Opera Mini 5 Changes it's Speed Dial and Splash to Smart Communications

Opera Mini 5 Changes it's Speed Dial and Splash to Smart Communications

I am on globe network here in philippines, browsing with my om 5 final then when i exit then run again, It says 'sponsored by: Smart' on the splash with opera mini banner on below but i am on the other Philippine Network which is Globe? Then it overwrites my speed dial. I am quite disappointed i have to reconfigure again. Please don't eject those things because it is more likely intrusion without noticing or asking permission to it's users. It is like an ad-aware. You advertising smart communication to the other rival network. It is unfair to it's competitors. How will Globe Telecom Philippines will react on this and on other rivals like Sun? And you overwritten our speed dials without asking our permission.

the speed dials are: smart mobile site, facebook, friendster, yahoo, inquirer, mobileapps, and opera sports. You didn't ask permission to the user if they want it. It overwrites my speed dial.

I don't like the 'sponsored by: smart' it is quite irritating. All i want is the opera mini banner, sleek and clean.

jkreuz/as in the juliankreuz of sb?wow/anyways mine hasnt done that yet.did you install the silent update

Originally posted by marianh:

The speed dials that come with Opera Mini 5 as pre-installed Speed Dials can sometimes be overwritten.

However, any speed dials you define yourself should never be overwritten in Opera Mini- so if you are unhappy with a Speed Dial, overwrite it with something you prefer.

How about the annoying splash screen that says 'sponsored by: smart communications'? How to remove it? I am on the other network Globe Telecom. So why did you eject that ad-aware kind of splash screen to my opera mini 5? Even i am on the other network? The real issue here is you did not ask our permission.

The splash screen and the overwriting of speed dials can be referred as an adware. And that is under the invasion of privacy content. I know that you have made partnership with smart telecommunications, but if this is appearing on its rival network then this software can be named as fraud.

I know that you just want to advertise your software but there are some limitations.

- You should only advertise on the network that you have partnered with.

Originally posted by jkreuz:

How about the annoying splash screen that says 'sponsored by: smart communications'?

On the splash screen? You mean the Opera Mini loading screen? Why are you suddenly complaining about the loading screen now, just because the graphics changed a bit?

So why did you eject that ad-aware kind of splash screen to my opera mini 5?

There's no "ad-aware" or "ad-ware" anywhere. Does the changed loading screen actually affect you at all? No.

Originally posted by jex125:

The splash screen and the overwriting of speed dials can be referred as an adware.

No it can't. If that was the case, then the standard Opera Mini loading screen can be called "adware" too since it "advertises" Opera Mini. And I'm sure you can see how silly that sounds.

And that is under the invasion of privacy content.

What invasion of privacy? First of all, the additional logo isn't based on your private data. Secondly, everything already goes through Opera's servers, so it's a very, very strange time to start worrying about privacy!

I know that you have made partnership with smart telecommunications, but if this is appearing on its rival network then this software can be named as fraud.

First of all, fraud is "intentional deception". There is no deception here. The only deception is the hypocritical arguments used by the complainers:

1. The claim that Opera Mini is adware is completely false, and also hilarious considering that Opera has been "advertising" Opera Mini on the loading screen all along

2. The claim that it's an invasion of privacy is completely false, and also hilarious considering the fact that everything already goes through Opera's servers

I rest my case.

Perhaps you are using an unofficial version? Try redownloading from http://mini.opera.com/ and see if that helps.

Originally posted by prd3:

Originally posted by jex125:

The splash screen and the overwriting of speed dials can be referred as an adware.

No it can't. If that was the case, then the standard Opera Mini loading screen can be called "adware" too since it "advertises" Opera Mini. And I'm sure you can see how silly that sounds.

And that is under the invasion of privacy content.

What invasion of privacy? First of all, the additional logo isn't based on your private data. Secondly, everything already goes through Opera's servers, so it's a very, very strange time to start worrying about privacy!

I know that you have made partnership with smart telecommunications, but if this is appearing on its rival network then this software can be named as fraud.

First of all, fraud is "intentional deception". There is no deception here. The only deception is the hypocritical arguments used by the complainers:

1. The claim that Opera Mini is adware is completely false, and also hilarious considering that Opera has been "advertising" Opera Mini on the loading screen all along

2. The claim that it's an invasion of privacy is completely false, and also hilarious considering the fact that everything already goes through Opera's servers

I rest my case.

