For those who use Opera's excellent mobile browsers Opera Mobile and Opera Mini, there's a good news: from next month, Google will replace Yahoo as the default search engine. "With 2008 poised to be the year the mobile Web goes mainstream, Google and Opera are extending this collaboration to give our users immediate access to the quality and convenience of Google's search results," comments Opera's CEO in a press release.
Last year, when Yahoo became the default search engine in Opera's mobile products, users complained that they couldn't set Google as the default search engine. The contract with Yahoo forced users to find workarounds like bookmarking Google. "I will never use Yahoo, and being forced to do so is exactly the kind of patronizing behavior that antagonizes all those users who seriously use their mobile devices to scour the web on the go," explained one Opera Mini user.
Hopefully, Google didn't include similar conditions and users could change the default search engine to Yahoo or any other site. While criticized for the lack of support for Opera in many of its services, Google helped Opera become free and provided contextual ads in a free version of Opera.
Thanks Alex for the kind words on Opera.
ReplyDeleteLike the Opera desktop browser, Opera Mini allows you to add the search engine of your choice to the start page.
So for example, say you would want to add the ask.com search engine to Opera Mini. Simply go to ask.com in Opera Mini, click on the query field on the webpage and select 'Create search' from the menu.'
Daniel
Opera Software
You can add a new search engine, but you can't replace Yahoo as the default option.
ReplyDeleteCorrect. The default search engine will always be first on the list of search engines. Clicking on the search engine field on the Opera Mini start page brings up this list.
ReplyDeleteDaniel
O Hai there, Mr. Goldman. I see what you all did there.
ReplyDeleteCould this mean that Google services will become OFFICIALLY supported for users of the upcoming Opera 9.5 (crosses fingers)? I happen to be rather fond of Opera for "power browsing" (I consider power browsing more than 10 tabs open and used). It would be brilliant for Opera and Safari users if GOOG stepped up for more than just mobile users.
Anyone of you able to install Opera Mini on a PDA? It seems that Java is not supported.
ReplyDeletehongjun
J. McNair, the Google deal for Opera Mini and Opera Mobile is independent from site compatibility issues. Having said that, almost all the issue with Google sites are gone with Opera 9.5 (which is currently in beta). The Google folks have been very supportive in working with our developers to weed out all the issues.
ReplyDeleteDaniel
This really irritated me about opera mini. That and not being able to set your own homepage. Whattupwithat?
ReplyDeleteGraham, thanks for your feedback -- setting your own homepage would certainly be a nice thing for some. We're always looking to improve Opear Mini.
ReplyDeleteDaniel
Opera Software
Daniel,
ReplyDeleteCan you explain the reasons why Opera Mini doesn't allow one to set up their own homepage?
Thanks,
Gabe
I have several devices going out that I wanted to use Opera on. Now I have to use ie because I can't set the home page :(
ReplyDeleteLol,suddenly Mr Opera fell silent and wasn't heard from again - nearly a year later and he still hasn't found a reason. How suspicious.
ReplyDelete