A Blog From Behind the Trenches

Attack of the Bugs

Google Instant works in Opera... if you work around Google's browser sniffing

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:00:14 PM

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Google Instant is a new real-time search service from Google, which for some reason does not seem to work in Opera even though it supports all the other major browsers.

But on closer inspection, it turns out that it does work in Opera! All you need to do is to work around Google's browser sniffing and spoof as a different browser, as demonstrated by Bruce Lawson.

(Watch on YouTube)
So it seems that Google has chosen to exclude Opera (or only include specific browsers). This is rather disappointing, but at least it's possible to work around it.

Someone created a thread in the Google support forum about the issue in case someone wants to voice their opinion on it.

State of the Opera: Q2 2010A week of Opera: Week 36, 2010

Comments

Ruarí Ødegaardruario Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:04:58 PM

very disappointing that they have done this

PHcphr666 Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:10:00 PM

They always do that... Google Wave, the homepage with a background, and now this...

MaxFragg Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:10:08 PM

still wondering, why google does this, but at least this works as workarount (voicechat in gmail is blocked as well, for example)

but wave in opposit really does not work quite well in opera

Charles SchlossChas4 Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:10:10 PM

It is said

I wonder if it has to do with that new Chrome ad thing (Opera Man), or if it is because Opera is faster than Chrome at some tests?

David Tsunamydavidtsunamy Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:11:06 PM

the beginning of google monopoly nervous

NicoHellbillyDeluxe Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:11:57 PM

Is this something personal or why does Google do things like that all the time? There has to be an explanation for that!

DillonAstrophizz Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:13:04 PM

Yeah it's sad. I don't know if it's laziness or willfully ignoring Opera.

CaseCase1 Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:18:49 PM

I really don't understand why Google always seems to consciously block or at least disadvantage Opera and ONLY Opera...? Why are they doing this? Is Opera the only browser they dare to block? It was exactly the same with yesterdays's animated logo at Google.co.uk - Chrome was fine (obviously), Firefox was fine, Safari was fine, even IE was fine. But in Opera it only worked (perfectly, I have to add) if you had it set to "Identify as Firefox", so it obviously was a conscious decision to just block Opera. Why?

Adrianapa240 Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:31:23 PM

"Google Instant is not available for your web browser.
Please upgrade to the latest version of a modern browser to use Google Instant."

Yet the link to modern browsers says Opera is one. I realize it states further down google/instant the supported browsers. Mixed signals much? Just sayin.

Artur „Jurgi” JurgawkaJurgi Wednesday, September 8, 2010 10:36:03 PM

So: Google acts as usually. Not the first time, not the last one.

PengePenge4 Wednesday, September 8, 2010 11:02:19 PM

The Opera is a small company, easy to suppress.

Google pays for the default search the browser vendors in market share based. I assume they also won't be extend the agreement with Mozilla. They want to spread the Chrome and GoogleOS and Android all over the world.

Because they hide behind the open source, the competition agencies cannot punish them.

Rafael Luikrafaelluik Wednesday, September 8, 2010 11:31:30 PM

And don't forget they also block their new image search page layout and functionality.

Witold Barylukmovax Wednesday, September 8, 2010 11:54:09 PM

Google deliberetly make their products to not work in Opera.

I was also trying this new shit with Midor and Epiphany. Both are modern, webkit based browser. Of course this do not work. Are they stupid and do not know how to detect properly browser capabilities using JavaScript, or doing this specially?

Good I'm not addicted to any Google product.

Kyle Bakerkyleabaker Thursday, September 9, 2010 3:21:05 AM

Shame on Google for acting as poorly as Microsoft. doh

d4rkn1ght Thursday, September 9, 2010 4:28:00 AM

If Opera can be good for Google on this http://www.webmproject.org/ Why Google doesn't extend their courtesy and support Opera with more than just rendering issues in YouTube.com?

malsumis Thursday, September 9, 2010 5:08:43 AM

Because Google caring continuum for an Open Web ends when it is only open for Chrome.

wollodya Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:03:20 AM

the only solution will be to settting of the identifying as firefox directly in browser.js

wollodya Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:14:51 AM

...Opera can ask European Commision to check Google's monopolity and its abusing

deadHarlequin Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:00:26 AM

and the truth is Opera is excluded because Google Instant simply doesn't work on Opera.
Masking as Firefox makes it look like it's working but it doesnt, it breaks if you make some corrections to your query.

sabisan Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:04:06 AM

@Google - wtf is their problem?

IKoke Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:16:57 AM

knockout

pursanovd Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:22:08 AM

Great tip! Thank you...Shame on google for such things!!! sad

Savageman Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:38:27 AM

Google Instant is officially not available on Opera yet. They're working on the compatibility for it and will be released in the next weeks.
It's also not available in all countries, they will extend it later.

HåkonEplemosen Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:42:07 AM

This is discrimination.

antonovichty Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:37:58 AM

@Uncle Mick : Yes, and this one : http://www.youtube.com/v/hUiq__WrO6w that has been deleted.

My opinion : Let's kill Google by filing a complaint against them.knight
Opera has already succeeded with Microsoft (Browser Choice) and Apple (Opera Mini) : You can also beat Google !cool

Pierrera-mon Thursday, September 9, 2010 8:50:22 AM

it seems that Google has chosen to exclude Opera


I suggest to add http://*.google.* in default urlfilter.ini p

@+
--
Pierre

mlouis Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:25:27 AM

Originally posted by PH`:

They always do that... Google Wave, the homepage with a background, and now this...


up

K Cswarekocs Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:27:23 AM

@deadHarlequin: "it breaks if you make some corrections to your query"

Works fine here after many corrections to the search string.

prd3 Thursday, September 9, 2010 9:34:54 AM

Originally posted by deadHarlequin:

and the truth is Opera is excluded because Google Instant simply doesn't work on Opera


Actually, it does work in Opera. It works fine.

