Re: BBC News websites
On 27 Feb 2013 Martin Bazley wrote: If you're still using 2.9, you don't need to be told. Simply open WWW.NetSurf.Log in your computer's ScrapDir (note: this only works when NetSurf is *not* running) and it should be right there in the first few lines. Thanks for the information. I hadn't thought of looking there. I normally use a recent development version, currently #942, but that doesn't exhibit the redirect to mobile problem so I used 2.9 to illustrate it. Richard Porter As someone who requires a stable version I am still using 2.9. I worked round the problem by redirecting the BBC link to the mobile desktop page which gave access to standard BBC content. But now in their wisdom the BBC have deleted this so I am back to square one. Considering their clucking over the raspberry pi you would think no large organisation, different hands, no co-ordination! Richard, you could let them know that apparently very large numbers of the little wonders have been sold which might help us on legacy hardware! John
Re: BBC News websites
On 7 Mar 2013 Learning Partners wrote: As someone who requires a stable version I am still using 2.9. I worked round the problem by redirecting the BBC link to the mobile desktop page which gave access to standard BBC content. But now in their wisdom the BBC have deleted this so I am back to square one. Considering their clucking over the raspberry pi you would think no large organisation, different hands, no co-ordination! Richard, you could let them know that apparently very large numbers of the little wonders have been sold which might help us on legacy hardware! Yes, will do. I've just got another reply from the Beeb: Please note that the issue was once again escalated to Future Media and finding that your browser is NetSurf running under RISC OS 6.16 running on a StrongARM powered RiscPC informed that this is old technology and may explain why you are being directed to the mobile version of the website. Unfortunately, this browser is not supported by BBC iPlayer and therefore you are experiencing the problem. I realise this may be disappointing however I hope this helps to clarify the situation. I have already told them that the complaint did not relate to iPlayer which I don't expect to run on RISC OS, though I may have mentioned that it produces totally misleading error messages if you try. Richard -- Richard Porterhttp://www.minijem.plus.com/ mailto:r...@minijem.plus.com I don't want a user experience - I just want stuff that works.
Re: BBC News websites
Richard Porter r...@minijem.plus.com wrote: Considering their clucking over the raspberry pi you would think no large organisation, different hands, no co-ordination! Richard, you could let them know that apparently very large numbers of the little wonders have been sold which might help us on legacy hardware! Yes, will do. I've just got another reply from the Beeb: Please note that the issue was once again escalated to Future Media and finding that your browser is NetSurf running under RISC OS 6.16 running on a StrongARM powered RiscPC informed that this is old technology and may explain why you are being directed to the mobile version of the website. Does NetSurf 2.9 under Raspbian (ie the Pi's default OS with - I think - the default/recommended web browser) have the same problem (it should)? Report that and maybe they will take notice rather than hiding under the old technology banner. On the plus side, they didn't call it obsolete technology.
Re: BBC News websites
On Thu, Mar 07, 2013 at 02:03:55PM +, Richard Porter wrote: Please note that the issue was once again escalated to Future Media and finding that your browser is NetSurf running under RISC OS 6.16 running on a StrongARM powered RiscPC informed that this is old technology and may explain why you are being directed to the mobile version of the website. Unfortunately, this browser is not supported by BBC iPlayer and therefore you are experiencing the problem. Is it worth having the Beeb explain to Future Media that the way you tell if you should send the Mobile site is if the U-A string contains 'Mobile'. (Note, I hate this method, but it's the 'accepted' approach) D. -- Daniel Silverstone http://www.netsurf-browser.org/ PGP mail accepted and encouraged.Key Id: 3CCE BABE 206C 3B69
Re: BBC News websites
In article 49380.86.154.45.205.1362660717.squir...@email.orpheusnet.co.uk, Learning Partners lp.bo...@argonet.co.uk wrote: On 27 Feb 2013 Martin Bazley wrote: If you're still using 2.9, you don't need to be told. Simply open WWW.NetSurf.Log in your computer's ScrapDir (note: this only works when NetSurf is *not* running) and it should be right there in the first few lines. Thanks for the information. I hadn't thought of looking there. I normally use a recent development version, currently #942, but that doesn't exhibit the redirect to mobile problem so I used 2.9 to illustrate it. Richard Porter As someone who requires a stable version I am still using 2.9. I worked round the problem by redirecting the BBC link to the mobile desktop page which gave access to standard BBC content. But now in their wisdom the BBC have deleted this so I am back to square one. Considering their clucking over the raspberry pi you would think no large organisation, different hands, no co-ordination! Richard, you could let them know that apparently very large numbers of the little wonders have been sold which might help us on legacy hardware! Just tried using the BBC News link on Netsurf's home page (the out of the box version) NS 2.9. Works fine, taking me automatically to http://m.bbc.co.uk/news , which I assume to be the mobile version. Not pretty but it is usable. I don't think that I made any modifications to those NS links when this was discussed some time ago but maybe I did! If so, that would seem to be the answer. Cheers Alan -- Alan Calder, Milton Keynes, UK.
