Disable 'Use Network?' Prompt...

Disable 'Use Network?' Prompt...

I'm using Opera Mini 4 beta 2 on a Samsung Blackjack and everything seems cool except for 1 detail: how in the heck can I disable the "Use Network?" prompt? Honestly, there should be a 4th option "Allow and DON'T ask me next time."

In my Nokia E70, I would browse to the phone's application manager and configure the security settings of the J2ME Java application (J2ME).

Alas, the Opera Mini 4 b2 jar apparently is not signed, which firmly puts it into a Java security domain where the Java environment does not allow you to turn off the notification.

"Ask once" or "always allow" option is there. It's masked by the carrier, who hopes that by making unsigned apps difficult to use you will prefer to make use of the native browser. With a pc, editing software and a cable for your phone it is possible to edit these choices back in.

Completely depends on the "version" of the phone that is being used - the extent to which "customizations" have been made to hardware or software relative to what the manufacturer shows on their web site.

I, for one, run an unbranded, unlocked, unrestricted, fully-featured Nokia E70.

(And I admire the patience that US folks have with their mobile network providers - one would think that the old AT&T monopoly demonstrated the benefits of promoting true competition)

Unlocked, unbranded and still no uncrippled access? My info came from two independent mobile phone sites(mobiledia and howard forums), Nokia (USA), and Motorola(USA). My last Moto V180(now 'retired') came through with 3 options, 'ask once per app', always ask, and never allow. When the charging port became defective, I sent it back to Moto. For $75(US) they fixed the charging port, upgraded the s/w, repaired/replaced things that 'might become a problem in the future', and 'unmasked'(their term) the 'always allow' feature.
Lex Lethal desires the four choices on my first V180.

Perhaps the Nokia "E" models are different, I really don't see how though.
U.S. carriers, btw, do suck. Big time. AT&T/Cingular/ AT&T is, IMHO, the least offensive of the lot.
I might be predjudiced, though.

Originally posted by H82typ:

Unlocked, unbranded and still no uncrippled access?

I have full access - it's just the J2ME security model that's getting on my nerves right now. If only Opera could sign the Jar...

And, yes, I am too cheap to get myself a code signing certificate from one of the CAs which have a root cert on my phone. :-) Unfortunately, it no longer is possible to install a private root cert on the phone.

Not "cheap" just cost effective.

So where can I find the fix? Is there something that can be modified in the registry or something? Any step by step instructions somewhere? Sorry - I'm not even sure what this dilemma is called!

I have a Blackberry Curve. I've never had this problem till now. I've had every version 4 beta (the first two) and this is the first time I've had this stupid use network promt.

Originally posted by jasonsca:

So where can I find the fix? Is there something that can be modified in the registry or something? Any step by step instructions somewhere? Sorry - I'm not even sure what this dilemma is called!

Read the Symbian / Windows Mobile MIDlet Bible ( http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=210354 ), it explains this all. Let me know if you still don't know what should be done.

Originally posted by daffy1:

Originally posted by H82typ:

Unlocked, unbranded and still no uncrippled access?

I have full access - it's just the J2ME security model that's getting on my nerves right now. If only Opera could sign the Jar...

And, yes, I am too cheap to get myself a code signing certificate from one of the CAs which have a root cert on my phone. :-) Unfortunately, it no longer is possible to install a private root cert on the phone.

If you have Windows Mobile and (plan to) use Esmertec Jbed or Jeodek, I can have the beta3 JAR signed with a compatible certificate (but I, of course, will ask the OpMini folks' permission first).

Originally posted by Lex Lethal:

I'm using Opera Mini 4 beta 2 on a Samsung Blackjack and everything seems cool except for 1 detail: how in the heck can I disable the "Use Network?" prompt? Honestly, there should be a 4th option "Allow and DON'T ask me next time."

As with almost all the other questions in this thread, your problem has been solved. Just follow the mini-tutorial in the Bible ( http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=210354 ).

Note that you MUST install a better KVM on your Smartphone - the Jblend KVM sucks like hell network security-wise.

Is there a fix for Blackberrys?

Originally posted by Iksn:

Is there a fix for Blackberrys?

Dunno, I don't have a BB so I can't invent a hack for it...