Exactly. i too don't understand in what basis he calls it a adware

Okay. This was the real story. We have had Opera Mini 4.2 final and Opera Mini 5 final in our mobile phones. We are in the Philippines where three different network operators reside, namely Smart Communications, Globe Telecoms and Sun Cellular. Remembering the past news about Smart Communications being a partner of Opera Mini, the problem began since this week. I was browsing with my Opera Mini and afterwards I stopped browsing for a while and close the application. When I opened my Opera Mini, the loading screen before was Opera Mini but was added by another logo. It said, Sponsored by SMART, on top of the Opera Mini logo. It was a bit funny because I was on Globe Telecoms but still it came inside our network and my speed dials were replaced by Smart, Inquirer, etc.

Originally posted by jkreuz:

I don't like the 'sponsored by: smart' it is quite irritating. All i want is the opera mini banner, sleek and clean.

Sleek and clean you say huh? If your ISP proxy can be disabled then is posible to change the local DNS and you can have the precios and worm 'Opera Mini' logo untouched. That it will be nice, is not so?

It's a bit frustrating why did this happen. Imagine you are on O2 network or on T-Mobile and the loading screen simply surprised you because it advertized Smart Communications even though they were on O2 or T-Mobile network. That's what the above users are talking about although they talked harshly. Please do something about this. Please apply this changes only to those who subscribed to Smart Communications because when advertising is done to other networks, they might lose some subscribers because of that advertisement. Only allow Smart Communications to advertise within their own network and subscribers.Please do not include other networks on this, particularly on Globe Telecoms because frankly I hate that network logo (the Smart logo) and the network itself that's why I did not subscribe on them.

It is true that our speed dials were overwritten/added by 4 elements. We did not add them. It just add itself after connecting to the internet with Opera Mini. It's more likely that the incidence automatically took place.

No opera mini does not advertises itself. But it advertises Smart as their sponsor. . The clear thing was you did not ask any permissions. You can make a special build of opera mini with smart communication, but opera mini team did not develop any special Opera Mini-Smart Version. But instead all opera mini 5 running on the philippines ejected and it is like advertising Smart Telecom in the splash screen. A bit of Splash changes? I'm paying my internet charges to Globe. So smart logo should be vanished. I'm not benefiting from smart.

The simplest explanation is that the both providers share the same antennas until at some point where they use the same ota key signature so altering the local DNS (resolvers) is the only workaround for now like I said before.

Originally posted by prd3:

Originally posted by jkreuz:

How about the annoying splash screen that says 'sponsored by: smart communications'?

On the splash screen? You mean the Opera Mini loading screen? Why are you suddenly complaining about the loading screen now, just because the graphics changed a bit?

So why did you eject that ad-aware kind of splash screen to my opera mini 5?

There's no "ad-aware" or "ad-ware" anywhere. Does the changed loading screen actually affect you at all? No.

First. I'm not a smart user nor i am not benefiting it's promos or legal concerns, i am on the other network. It can be accepted if i was on the smart network. But i pay my internet connection to globe network.
Second, yes the splash 'sponsored by: smart' it is like advertising smart to the other network. Why did opera mini almost advertising smart communications to the splash screen? It shows the splash to the other rival network, Globe Telecom. And foremost without asking any permission to it's user. They can say to the upper notification that 'Special Build of Opera Mini 5 for Smart Now Available'. So why they did'nt go to make a special build of opera mini 5 final for smart network? Without affecting the original opera mini final 5.0.19693 build for the other network/s.

That logo signifies Smart Communications of being superior to all other networks here in the Philippines. Please do not modify our user data in opera mini because we are not subscribed from that network. The situation is much more felt if all other international networks did experience the same from being advertised by Smart in partnership with Opera Mini.

No. These two network do not share the same antenna because they were rival networks.

Kindly view this image file at http://i46.tinypic.com/5y5it5.jpg so that you know what are we trying to show. Then kindly answer this follow up question: After viewing the image, what is your reaction if that loading screen appeared on your opera mini?

Can you imagine it? For example you are on AirTel or Cellcom then you saw that logo in your opera mini, won't you fell bad about it? The worse is that it even overwrite your precious speed dials.

