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Finally Found Something I Hate About OSX...

gloss

gloss

macrumors 601
Original poster
May 9, 2006
4,811
0
around/about
So, I've downloaded Opera 9. It's fast, it's slick, it's very nice, and it's not my default browser.

Now, for some reason, Safari is not functioning correctly on my nice new Macbook. It's as if it's been uninstalled, but the icon is still sitting there. This doesn't normally bother me, since I use Firefox and almost never touch Safari. What bothers me is that, since I am unable to open Safari, I am also unable to set Opera as my new default browser.

What twisted mind decided that it would be better to place the Default Browser Selection INSIDE Safari rather than in an Internet control panel, where it should be?

So, now I have to wait until I get off work, go home, dig up my 10.4 install disk, and reinstall Safari, all so I can make sure that the system defaults to one of the two other browsers on my machine that is NOT Safari.

Counter-intuitive, Apple. With all the other nice, natural things you put in the OS, this is absurd.
 
There is an option to set a default web browser within the Camino preferences. It's a bit roundabout but I think downloading a 14MB application is better than having to fiddle about with install discs.
 
I know Firefox has a similar option, but it's only to 'Make Sure Firefox is the Default Browser'. I'm not sure why they didn't include something like that in Opera, but oh well.

I will try Camino. Thank you, sir.

edit: Done and done. Much appreciated.
 
gloss said:
I know Firefox has a similar option, but it's only to 'Make Sure Firefox is the Default Browser'. I'm not sure why they didn't include something like that in Opera, but oh well.

I will try Camino. Thank you, sir.

edit: Done and done. Much appreciated.
Click to expand...

No worries, always glad to help.
 
gloss said:
So, I've downloaded Opera 9. It's fast, it's slick, it's very nice, and it's not my default browser.

Now, for some reason, Safari is not functioning correctly on my nice new Macbook. It's as if it's been uninstalled, but the icon is still sitting there. This doesn't normally bother me, since I use Firefox and almost never touch Safari. What bothers me is that, since I am unable to open Safari, I am also unable to set Opera as my new default browser.

What twisted mind decided that it would be better to place the Default Browser Selection INSIDE Safari rather than in an Internet control panel, where it should be?

So, now I have to wait until I get off work, go home, dig up my 10.4 install disk, and reinstall Safari, all so I can make sure that the system defaults to one of the two other browsers on my machine that is NOT Safari.

Counter-intuitive, Apple. With all the other nice, natural things you put in the OS, this is absurd.
Click to expand...

so just cause you installed Opera, safari stopped working all together? thats pretty bogus
 
What everyone said here is true. Other browsers have the option to make themselves the default browser. But I think gloss really pointed out the problem. There ought to be a selection inside of the control panel. That's one thing MS has done right. They have a program defaults panel on the Add/Remove panel. It's quite nice, and it allows multiple default programs to be set from one panel.
 

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Unfortunately, I tried to find a command line alternative to change the default browser in com.apple.Safari.plist, but I couldn't. It's there somewhere, but I'm not seeing it.
 
Well, what I would do if I were you, would maybe be to download Pacifist (search for it on VersionTracker.com) and then pop in your Apple disks and re-install Safari only. It might help. :)
 
yellow said:
Unfortunately, I tried to find a command line alternative to change the default browser in com.apple.Safari.plist, but I couldn't. It's there somewhere, but I'm not seeing it.
Click to expand...
I think it's in com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
 
jsw said:
I think it's in com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
Click to expand...

No, I don't think so. Sorting by Date Modified and changing the setting puts com.apple.Safari.plist at the top of thelist everytime.

I should note that I had looked briefly in LaunchServices and it was far too convoluted for me to spend too much time looking at. :)

I take it back, you're right, it is in there. But I've no idea how to properly point at Firefox.

It's slightly more complicated than a simple Boolean Yes/No True/False
 
I should clarify that I love OS X. I've been so much happier using my Macbook than the PC I've had for the past five years (in various forms). It just struck me as singularly inelegant to have such a common control hidden away in their own proprietary browser, rather than grouped with all the other options in System Preferences.

In fact, it almost seemed like something I'd expect MS to do.

Anyway, I appreciate being able to come here and bitch and still get help. Thanks everyone. ;D
 
medea said:
Perhaps you should reinstall Safari?
Click to expand...

I'm thinking about it, but I'm at work at the moment. ;)

I really don't have much need for it past the ability to change my default browser (again: huh?), but as Chundles politely pointed out, Camino has the same capability.
 
gloss said:
What twisted mind decided that it would be better to place the Default Browser Selection INSIDE Safari rather than in an Internet control panel, where it should be?
Click to expand...

Maybe it was the same twisted mind that decided to put the preference for what to do when a camera is attached (like open iPhoto) in Image Capture and not in System Preferences.
 
MacDonaldsd said:
In safari preferences you can select what you want as your default browser. :)
Click to expand...

:rolleyes: (Friendly advice: read the thread before you reply).

I agree that it's really stupid that the normal way to change the default browser is within Safari. The fact that Camino can also modify the setting means that Apple has given some sort of access to the settings to developers, but it may just be that Camino is directly modifying the relevant plist file. Anyway, it should be too hard for someone to write a small utility that does nothing other than change the default browser.
 
dejo said:
Maybe it was the same twisted mind that decided to put the preference for what to do when a camera is attached (like open iPhoto) in Image Capture and not in System Preferences.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but I found this bugged me more at the time. ;)
 
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