Re: BBC News websites
In article 5328c00187alan_cal...@o2.co.uk, Alan Calder alan_cal...@o2.co.uk wrote: Works fine, taking me automatically to http://m.bbc.co.uk/news , which I assume to be the mobile version. Not pretty but it is usable. Similarly, and for reasons of functionality, I have been known to use NetSurf with http://m.facebook.com and http://m.twitter.com -- Tim Hill .. www.timil.com
Re: BBC News websites
On Thu, 7 March, 2013 3:56 pm, Tim Hill wrote: In article 5328c00187alan_cal...@o2.co.uk, Alan Calder alan_cal...@o2.co.uk wrote: Works fine, taking me automatically to http://m.bbc.co.uk/news , which I assume to be the mobile version. Not pretty but it is usable. Similarly, and for reasons of functionality, I have been known to use NetSurf with http://m.facebook.com and http://m.twitter.com -- Tim Hill .. www.timil.com The point of the workround was that the dashboard gave access to the standard site. The mobile site is what we are trying to avoid. Without the workround www.bbc.co.uk defaults to m.bbc.co.uk. The revised link m.bbc.co.uk/home/dashboard then allowed access to bbc.co.uk/news. (without the m) This may have been available for ARM based tablet users. Sadly no more unless it has moved its address. I await a stable 3.0 or 3.1 with anticipation and thanks to the development team and testers. John
Re: BBC News websites
On 7 Mar 2013 Alan Calder wrote: Just tried using the BBC News link on Netsurf's home page (the out of the box version) NS 2.9. Works fine, taking me automatically to http://m.bbc.co.uk/news , which I assume to be the mobile version. Not pretty but it is usable. That is precisely the problem. We want the desktop version, not the mobile version. If I want m.bbc.co.uk I can request m.bbc.co.uk. -- Richard Porterhttp://www.minijem.plus.com/ mailto:r...@minijem.plus.com I don't want a user experience - I just want stuff that works.
Re: BBC News websites
On 7 Mar 2013 Richard Porter r...@minijem.plus.com wrote: On 7 Mar 2013 Alan Calder wrote: Just tried using the BBC News link on Netsurf's home page (the out of the box version) NS 2.9. Works fine, taking me automatically to http://m.bbc.co.uk/news , which I assume to be the mobile version. Not pretty but it is usable. That is precisely the problem. We want the desktop version, not the mobile version. If I want m.bbc.co.uk I can request m.bbc.co.uk. FWIW the development versions access the proper BBC sites with no problem. I can't remember the last time I had a catastrophic failure with these versions, and the occasional failure to access a site can be useful to the developers, as long as one files a bug report. With best wishes, Peter. -- Peter Young (zfc Ta) and family Prestbury, Cheltenham, Glos. GL52, England http://pnyoung.orpheusweb.co.uk pnyo...@ormail.co.uk
Re: BBC News websites
In article 5328da581e...@timil.com, Tim Hill t...@timil.com wrote: In article 49255.86.154.45.205.1362675722.squir...@email.orpheusnet.co.uk, Learning Partners lp.bo...@argonet.co.uk wrote: [Snip] Thanks for the summary. This may have been available for ARM based tablet users. Sadly no more unless it has moved its address. At least an ARM based tablet with Android has browsers where you can specify the User Agent (e.g. Android, Desktop, iPhone, iPad, Custom). Desktop being the most useful but Android (mobile) is sometimes useful too (e.g. when tethered). There isn't necessarily one answer to 'which user agent?' on some devices. 'Flexibility' is the key word. 'Configurable' is another. ;-) Well, Risc OS does have other browsers which will get to the BBC main site - sadly they don't then display it very well (to put it mildly). Presumably Netsurf just has to have Browse, Fresco, Oregano 1 2's ability to pretend to be something else and all would be well. I seem to remember some earlier discussion as to why it doesn't but can't seem to find it. Alan -- Alan Calder, Milton Keynes, UK.
