The Red O opera preservation

Developers › A Journal from Behind the Trenches

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

September 8, 2010 · by Haavard

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.

Video on YouTube

(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.

Readers' comments 50

Left under the original article, as archived; 1 page of comments could not be recovered.

  • Ruari Ødegaard8. September 2010, 22:04

    very disappointing that they have done this

  • PH8. September 2010, 22:10

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

  • MaxFragg8. September 2010, 22:10

    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 Schloss8. September 2010, 22:10

    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 Tsunamy8. September 2010, 22:11

    the beginning of google monopoly :nervous:

  • Nico8. September 2010, 22:11

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

  • Dillon8. September 2010, 22:13

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

  • Case8. September 2010, 22:18

    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?

  • Adrian8. September 2010, 22:31

    "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” Jurgawka8. September 2010, 22:36

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

  • Uncle Mick8. September 2010, 23:02

    I blame Odd and Even.

  • Penge8. September 2010, 23:02

    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 Luik8. September 2010, 23:31

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

  • Witold Baryluk8. September 2010, 23:54

    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 Baker9. September 2010, 03:21

    Shame on Google for acting as poorly as Microsoft. :doh:

  • d4rkn1ght9. September 2010, 04:28

    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?

  • malsumis9. September 2010, 05:08

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

  • wollodya9. September 2010, 06:03

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

  • wollodya9. September 2010, 06:14

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

  • deadHarlequin9. September 2010, 07:00

    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.

  • sabisan9. September 2010, 07:04

    @Google - wtf is their problem?

  • IKoke9. September 2010, 07:16

    :ko:

  • pursanovd9. September 2010, 07:22

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

  • Savageman9. September 2010, 07:38

    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.

  • Håkon Stormo9. September 2010, 07:42

    This is discrimination.

  • antonovichty9. September 2010, 08:37

    @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:

  • Pierre9. September 2010, 08:50

    it seems that Google has chosen to exclude Opera


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

    @+
    --
    Pierre

  • mlouis9. September 2010, 09:25

    Originally posted by PH`:

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


    :up:

  • K Cs9. September 2010, 09:27

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

    Works fine here after many corrections to the search string.

  • prd39. September 2010, 09:34

    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?

  • wollodya9. September 2010, 10:14

    more reason why using bing

  • Ryandi Sandi9. September 2010, 11:42

    Because they scare of us.

    duckduckgo, here i come.

  • deadHarlequin9. September 2010, 14:30

    @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 Manger9. September 2010, 15:43

    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 Zalek9. September 2010, 15:53

    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.

  • malsumis9. September 2010, 16:20

    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 Zalek9. September 2010, 18:57

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

  • K Cs9. September 2010, 19:38

    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).

  • deadHarlequin9. September 2010, 22:22

    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 Schloss9. September 2010, 22:34

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

  • d4rkn1ght10. September 2010, 02:27

    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/

  • Dillon10. September 2010, 04:45

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

  • Groovy10. September 2010, 08:26

    Google is slowly killing Opera.

  • prd310. September 2010, 12:24

    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.

  • Groovy10. September 2010, 14:09

    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 Spoon10. September 2010, 16:18

    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?

  • deadHarlequin10. September 2010, 18:32

    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?

  • prd310. September 2010, 19:11

    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.

  • prd310. September 2010, 19:12

    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.

  • Penge10. September 2010, 20:58

    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)?

About this article

Published inA Journal from Behind the Trenches
DateSeptember 8, 2010
AuthorHaavard
Tagsopera, open the web, google, browser sniffing, google instant
OriginalInternet Archive

The Red O » Developers » Haavard » Google Instant works in Opera... if you work around Google's browser sniffing

Browsers

Add-ons

Services

Developers

Help

Company

About · Contribute · Legal theredo.org
The Red O is an independent, non-commercial preservation project, not affiliated with Opera Norway AS. Opera is a trademark of its owner.