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Using a specific string agent with a TenFourBox

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SnowBlush

05 Apr, 2020 05:48 PM

Hello,
I noticed Instagram is working better with a string agent such as Android or Safari Ipad (especially the direct messages, which are not showing up with the other string agents)
This is useful for me, since I don't own a smartphone or a tablet (purposely - I don't want one of these things).
Currently I'm using my old 2004 PowerBook G4 OS 10.4.11 because a newer (!) PC crashed and I havent got the chance to buy a new one. and using TFF 18 which is saving my life in these times of quarantine)

-Is it possible to set a TenFourBox with Chrome Android ? So I can set a Instagram box, but let me regular TFF browser with a TFF string agent.
-Or should I create a new Mozilla profile, especially for the use of instagram? The thing is, I don't seem to even have Mozilla - I might have deleted it.

On another note: Does anyone here ever used Instagram on TFF? even with Android or Safari (ipad) as a string agent. Because I struggle a lot to read the comments (I can never read the entire list of comments under a picture)

Thank you for your insights ! Much appreciated from France.

1. Support Staff 1 Posted by Chris (chtrusch... on 05 Apr, 2020 08:53 PM

   

   I use Instagram a lot. And yes, selecting iOS Safari (iPad) as the user agent gives you the mobile version including the inbox, and you can even upload pictures. It simply thinks you're on a mobile device.

   Reading all comments: Click the ⊕ icon (desktop) or "view all xx comments" (mobile) above the first comment and it'll load more.

   I wouldn't recommend to create a new browser profile for Instagram (it's a Firefox profile, not Mozilla) because I think re-starting the browser every time you want to visit Instagram and then again for any other website would be too cumbersome. I also woulnd't recommend creating a site specific user agent override (even though it can be done, but we don't support it) because it would make the browser much slower in general.

   Your best options are simply using Preferences > TenFourFox > User Agent to switch the user agent for Instagram. Or, as you suggested, a TenFourFoxBox. Allow it to save cookies and passwords when you create it, and name it 'Instagram'. Then, in the Finder, while the box isn't running, navigate to Macintosh HD > Users > Your User Name > Library > Application Support > Instagram > Profiles > somegibberish.default > prefs.js. Open prefs.js with TextEdit and add this line at the bottom (including the ; at the end), then save:

   user_pref("general.useragent.override", "Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 11_2_6 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/604.5.6 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/11.0 Mobile/15D100 Safari/604.1");

   The first thing you should do, though, is update TenFourFox to the most recent version.

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2. 2 Posted by SnowBlush on 07 Apr, 2020 01:44 PM

   

   Hi, Thank you so much Chris !

   I created a TenFourFoxBox with the code line you provided me and it works. I get to see the "mobile version" of Instagram, and Direct messages which I couldn't see before. (It is much slower though)
   The thing is, I now can't see the stories anymore. Oh well. I don''t mind too much about this. Hopefully I'l be able to get my hands on a new computer when the quanrantine is over (which is not going happen soon over here I guess but you'll never know)

   I am not able to scroll down when I click on "See all comments". If I click randomly in the page and I drag the mouse down I can see more comments, but it is quite a hassle. Any ideas why?

   I use a TenFourFoxBox to watch Youtube. Do you think the mobile version would be better? (If I add the same line you gave me)

   Also, I searched on the forum for a Skype discussion but didn't find any. I might create one then, because there might be a way to use Skype on an old OS in the end? or maybe not !

   Be safe.

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3. Support Staff 3 Posted by Chris (chtrusch... on 07 Apr, 2020 03:18 PM

   

   Youtube: Just try it. Use the main browser's useragent switcher to see what works best.

   Just tried the old Skype app (6.19.0.450), it can still log in to the Skype server. It won't be able to do video (they changed the codec a long time ago), but maybe audio and chat? There used to be a useful web interface for Skype, but that was before Skype was acquired by Microsoft.

   Instagram (mobile): When at https://www.instagram.com/, click on the user icon (when it has a purple frame) to see stories. You can scroll comments using the mouse wheel (if you have one); since you cannot tap and drag on a desktop, this is your only option. The desktop version has a scrollbar. This seems to work more reliably in the main browser instead of a Foxbox.

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4. 4 Posted by SnowBlush on 08 Apr, 2020 01:15 PM

   

   Hi,
   Thank you for our advices.

   I've tried many versions of Skype in the past few months, none of them can log in to the Skype server. I just tried and downloaded the version you suggested (6.19.0.450) and I can't even install it (I get the "forbidden/disable" logo on the skype logo in the image disk mounter) So it must be a version too recent for my mac. I'm interested in knowing a Skype version that actually log in to the skype server though ! But it seems it is not possible anymore...

   I succeeded login in to a zoom discussion last night. I used Internet explorer 11 as a string agent (the only one that allows this, otherwise ou need to install the zoom app, while here, you can log in in the browser. The audio and video are disabled, but they tell you to dial up a number with your telephone. That's what I did, and I could listen to the discussion... (I havent tried talking though and do not know if it would work through the phone)

   I'm trying to get in touch with friends in Canada and the US, through voice (at least, video would be a must of course) so I might use that Zoom trick.
   (I live in France and although I can call them without added fees, they have to pay even if they're on the receiver side)

   Thank you for making 2020 accessible to 2004! Cheers from the past.

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