Originally posted by akai1987:

No. These two network do not share the same antenna because they were rival networks.

It was a figure of speech, it's likely that the proxy frow x header isn't the same although identical DNS resolvers are used especially for socket connection type. I bet that socket is used

Why did Opera have partnership with Smart Communications? Opera Software ASA should have known that Smart Communications BLOCKED opera mini access from that network. Opera Mini 3.2 final and Opera Mini 4.2 final with HTTP server http://server4.operamini.com:80/ was blocked. Needless to say, only Opera Mini 5 final works when using Smart Communications as a network. They blocked opera in the sense that when the URL address contains the word "OPERA", the page will show like this: Sorry, you do not have enough balance to continue browsing. Weird huh even though we have enough balance when doing that. Opera had partnership with Smart who blocked access to opera mini 3.2 and 4.2

The real issue here is that users don't get notified for changes with the speed dial and splash screen. Second, opera mini did'nt ask any permission whether the user/s permits the changes with his opera mini 5 build or get their opinion/s or an option to make a special build of opera mini for smart communications without affecting the precious opera mini 5.0.19693 final build for its rival networks like Globe. Showing the 'sponsored by: smart' splash screen to the other network is almost kind of advertising.

Okay, Here is my review.
I have uninstalled and reinstalled Opera Mini 5 on my mobile. On its first start up, everything appears fine. No advert, No change in graphics.
After I restarted Opera Mini 5 (that is after the first run), the Sponsored by SMART appeared again (I am on the GLOBE NETWORK). I have tried to install it using another network (which is SUN CELLULAR) and there is no "Sponsored by SMART" that appeared. So I think the real target here is the Globe Network. The question here is
"Do you have any authorization to advertise "Smart" on its rival network?"

P.S. : I have gotten Opera Mini 5 from http://mini.opera.com in which it is obviously signed

Woah woah everyone, we should take a step back and chillax. We're all friends here.
Who would like some delicious cake? I will share some of mine with you

Originally posted by jkreuz:

No opera mini does not advertises itself. But it advertises Smart as their sponsor.

It's the same thing. If you call the latter "adware", then the former must also be called "adware" because the result is the exact same thing.

The clear thing was you did not ask any permissions.

It does not affect you AT ALL, and you are already leeching off of Opera's servers for free.

It shows the splash to the other rival network, Globe Telecom.

So? That doesn't affect you AT ALL.

Originally posted by akai1987:

That logo signifies Smart Communications of being superior to all other networks here in the Philippines.

It does no such thing. It signifies that Smart Communications has sponsored Opera Mini. Remember, you are leeching off of Opera's bandwidth and server capacity for free. They need to make money somehow.

Originally posted by prd3:

Originally posted by jkreuz:

No opera mini does not advertises itself. But it advertises Smart as their sponsor.

It's the same thing. If you call the latter "adware", then the former must also be called "adware" because the result is the exact same thing.

Yes. Exactly.

The clear thing was you did not ask any permissions.

It does not affect you AT ALL, and you are already leeching off of Opera's servers for free.

As a user we have a choice, whether it is free or paid. We have rights. If you call this free then why bolt? Ucweb nor teashark don't do the same thing? Because they respect the user of their software. Some 'respect' for the users. They can earn revenue without affecting the other network. You just saying that because it is free then they may modify your opera mini via over the air anytime they want? This is showing disrespect to it's user. That answer is ridicolous and alarming.

It shows the splash to the other rival network, Globe Telecom.

So? That doesn't affect you AT ALL.

Yes it will affect unfair competition to others. It will affect the users. We are paying our internet connection to the other network (Globe) so, it is our right to make a petition to remove Smart splash screen because we are not smart users. Generally, you answering for invalid reasons.

Originally posted by jkreuz:

Yes it will affect unfair competition to others.

No it won't. Advertising isn't "unfair competition".

It will affect the users.

How?

We are paying our internet connection to the other network (Globe) so, it is our right to make a petition to remove Smart splash screen because we are not smart users.

What are you talking about? The splash screen doesn't affect you AT ALL.

Originally posted by prd3:

Originally posted by jkreuz:

Yes it will affect unfair competition to others.

No it won't. Advertising isn't "unfair competition".

It will affect the users.

How?

