Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

For all, who want to get rid of the default serach engine (Google) forced by Opera Mobile, here's a hack to achieve this:

1. edit file /opt/operamobile/browser/bream/skin-vga.rsc (probably not on your phone!)
   • seach for "Google" an replace this string with your favorite search engine. But the new description must have the same length (i.e. 6 chars), if shorter fill with space (0x20)
   • change the following URL
     Code:

     ---

     http://www.google.com/m?q=%s&client=ms-opera-mobile&channel=new

     ---

     according to your favorite search engine, e.g.
     Code:

     ---

     https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s

     ---

     %s is of course the search string. Again, keep the original length by filling with spaces. Btw. the "duck" has a really big advantage, you can define (start page -> more -> settings) the color scheme to dark, which gets saved in a cookie.
   • deactivate Google livesearch by replacing
     Code:

     ---

     http://clients1.google.com/complete/search?client=opera-mobile&hl=#{locale}&q=#{query}

     ---

     with
     Code:

     ---

     http://127.0.0.1/disabled_google_live_search______________________#{locale}&q=#{query}

     ---

2. delete ~/.config/operamobile-labs/ds/8_all. The file get's regenerated out of skin-vgs.rsc upon starting opera. But be aware: You will loose all added custom search engines! This work has to be done once again afterwards.
3. add the following lines to your /etc/hosts:
   
   Code:

   ---

   127.0.0.1  server1.operamini.com server2.operamini.com server3.operamini.com
127.0.0.1  server4.operamini.com server5.operamini.com server6.operamini.com
127.0.0.1  server7.operamini.com server8.operamini.com server9.operamini.com

   ---

   That's necessary, because Opera checks on every start for new default search engines and will undo your efforts within seconds. Again a drawback: You won't be able to use Opera Link anymore!

I didn't bother to cahnge the Icon -- you'll still have the (old) one of Google.

Hope you enjoy this little "trick" :D

Read original German version in my blogpost.

EDIT: The path given above refers to the Harmattan version of Opera Mobile 12; for Fremantle edit /opt/opera/share/browser/skin-vga-multi.rsc and delete ~/.opera/ds/8_all

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

Great, out with google. I got through step 1, but at step 2. I cannot find the ~/.config folder. Using SFTP and 'show hidden files' is enabled.
This is under Maemo7.2 and Opera 12.10.16 No luck browsing the folders at random ..

Edit: added Opera version

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

According to this package (btw. is Maemo 7.2 = Fremantle?), the config files of opera reside in , so the file to delete should probably be If you can confirm, I will update my post. :)

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

It's Maemo on a n900 so i believe Fremantle is installed.
Found '8_all' and deleted. Added the code in step 3. like this:

When i open Opera it displays a complete black screen, with only 'Opera Mobile' in the menu area. Or maybe is it possible to post the modified files?

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

Just to make sure, that line starting with 127.0.0.1 in /etc/hosts should be exactly one line. If it's too long, split it up like that:

Can you please confirm, that you found it at the path I guessed (~/.opera/ds/8_all)?!

Black screen is indeed a messed up skin-vga.rsc if I remember correctly. I think uploading of that file ist against EULA and hence probably against TMO rules, too. But send me a PM with your email address... :)

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

Got it now.

Sorry, yeah that's the path. The black screen remains unfortunate.

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

mpy can you help me please? I change skin-vga.rsc file and it's ok. I add strings to hosts and it's ok. I delete 8_all file. But Opera is anyway update default settings each time after few seconds after run. Even if I make 8_all read-only Opera still update default searche engine each session so it's seems it's have acces to servers. I talk about Harmattan.

I found workaround. After I made all of your fixes I run Opera and wait till it update 8_all file. Next I remove all unneeded searches from search settings (whithin Opera). Exit Opera and make changes in 8_all file similat to skin-vga.rsc file. Right now Opera don't update 8_all file and I have DuckDuck go search default.

The last things is how to change Google favicon? It's obviously stored in skin-vga.rsc and 8_all files but I don't know hex code for it.

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

I know the described behavior (update the default search engine each program start after few seconds), as long as you don't have changed your /etc/hosts file (see step 3 of my original post).

However, your workaround sounds interesting. The question is, if your 8_all file gets updated when opera changes the defaults on their servers... (I suppose, there is some kind of a ID / time stamp involved?!)

Concerning the favicon: I didn't bothered about that myself, so I can't give you a solution. But you might find some more information about the skin-vga.rsc file format and embedded bitmaps on this site.

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

mpy maybe I'm dumb but I do host editing. I recheck it twice and reboot my phone with no any effect. Si I though a lil bit more and edit 8_all file. Anyway it works now. Thank you for link I look at this later.

Re: Change default search engine in Opera Mobile 12
 

@flyingsausage: Glad you could figure out a solution. Maybe the different behavior is due to different versions?! IMHO I don't use the latest Harmattan build of Opera 12, but Opera 12.00, Build 8.