1. October 2007, 19:26:26

I have found outdated info about Opera browser on your site:
http://www.nobac.org/jmedesigns/free.html
Opera (opera.com; free trial of $39 browser; Windows/Linux/Mac/OS2/Solaris/FreeBSD/QNX/Symbian versions · student/volume discounts on purchase;
...
supported by ad banners but does not install an adware client on your computer)

Opera now completly free and does't have any ADs.
Last version of Opera browser is 9.23

By FataL, # 1. October 2007, 19:36:26

http://www.gsc-game.com
http://www.stalker-game.com
http://www.heroesofae.com

Translation of letter:

Hi, webmaster!
I'm a fan of games produced by GSC (Cossacks, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Venom)...
But, why you should waste attention of your web sites readers by providing following text almost on every GSC project (especially that Opera versions from 8 to 9 don't have any problems with your site at all)?
Opera Software products are not supported.
If any problem concerning the site functioning under Opera Software appears apply to Opera Software technical support service.

Also this message is strange because all your sites have Russian version and in Russia Opera browser is pretty popular (around 10%).
Lets not continue browser wars

Translation of answer:

There is no wars, but only diffrerent specifications of how Opera works with CSS and Plug-ins (Flash, for example).
For instance, Opera changes the way Flash works from version to version (7.00, 7.xx, 8.xx).
The same situation with CSS also, where Opera browser working with its own specification that is different from common W3C.

Original of answer:

Есть только разные спецификации работы с CSS и Plug-in (например, Flash),
От версии к версии, например, работа с Flash организована совершенно по
разному в версии 7.00 до последней 7.xx, в 8.xx третий вариант. Та же самая
ситуация с CSS, где схема работы браузера с файлами стилей идет только по
своей собственной спецификации отличной от общепринятой W3C.

It's nonsence, especially CSS part!

So, should I continue?

By FataL, # 1. October 2007, 20:01:08

@fatal yes of course! show them the real world... o.O

By mabdul, # 1. October 2007, 20:23:17

http://ff-webdesigner.de/lexikon/webdesign-lexikon.php?Opera
old information, they get a contactmail from me tomorrow

edit:
http://www.opera7.de/de/advertising.html
the normal page is "up to date" --> link can only found by search/google

By mabdul, # 1. October 2007, 20:32:46

Here's an article from PC World saying,"There's Opera,too--I have no clue why people use it."
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,135732-page,4-c,musicvideosharing/article.html

By KYren, # 2. October 2007, 03:15:18

http://www.rambler.ru/doc/opera.shtml - Their descriptions of adding a new search in Opera was too complicated (editing opera.ini etc.) and written for Opera 7, I sent them a mail suggesting to simplify and update it (Right-click > Create search... > OK)

By seifip, # 2. October 2007, 18:01:59

http://www.dopravime.cz/setfav.php - Opera shortcuts on this site are outdated. Sent them a mail...

By seifip, # 2. October 2007, 18:31:45

http://www.ng.ru/bookmarks/ - Opera shortcuts on this site are outdated. Sent them a mail...

By seifip, # 2. October 2007, 18:54:10

Kiranut1: Thanks for the link, but there's not much to be done there. It's not a factual error on the part of the author, just his opinion and/or an expression of his ignorance regarding Opera users.

By Lawmune, # 2. October 2007, 19:50:03

I have found outdated info about Opera browser on your site:
http://www.themediadesk.com/newfiles/slimeware.htm
OK, to be fair, OPERA isn't SLIMEWARE, they are simply stooges who sell advertising space on their browser. What the advertiser, or reseller/agent/broker/whatever does with the space, and their access to your machine is something else all together. [Opera admits they ARE Adware- Opera Support Page, the Desk however, is failing to see the difference at this point.]
Opera now (since version 8.5) is completly free and does't have any ADs.
Last version of Opera is 9.23

By FataL, # 2. October 2007, 21:08:03

I don't know if I should contact them: http://cc.uoregon.edu/cnews/fall2004/altbrowsers.htm
Note fall2004 in URL.

The free version does integrate ads into the menu bar, however. To get rid of the ads, you need to pay for the product. Still, as a light, fast browser, Opera has many advantages.

By FataL, # 2. October 2007, 21:13:16

@fatal
on http://cc.uoregon.edu/cnews/
they noticed that:

The last issue of Computing News was published in summer 2006. On July 1, 2006, the UO Computing Center was officially renamed Information Services and we launched a new publication, IT Connections, which debuted in the fall.

Archived issues of Computing News are also available in the UO Libraries' Scholars' Bank.

By mabdul, # 3. October 2007, 09:34:07

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=808#comments

While not one of the older Opera myths, this is more of a case of misunderstandings and misinformation that has been going around about the mobile versions of the browser like Mini hasn't come out yet or that you can only get it if it is on the phone when you buy it. This doesn't even begin to address the load that Salesman Steve managed to sell about Safari on the iPhone and Windows.

By WolvenSpectre, # 3. October 2007, 09:40:43

Ic, I wish to win Opera stuff bag, but you guys seeking for new pages so fast...

By DjiXas, # 3. October 2007, 13:53:52

contacted:
http://www.roxomatic.de/767/opera-8-kostenlos
http://blog.webmaster-homepage.de/item/940

not contacted, because they have also news about that opera got ad-free:
http://unblogbar.com/weblog/1211/opera-lizenz-fuer-250-besucher/

and: why this page?
http://my.opera.com/community/affiliates/
it is old and there should be an information about the free version!

By mabdul, # 3. October 2007, 17:04:35

on http://www.silicon.de/enid/suche?searchstr=opera&submit_suche.x=35&submit_suche.y=5

i found at the end of the page an interesting affilicate "news"-ad

Opera Web Browser
Simply the Best Internet Experience Opera Software Home Download Support Community Opera 8.5 -...
www.opera.com

(link to: http://algoresult.miva.com/r?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.opera.com%2F&pr=2&pid=S4P1676&co=DE&global=1&adult=1&query=opera&pos=1)

you need to update this!

i contacted http://www.silicon.de/enid/business_software/8363

By mabdul, # 3. October 2007, 17:15:58

Wow! This is an incredible community effort. We're pleased and humbled by the results so far.

I think one thing to bear in mind when trying to convince Web developers to support Opera is that we are the leader in browsing on all screens. When they decide not to support Opera in their development cycle, they ensure their sites will not work on a very popular game console and almost 100 million mobile phones (between Opera Mobile and Opera Mini).

But keep up the excellent work and trust that Opera is out there everyday too, working to change perceptions of Webmasters the world over.

Thanks again!

By thomas.ford, # 3. October 2007, 23:34:15

Those Sites Have Something Loading Reading and Translations Problems When I Visting Them With My Opera Mini 3 and 4.2 Beta Browser I Have tried to Contact Them But They Said They Can't or Wont Help me With My Browser Problems http://www.nordiskfilm.com and http://www.biozonen.dk and http://www.biobooking.dk and http://www.enalyzer.dk and http://www.varmblod.dk

By khadwar_neang_666, # 4. October 2007, 04:12:41

khadwar: thank you for contacting those sites. We always appreciate it when people ask webmasters why they don't support Opera. This particular contest is about fixing incorrect/outdated information about Opera on the Web.

Thanks for the great work so far, everyone!

By Lawmune, # 4. October 2007, 16:59:42