We are paying our internet connection to the other network (Globe) so, it is our right to make a petition to remove Smart splash screen because we are not smart users.

What are you talking about? The splash screen doesn't affect you AT ALL.

You just keep answering for invalid reasons. Advertising smart telecom to the other network without any consent or permission is absolutely unfair to it's rival network. It affects us, it is annoying and irritating everytime you open it reminding us smart-opera mini partnership doing revenue from its rival networks but we are paying for legal terms to our network globe telecom. So globe telecom should also fix their homework too with opera mini. I am not against the splash screen itself. I am against the improper patches of speed dials and splash screen done by opera mini without notifiying their users. I am against for the misuse of splash screen to show it to the rival network, Globe Network. The splash screen itself should only be shown to it's home network. It is always ok to fix the server side issues for some bugs but modifying opera mini client over the air is alarming without asking permissions to the user. As you can see we are afraid of privacy concerns when opera mini patches those things, but i know also there is a privacy statement that opera mini is a trusted application. In past years opera mini team always developed opera mini 4.2 for localized version. Like opera mini kong.net or even developed opera mini t mobile version. So why they did not developed a special build of opera mini 5 for smart communications? They have patch things up with the client or modified it's feel without permission to the users. Opera Mini Team does'nt like the modification, so why they disobeying their own rules? They modified the splash screen and the speed dials to their native client. But actually they have the power to developed a localized version for it without affecting the native client. Because of it that they have the power to control things? It that a valid reason? They did'nt care of respect for their users? So why did you don't answer the first? About respect?

Ok, so Opera software advertises Smart Mobile on the splash screen of Opera Mini in the Phillipines. The case here is just that Opera Software does not charge for Opera Mini. I could understand you anger if you paid for Opera Mini - but you did not...

It has been discussions of how Opera Software would actually make any money of Opera Mini. Developing the software and running the servers costs money. I suppose Smart has paid some money to get there logo on the splash screen of Opera Mini. For this you should probably be grateful, because:

1. You will not have to pay for using Opera Mini.

2. The development of Opera Mini will continue.

As for Globes position in this: Globe is making money on all users of Opera Mini, since they charge for the data transfer. However, they do not pay anything to Opera software, so what should they complain about?

There is no such thing as a free lunch..!

Originally posted by Joar:

Ok, so Opera software advertises Smart Mobile on the splash screen of Opera Mini in the Phillipines. The case here is just that Opera Software does not charge for Opera Mini. I could understand you anger if you paid for Opera Mini - but you did not...

It has been discussions of how Opera Software would actually make any money of Opera Mini. Developing the software and running the servers costs money. I suppose Smart has paid some money to get there logo on the splash screen of Opera Mini. For this you should probably be grateful, because:

1. You will not have to pay for using Opera Mini.

2. The development of Opera Mini will continue.

As for Globes position in this: Globe is making money on all users of Opera Mini, since they charge for the data transfer. However, they do not pay anything to Opera software, so what should they complain about?

There is no such thing as a free lunch..!

So it this way without any consent or permission? Without any respect to the user? Yes i know i have not to pay for the software but It is acceptable if Opera notifies or ask permissions? But they didn't. They just patch things up without noticing the user. It is acceptable? They advertising without respect? They can earn revenue in proper manner without affecting the other parties. They can earn revenue with respect. Look at Bolt, Ucweb, and Skyfire. Did they do the same thing? No they did not. They earn revenue in different ways without any injecting a splash screen that unknown to their users. They know the word respect. Modifying and adding things over the air is alarming and scary to the user without notifying or asking any permission. They should notify the user. Prioritize first the respect to the users before the sponsors.

Originally posted by jkreuz:

Look at Bolt, Ucweb, and Skyfire. Did they do the same thing? No they did not. They earn revenue in different ways without any injecting a splash screen that unknown to their users. They know the word respect.

Sorry to break it to you, but as of version 7.0, UCWEB started placing ads on my start screen. Don't know about Bolt and Skyfire, but there's no guarantee that they'll remain ad-free, either.

However, now that I've gone back to Opera Mobile 9.51 beta and stopped using proxy-based browsers (including Mini), my home screen won't be changing unless I change it myself. The splash screen is permanent, too. Of course, I'm connected via my own WiFi router, not a phone network, so those phone network ads would be meaningless to me, anyway.