How come every time there's a discussion here you start bashing Opera? I only ever see you bashing Opera. After bashing Opera, you go away for a long time only to reappear if there's something you can bash Opera over.

If you hate Opera so much, why bother visiting this site at all?

wollodya Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:14:46 AM

more reason why using bing

Ryandi Sandicoyomoyo Thursday, September 9, 2010 11:42:43 AM

Because they scare of us.

duckduckgo, here i come.

deadHarlequin Thursday, September 9, 2010 2:30:18 PM

@K Cs
Try removing all the words of your query by just hitting backspace, try making a query which outputs no results, try hitting del key to remove some of the suggestions. Google Instant gets stalled in each case.

Mike Mangerohmanger Thursday, September 9, 2010 3:43:44 PM

Yes the instant searching seems to work find but after I've clicked on a result I'm unable to go back to the search results by clicking on Opera's back button!

Could well be the reason Opera is getting excluded?cry

Robin ZalekBtEO Thursday, September 9, 2010 3:53:35 PM

Time to break out perhaps the most succinct words I've ever typed, first used in February 2007 about Google Docs:

Originally posted by BtEO:

In this thread's case, the severe shortness of a script that fixes all functionality issues with Google docs, Google spreadsheets, Picasa, and Google calendar should be telling. That Google, one of the biggest companies around can't find the time to test in Opera is shocking; that one man working alone can write an 140 line (including comments) script consisting of a handful of simple fixes should reflect far, far worse on Google than it does on Opera. Especially when you consider that they somehow find the time to work past IE innumerable flaws.

malsumis Thursday, September 9, 2010 4:20:47 PM

Robin, I cited your Post on googles boards. Hope you don't mind. What you wrote is one hundred percent true, and as much as it is true, it is also that infuriating.

PS: I mean here - http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Web+Search/thread?tid=429a92076bee810b&hl=en&fid=429a92076bee810b00048fd5fc3836fc

Robin ZalekBtEO Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:57:20 PM

It's fine, I've posted there too to clarify context.

K Cswarekocs Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:38:23 PM

Originally posted by deadHarlequin:

Google Instant gets stalled in each case.


I really tried all the things you mentioned, but the worst thing that happened is a 1sec delay if I delete the gray text with Del. Same delay on Safari, IE8. So I still can't see any reason not to include Opera in supported browsers (using 10.61).

deadHarlequin Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:22:18 PM

What about the backward issue?

GI changes the url address along with your changes to the query in order to be possible for back/referral functions to work. This is problematic and has been reported by others too, here and in my.opera forums.

Charles SchlossChas4 Thursday, September 9, 2010 10:34:21 PM

Opera support for Google Instant: 'Shortly'
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20016008-264.html

d4rkn1ght Friday, September 10, 2010 2:27:02 AM

Originally posted by Chas4:

Opera support for Google Instant: 'Shortly'
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20016008-264.html


It's about time! I hope Google adds Opera to their support team. We need better support with GMail, Reader, Doc, etc...

Google Earth Plugging will be a good start! http://code.google.com/apis/earth/

DillonAstrophizz Friday, September 10, 2010 4:45:35 AM

Is this bug present in other browsers:
When using instant in Opera, typing an apostrophe (') functions the same as tab completing.

GroovyMicky Friday, September 10, 2010 8:26:37 AM

Google is slowly killing Opera.

prd3 Friday, September 10, 2010 12:24:34 PM

Originally posted by Micky:

Google is slowly killing Opera.


What kind of moronic statement is this?

How can something be "killing" Opera when Opera is still growing, and profits are higher than ever?

Troll FAIL.

GroovyMicky Friday, September 10, 2010 2:09:36 PM

Google does not support Opera in many of its products (most popular sites on the web). Google has its own browser that is marketed on many popular sites on the web. Calculate what is the result of this. And also observe trends in usage stats.

Cutting Spoonhellspork Friday, September 10, 2010 4:18:53 PM

Haavard - how do you feel about a "Borkle" patch? Worked for msn.com, perhaps The Google needs a reminder how fun-loving and dangerous Opera can be?

deadHarlequin Friday, September 10, 2010 6:32:31 PM

Cutting Spoon, why are you fantasizing enemies everywhere?

Opera isnt 100% compatible with it, GI just came out, and we even have a google statement now that they will support Opera shortly.

Is it so paranormal for you to think that probably Opera just fails their unit-tests?

prd3 Friday, September 10, 2010 7:11:22 PM

Originally posted by Micky:

Google does not support Opera in many of its products (most popular sites on the web). Google has its own browser that is marketed on many popular sites on the web. Calculate what is the result of this. And also observe trends in usage stats.


Are you drunk or something?

Opera works fine with most Google services.

And the trend is that Opera's user base is GROWING. In fact, after Google released Chrome, Opera's user growth ACCELERATED. Opera now has more than twice the amount of users they did before Chrome was released.

Maybe you should keep your mouth shut about things you are clueless about.

prd3 Friday, September 10, 2010 7:12:11 PM

Originally posted by deadHarlequin:

Cutting Spoon, why are you fantasizing enemies everywhere?


TrollHarlequin, why are you always posting anti-Opera comments? The only time people see you aroun here is when you get the chance to bash Opera. Go away.

PengePenge4 Friday, September 10, 2010 8:58:18 PM

Originally posted by deadHarlequin:

Opera isnt 100% compatible with it


If it is really true, then why don't they do the same as in Picasa (a discreet warning text and opinion to turn on/off the untested feature)?

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