Originally posted by Lex Lethal:

I'm using Opera Mini 4 beta 2 on a Samsung Blackjack and everything seems cool except for 1 detail: how in the heck can I disable the "Use Network?" prompt? Honestly, there should be a 4th option "Allow and DON'T ask me next time."

Is this a problem that everyone has with Beta3, or just certain phones? Will there be a fix for this for the phones that have this problem, or will we just have to wait for the final version?

Although I refered to the quote about the Blackjack, I actually have a Blackberry Curve. I've read that others with different phones are also having this problem. I never had this problem with any other version of Opera Mini, beta or not.
Thanks

Hey, Lunkwill, I've noticed something in the last day or so, eg.: read post>click on forum quick jump> OM4: processing...> permission> processing...>   permission> processing...> loading>
what's with that? It doesn't do that in 3.1

Originally posted by Lunkwill:

Originally posted by Iksn:

I've read that others with different phones are also having this problem.

Do you have any link to such posts about that the network prompt shows up in one version but not in another?

Nope, just my own experience regarding it showing up in this last version, but none of the previous versions.

Umm, not every time, no but pretty close. It's been on and off all day. Maybe a network thing? Like a redirect when I'm in wap.

Ok, thanks. Socket doesn't work on this unit.

The network prompt is not generated by Opera Mini but the phones java system, and not something we can disable.

Isn't this just a matter of code signing the applet with a digital cert?

Originally posted by c5karl:

The network prompt is not generated by Opera Mini but the phones java system, and not something we can disable.

Isn't this just a matter of code signing the applet with a digital cert?

Under most KVM's, signing will allow for the "blanket" model. However, several of them (at least under Windows Mobile) can also be hacked not to nag the user any more - see the FAQ ( http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=210354 ) if you have Windows Mobile.

Originally posted by c5karl:

Isn't this just a matter of code signing the applet with a digital cert?

If we would sign Opera Mini it would only work on devices with the corresponding root certificate, and we don't know what certificates the phone that tries to download Opera Mini has, so having several different signatures will not help.

i have the java nag on my cingular branded nokia e62, it pisses me off. carriers should be sued over this, this is my phone that i paid for and its crippled, the nerve. everyone should file complaints about this.

Originally posted by zephxiii:

i have the java nag on my cingular branded nokia e62, it pisses me off. carriers should be sued over this, this is my phone that i paid for and its crippled, the nerve. everyone should file complaints about this.

While I'm not a fan of operatirs either, this is NOT the fault of them. ALL KVM's have exactly the same security measures (nagging screens). Some of them, fortunately, can be "hacked" to circumvent these (see the Symban / WinMo FAQ for more info) - unfortunately, not on your model.

I have a cingular razr V3 (running OM4 Final) and that permission prompt just makes me CRAZY! I wish there was a way around it.

Would it bypass the PITA if I unlocked the phone?

Thanks, Stan

I only get asked one time and not a big deal. All apps do that also. If it asked every time i clicked a link, that would be pretty annoying.

Originally posted by Menneisyys:

Originally posted by zephxiii:

i have the java nag on my Cingular branded Nokia e62, it pisses me off. carriers should be sued over this, this is my phone that i paid for and its crippled, the nerve. everyone should file complaints about this.

While I'm not a fan of operators either, this is NOT the fault of them. ALL KVM's have exactly the same security measures (nagging screens). Some of them, fortunately, can be "hacked" to circumvent these (see the Symbian / WinMo FAQ for more info) - unfortunately, not on your model.

That's not true. There is a huge difference between unbranded handsets and many of the ones Cingular and T-Mobile sell. Sun's guidelines say that for unsigned apps socket access should be "Ask once per session". Cingular has the handset makers change it to "Ask on every socket read" which completely ruins the user experience. T-Mobile goes even further and blocks un-signed applications from using sockets entirely. With these carriers even signing with a Verisign or Java Verified certificate is not enough, for full access you need a special "Carrier" certificate generally only available to the carrier's partners.

The whole signing thing is complete BS. It's not about security, it's about generating carrier revenues by forcing users to buy there apps from the carrier. Hopefully Google's Android will destroy the mandatory signing model. If Google offers a subsidized phone that can run any application, the carriers will be forced to change their ways.