But then, what's the difference, when most websites these days bombard their visitors with ads anyway? Those annoyances are inescapable, even in my case.

Originally posted by jkreuz:

So it this way without any consent or permission? Without any respect to the user? Yes i know i have not to pay for the software but It is acceptable if Opera notifies or ask permissions?

If I'm hearing your right, you should take it up with Globe and let them deal with it. If they don't, switch to Sun. Let the money do the talking.

Read Section 4.3, first sentence.

opera.com/eula/mini/

Originally posted by jkreuz:

You just keep answering for invalid reasons.

On the contrary, you are the one who are unable to give valid reasons and arguments for your claims.

Advertising smart telecom to the other network without any consent or permission is absolutely unfair to it's rival network.

No it isn't. Anyone can pay for ads.

It affects us, it is annoying and irritating everytime you open it reminding us smart-opera mini partnership doing revenue from its rival networks but we are paying for legal terms to our network globe telecom.

So... What you are saying is that it affects you, in that it annoys you that Opera is making money? Wow.

I am against for the misuse of splash screen to show it to the rival network, Globe Network.

Why? It doesn't affect you at all!

modifying opera mini client over the air is alarming without asking permissions to the user

You keep forgetting that Opera Mini doesn't work without a server. It needs to connect to a server to show you anything in the first place!

As you can see we are afraid of privacy concerns when opera mini patches those things

What privacy concerns? You keep making this claim, but you can't seem to come up with valid arguments.

So why they did not developed a special build of opera mini 5 for smart communications?

Irrelevant. Just because they did something in the past doesn't mean they can't do different things in the future.

Opera Mini Team does'nt like the modification, so why they disobeying their own rules?

They aren't disobeying their own rules. They MAKE the rules!

They did'nt care of respect for their users? So why did you don't answer the first? About respect?

What does respect have to do with anything? You are not respecting Opera by freely leeching off of their bandwidth and server capacity without even wanting to allow them to make money to survive!

Originally posted by WebDweller:

Originally posted by jkreuz:

Look at Bolt, Ucweb, and Skyfire. Did they do the same thing? No they did not. They earn revenue in different ways without any injecting a splash screen that unknown to their users. They know the word respect.

Sorry to break it to you, but as of version 7.0, UCWEB started placing ads on my start screen. Don't know about Bolt and Skyfire, but there's no guarantee that they'll remain ad-free, either.

Actually, Skyfire's front page is nothing but a page full of ads. They are also tracking the surfing patterns of their users to offer "sponsored links" in their "social networking toolbar".

More worrying, however, is that Skyfire has no chance in hell of turning a profit. Nor does Bolt. Both of these are losing massive amounts of money. Opera, as I understand it, is barely breaking even with Opera Mini.

Originally posted by prd3:

Skyfire has no chance in hell of turning a profit.

Source?

Originally posted by prd3:

Nor does Bolt. Both of these are losing massive amounts of money.

Source?

Originally posted by prd3:

Opera, as I understand it, is barely breaking even with Opera Mini.

Source?

Originally posted by prd3:

Actually, Skyfire's front page is nothing but a page full of ads. They are also tracking the surfing patterns of their users to offer "sponsored links" in their "social networking toolbar".

I stopped using Skyfire, but when I was still using it, I always made sure to switch to the bookmarks tab before quitting, and that's where the browser started in my next session. I didn't use the home page at all. Anyway, Skyfire is useless for my purposes, as most of the vital features of a real web browser are missing, such as selecting and copying text, finding text in a page, uploading files, saving pages, multiple tabs -- but even more important, readability (the text rendering of most pages is atrocious). As people have stated before, it's a viewer, not a browser. Its key feature of playing videos isn't very refined, either, but watching videos on the web is not a priority for me.

More worrying, however, is that Skyfire has no chance in hell of turning a profit. Nor does Bolt. Both of these are losing massive amounts of money. Opera, as I understand it, is barely breaking even with Opera Mini.

Well, the best way to sell any product is to make sure that it remains the best product available in its class. Fast-tracking the development of a product in order to beat the competition will not achieve that. Most people aren't so stupid that they won't notice when the quality suffers.

Originally posted by nttrllg-2o:

Originally posted by prd3:

Skyfire has no chance in hell of turning a profit.

Source?