Re: BBC News websites
On 27 Feb 2013 Martin Bazley wrote: If you're still using 2.9, you don't need to be told. Simply open WWW.NetSurf.Log in your computer's ScrapDir (note: this only works when NetSurf is *not* running) and it should be right there in the first few lines. Thanks for the information. I hadn't thought of looking there. I normally use a recent development version, currently #942, but that doesn't exhibit the redirect to mobile problem so I used 2.9 to illustrate it. My original complaint to the BBC was raised last November. -- Richard Porterhttp://www.minijem.plus.com/ mailto:r...@minijem.plus.com I don't want a user experience - I just want stuff that works.
Re: BBC News websites
On 15 Jan 2013 Michael Drake wrote: In article out-50f5c18e.md-1.4.17.chris.yo...@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk, Chris Young chris.yo...@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk wrote: I'm not sure I necessarily agree with this workaround - a website deciding that everything running ARM must want the mobile version of a page is making a pretty big assumption I decided there was no good reason for leaking processor architecture information anyway. After a long wait I eventually got a response to my complaint. Well, the first one suggested a cookie problem, but having disabused them of that idea they sent this: We understand that you are still being directed to the mobile version of the BBC iPlayer site rather than the desktop version. If you can give us the name and version number of your web browser, your PCs operating system and if known, your useragent details we can investigate this further. The problem still affects version 2.9 if not the latest dev versions. Can you tell me what the useragent details are (or were)? Richard -- Richard Porterhttp://www.minijem.plus.com/ mailto:r...@minijem.plus.com I don't want a user experience - I just want stuff that works.
BBC News websites
I see that we now have normal access to the BBC news websites. Whether this is something done by the Netsurf team or someone at the BBC taking note of complaints I am pleased to see it happen. -- David Wild using RISC OS on broadband www.davidhwild.me.uk
Re: BBC News websites
On 15 Jan 2013 David H Wild wrote: I see that we now have normal access to the BBC news websites. Whether this is something done by the Netsurf team or someone at the BBC taking note of complaints I am pleased to see it happen. I raised it as a technical problem twice, then as a complaint, and after they sent me an automatic response after ten days because they couldn't meet the target for replying I complained again. Looks like a few others did too! I still haven't had a reply. -- Richard Porterhttp://www.minijem.plus.com/ mailto:r...@minijem.plus.com I don't want a user experience - I just want stuff that works.
Re: BBC News websites
The following bytes were arranged on 15 Jan 2013 by David H Wild : I see that we now have normal access to the BBC news websites. Whether this is something done by the Netsurf team or someone at the BBC taking note of complaints I am pleased to see it happen. It's something NetSurf did. It no longer includes the CPU architecture in the User-Agent string, because some cretin at the BBC decided that the only web browsers running on ARM computers were those running on mobile phones. -- __^__ Start off every day with a smile and get it over with. / _ _ \ - W.C. Fields ( ( |_| ) ) \_ _/ === Martin Bazley ==
Re: BBC News websites
In article out-50f5c18e.md-1.4.17.chris.yo...@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk, Chris Young chris.yo...@unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk wrote: I'm not sure I necessarily agree with this workaround - a website deciding that everything running ARM must want the mobile version of a page is making a pretty big assumption I decided there was no good reason for leaking processor architecture information anyway. -- Michael Drake (tlsa) http://www.netsurf-browser.org/