Opera is right to refuse to sign Mini. To do otherwise would be just be enabling the carrier's anti-competitive, anti-customer policies. If you want a phone that you can use to it's full potential, get an unbranded one or, if you have the technical skills, one that can be hacked (Windows Mobile, most Motorola's, Symbian).

why don't you guys try to debrand those symbian phones?
it can be done to almost any bb5 phone

Originally posted by madhubhashana:

why don't you guys try to debrand those symbian phones?
it can be done to almost any bb5 phone

Yup, debranding is very easy - see for example http://blogn95.blogspot.com/2007/08/whats-all-this-debrand-and-upgrade.html

Originally posted by Yeswap:

That's not true. There is a huge difference between unbranded handsets and many of the ones Cingular and T-Mobile sell. Sun's guidelines say that for unsigned apps socket access should be "Ask once per session". Cingular has the handset makers change it to "Ask on every socket read" which completely ruins the user experience. T-Mobile goes even further and blocks un-signed applications from using sockets entirely. With these carriers even signing with a Verisign or Java Verified certificate is not enough, for full access you need a special "Carrier" certificate generally only available to the carrier's partners.

Thanks for the update - I'm not American so I can't really test this stuff from Europe.

Originally posted by Yeswap:

The whole signing thing is complete BS. It's not about security, ...

True. In its positive incarnation (Java sandbox), it's about vendors trying to make trust explicit and promote trust.

I do appreciate the intent, but since I am such a trusting person, I do not appreciate that I, as a person, cannot decide whom to trust myself.

Originally posted by Yeswap:

it's about generating carrier revenues by forcing users to buy there apps from the carrier.

What I hear about carriers operating in the US seems to confirm your opinion for the US. But that does not help me with my (German) Nokia E70, original Nokia firmware, no locks anywhere.

Originally posted by Yeswap:

Opera is right to refuse to sign Mini.

I disagree. Because Opera apparently deliberately does not sign Opera Mini, they punish every single user - even those users, who have fully capable phones which are completely operable independent of all carrier who let me onto their network. If I had reason to switch my (German) carrier, I could do so, any time, port my phone number to the other carrier - and keep using my very own property, my Nokia E70.

Opera not signing Opera Mini to me means: I, here in Europe, suffer because of some stupid US carrier.

My Nokia E70 has MIDP2 (i.e. Java) root certs from Geotrust, Nokia, Thawte, Verisign installed (plus other certs that probably will nicely handle SSL and Symbian applications). I have difficulties to understand why it would not be possible to sign Opera Mini with a certificate provided by Verisign, Thawte, or Geotrust.

I realize that signing for an unbranded, fully-featured phone does not help those who suffer from despicable carrier behaviour. But why should *I* suffer? And, frankly, why doesn't Opera offer two downloads, "signed" and "unsigned"? And even if midlet was signed, what does anyone prevent from removing the signature, in case it is more of a hindrance than anything?

In summary: Please sign with a cert. I purchased a proper phone. I use a proper carrier. I suffer and do not understand why.

[And if anyone has pointers that describe how to hack the Java security model on my Nokia S60 phone, "Nokia E70", I am all for it. I am already annoyed enough to have to sign certain native S60 applications with a Symbian development certificate.]

Originally posted by Okra:

Originally posted by c5karl:

Isn't this just a matter of code signing the applet with a digital cert?

If we would sign Opera Mini it would only work on devices with the corresponding root certificate, and we don't know what certificates the phone that tries to download Opera Mini has, so having several different signatures will not help.

All phones have the verisign root certificate and is what most games and applications use. This is a universally accepted cert because you can purchase games and applications from nearly anywhere for your respective phone that are signed. However it is one of the more expensive certs to get and would make OM no longer a free application.

The warning at the start of Opera MIni also annoys me a lot. ("Allow application Opera Mini to use network and send or receive data")
I have a swiss unbranded Nokia E65. If anyone could describe a step-by-step procedure to get rid of this single warning, I would be very pleased.
Thank you

i think people should go look at forums regarding their brand / handset, there are topics for debranding their phones, installing a new certificate to their java apps etc..

you have to go find it yourselves though, & it's probably only for those who like / are used to hacking their phones ;-)

personally i wouldn't bother, provided you can get these java apps to work, it's a small niggle.

I'm using Smelter http://avkiev.kiev.ua/Siemens/Smelter/Smelter_en.htm to self-certificate my java apps on my Siemens phone (to get rid of the warnings). I can't say if the midlet signer tool from this program works with other phones, probably not.