The fact that Opera Mini is barely breaking even, and it has better compression, and does not stream video.

Originally posted by prd3:

Nor does Bolt. Both of these are losing massive amounts of money.

Source?

The fact that Opera Mini is barely breaking even, and it has better compression, and does not stream video.

Originally posted by prd3:

Opera, as I understand it, is barely breaking even with Opera Mini.

Source?

Opera's quarterly financial results.

Originally posted by prd3:

The fact that Opera Mini is barely breaking even, and it has better compression, and does not stream video.

That is not source ಠ_ಠ

Originally posted by prd3:

Opera's quarterly financial results

http://www.opera.com/company/investors/finance/
I just went through 1Q10_presentation.pdf. Where?

This way out of the topic.

Originally posted by Joar:

Ok, so Opera software advertises Smart Mobile on the splash screen of Opera Mini in the Phillipines. The case here is just that Opera Software does not charge for Opera Mini. I could understand you anger if you paid for Opera Mini - but you did not...

It has been discussions of how Opera Software would actually make any money of Opera Mini. Developing the software and running the servers costs money. I suppose Smart has paid some money to get there logo on the splash screen of Opera Mini. For this you should probably be grateful, because:

1. You will not have to pay for using Opera Mini.

2. The development of Opera Mini will continue.

As for Globes position in this: Globe is making money on all users of Opera Mini, since they charge for the data transfer. However, they do not pay anything to Opera software, so what should they complain about?

There is no such thing as a free lunch..!

What network are you subscribing? What if you're on O2, and the Smart LOGO appeared on your Opera Mini and replaced some of your speed dials, will you be okay for that? I think you're only saying that because you did not experience what we've been through.

Opera Mini never said to anyone that they are leeching off their servers. Why are you saying that even though you are included to the "leechers" you are exclaiming about? What network are you using honey? What if you were on AirTel network and that splash logo did appeared to you, will you be happy? You are only saying that because you did not experience it yet and you are only saying that because it's more easier to talk than to think first before talking.

Originally posted by nttrllg-2o:

Originally posted by prd3:

The fact that Opera Mini is barely breaking even, and it has better compression, and does not stream video.

That is not source ಠ_ಠ

Yes, that is indeed a source.

Originally posted by prd3:

Opera's quarterly financial results

http://www.opera.com/company/investors/finance/
I just went through 1Q10_presentation.pdf. Where?

If you can't figure it out, I can't help you. Hint: Why did you look at the presentation and not the actual report?

Originally posted by akai1987:

What network are you subscribing? What if you're on O2, and the Smart LOGO appeared on your Opera Mini and replaced some of your speed dials, will you be okay for that?

A logo on the loading screen is irrelevant. What speed dials did it replace? Just the default ones? If so, no problem. It's only a problem if it replaces CUSTOM speed dials.

Originally posted by akai1987:

Opera Mini never said to anyone that they are leeching off their servers. Why are you saying that even though you are included to the "leechers" you are exclaiming about?

You are using their service for free. And you also expect them to make no money? How is a free service going to keep running if there's no money coming in?

What if you were on AirTel network and that splash logo did appeared to you, will you be happy?

I couldn't care less. Who cares what logo appears on the loading screen? I sure don't. But then again, I don't usually obsess over completely trivial and irrelevant stuff anyway

Originally posted by prd3:

You are using their service for free. And you also expect them to make no money? How is a free service going to keep running if there's no money coming in?

Your answer is not coherent. Are you saying that Opera will get more money if they advertise the logo of the other networks? Will Opera not gain more money if they advertise Smart on other networks aside from Globe? What if Opera advertised Smart on all networks just to gain more money, will those Opera Mini users be happy in seeing that logo of the network they are not using? It is just okay for us if everybody did experienced this aside from us Globe users. You are not a Globe user so you do not feel what we feel.

Originally posted by akai1987:

Your answer is not coherent.

Why, yes it is.

Are you saying that Opera will get more money if they advertise the logo of the other networks?

Do you think Opera put that logo there for free?

What if Opera advertised Smart on all networks just to gain more money, will those Opera Mini users be happy in seeing that logo of the network they are not using?

Who cares? It doesn't even affect you.

It is just okay for us if everybody did experienced this aside from us Globe users.

It doesn't matter who experiences it. It's irrelevant. It makes no difference to you.