I have a step-by-step solution to this problem for the Samsung Blackjack SGH-i607 (Windows Mobile 5). This will more than likely be OK for all other phones running Windows Mobile 5+, but I haven't tested it. It does require a "hack" that Menneisyys's solution above so candidly eludes to refer back to his entire Bible HERE. Menneisyys, I don't mind reading your Bible and truthfully I've learned alot of great information in the 6 hours I spent surfing and trying to resolve this, but several people aren't into games or KVMs and they just want a happy Opera experience. Some of us actually just switched to Opera because: a. it's simply better than IE and b. We have jobs that require a better browser with a better code base and c. Opera is king. (Don't you hate those IE error screens?) Now to stop biting the hand that gave me the great information, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Your threads are appreciated all around the web, and you are the grand guru of the pocket pc. Without you, this post would've never made it here.

Without further ado. To get around that annoying screen that says "Use Network? Opera Mini is trying to use HTTP for communication", and the only viable choice is "Allow and ask me next time" you must download a "hacked" KVM of TAO Intent. This KVM may not be the best for games but it works very well for uses such as Opera Mini. For all novices a KVM doesn't harm or replace Windows Mobile, but to best describe it from a layman's point of view: it is simply just another application in your phone. You click on it and then run Opera through it. Done. No more nags. Specifically, it's a Java environment (more specifically a MIDlet Manager) that allows the user to adjust unsigned apps to roam freely. It didn't brick my phone, and if necessary you can easily uninstall it.


Step 1.

Download file using a PC from HERE. (I'm going to upload this file into my next post so it won't expire if this link does ... if it is determined that it should be removed, I didn't want this entire tutorial removed.)
(Once again, thank you, Menneisyys, and to read more on his article on TAO Intent [optional], or if this build doesn't work for you go HERE). This build worked best on my phone. No errors as of yet.
Step 2.

Download Opera Mini using a PC from HERE. If you've already downloaded Opera Mini using your phone directly from the site, you still have to do this step.

Step 3.

Connect with Microsoft ActiveSync (or whatever way you use to transfer these files to the phone) and transfer the downloaded files to an easy location on your phone. When in ActiveSync choose "Explore" and Copy/Paste them in My Documents or Program Files for example. It doesn't matter just get them on your phone and be able to navigate to them using File Explorer within the phone.

Step 4.

Navigate to the first file downloaded using File Explorer. The path is Start > Applications > File Explorer. (then Program Files or My Documents wherever the files are.)

Step 5.

Once navigated to the file "TAO.intent.Java.MIDlet.Manager.v10.1.7.561.Build.20060726.en_us.for.WM5.Smartphone.by.dFine.cab" Double click on it to install it. A warning may appear about it being unrecognized and unsigned and the answer is "yes" you want to install it anyway. Once Installed click on the 'Start' menu in Windows Mobile and you should now see a new icon called "MIDlet Manager".

Step 6.

Install Opera. Double click on the Opera files to install Opera the same way you did above. Close Opera after it opens it's not necessary for it to be running.

Step 7.

Open the MIDlet Manager by clicking Start > MIDlet Manager. There should now be an option under the first heading called "Opera Mini". Click down (on the "OK" center pad on the Samsung) to highlight it. Now click Menu > Manage (Option 5) > Security (Option 1) and click on the "OK" button or equivalent.

Step 8 .

Change or Verify that "Local Connectivity" is on "Blanket". "Net Access" should be on "Session". Once changed click the right button or "OK".

Step 9.

To open Opera Mini and surf unrestrictedly now (i.e. no more nag screens) click Start > MIDlet Manager > Apps > Click the Down button (i.e. to highlight Opera Mini) and click the OK button. You must more or less repeat Step 9 to open Opera Mini every time ---> MIDlet Manager will be saved on the home screen as a recent item so after you should pretty much be able to go right into it.

I haven't tested this with Google Maps as of yet, but since the KVM rids this security feature I assume it will be OK. If anyone can test and repost that would be awesome.

If you appreciate this tutorial post a reply to request a sticky.

TAO.intent.Java.MIDlet.Manager.v10.1.7.561.Build.20060726.en_us.for.WM5.Smartphone.by.dFine.cab Here's the file again from step 1 uploaded to this forum if the above link ever dies.