AvantGo exposed! How to use AvantGo with any (offline) browser

Alexander Turcic · 02-18-2006, 06:22 PM

Anyone who's ever been eight years old has wondered the same thing: How to make those darn AvantGo channels work without the AvantGo browser. AvantGo boasts a large selection of channels where the URL is kept secret, so official channels are available only to AvantGo subscribers. While trial and error had traditionally been the main method of finding out the URLs, this approach came recently to an halt with AvantGo restricting access to its sync servers based on a range of IP numbers or network addresses. As a consequence popular channels such as the mobile edition of Wired.com stopped working with non-AvantGo browsers.

The solution I present here is based on the customized RIM portal AvantGo offers to BlackBerry users. It works for both, online mobile browsers such as NetFront and Opera Mobile, and offline browsers such as iSilo. The only requirement is cookie support.

Alexander Turcic · 02-18-2006, 06:23 PM

AvantGo with your mobile browser

Get an account (which can be quite a nuisance)
https://my.avantgo.com/register/account_form_1.html
Subscribe to any of your favorite AvantGo channels
https://my.avantgo.com/browse/
Login to the RIM version of AvantGo
https://rim.avantgo.com/rim
Change to non-secure URL if your mobile browser doesn't support HTTPS
http://rim.avantgo.com/rim
Browse to your liking

Alexander Turcic · 02-18-2006, 06:23 PM

AvantGo with your offline browser (example here: iSilo)

Get an account
https://my.avantgo.com/register/account_form_1.html
Subscribe to any of your favorite AvantGo channels
https://my.avantgo.com/browse/
Login to the RIM version of AvantGo
https://rim.avantgo.com/rim
Your login credentials are stored in a cookie. In case of Firefox, you find it within the "cookies.txt" file in your profile folder.

For iSilo to successfully download AvantGo channels, you'll need to copy this cookie into your iSilo channel settings and enable permissions for sending and receiving cookies.

For more on how to add cookies to iSilo, refer to this (ancient) thread.
Since iSilo doesn't support HTTPS we switch to the non-secure portal URL.
http://rim.avantgo.com/rim
Write down the URL(s) of the subscribed AvantGo channel(s) you want to read with iSilo. This URL is the "Source" URL in your iSiloX channel.
You can use the attached iSiloX template as a guide. Note that by itself it won't work; you still need to add the URL of the AvantGo channel in the source tab, and your login credentials in the cookie tab.

Harpgliss · 02-19-2006, 01:11 AM

Hi,

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

This is absolutely amazing.

I have already gotten Wired set back up and am working on a few others.

Hope this does not get "fixed" like some of the other options you have found.

David

Laurens · 02-19-2006, 05:59 AM

Also works with Sunrise XP. The secure HTTPS version doesn't seem to work, though, so use http://rim.avantgo.com/rim. You need to log using IE as described by Alex earlier and enable "Send Internet Explorer cookies". No need to copy the cookie manually.

robinson · 02-19-2006, 08:07 AM

Say, I'm confused about what's changed! Or is this old news?

All of my iSilo channels, including about 8 avantgo ones, work fine, just as they have for months (a year plus even), without any need to circumvent the avantgo system by going through the rim entrance. What gives?

Maybe it's just a solution for the channels that we never got to work before. Or, perhaps it formats the ones we do pluck better?

Still, I think the lead-in post/notice here should be changed as it makes it sound as if avantgo has recently changed things in such a way that NONE of the old links work--and that's simply not true!

As always, Alexander your work on all this is to be complimented!

Alexander Turcic · 02-19-2006, 08:43 AM

Sorry for confusing you, robinson. What I meant to say is that the trial and error approach for finding URLs to newly added channels, or even some popular channels including Wired.com, would not work any longer as these channels are now located on AvantGo's own servers which restrict access based on IP addresses.

doctorow · 02-19-2006, 09:13 AM

Nice, but now that the cat is out, how long will it take them to "fix" this hole?

Zire · 02-21-2006, 12:15 AM

Alex...do you ever sleep?

lars · 02-22-2006, 06:34 PM

Dear God, THANK YOU, Alex!!! I've been going nuts trying to find out what was going on with Wired News and Jpluck. Now I know, and thanks to you, I've got it back on my Palm. Whew!

BTW, is everyone getting an occasional drill-down page from Wired News that contains only an ad graphic and no article?

...lars

gadgetguru · 03-09-2006, 01:40 PM

I haven't been able to use Sunrise and this trick to work these past two days, I was wondering if it was my connection or Avantgo has wisened up and plug the loophole...

Laurens · 03-09-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetguru

I haven't been able to use Sunrise and this trick to work these past two days, I was wondering if it was my connection or Avantgo has wisened up and plug the loophole...

Still works fine here. Maybe your login cookie has expired?

gadgetguru · 03-09-2006, 04:14 PM

I'll check it later. Thanks!

robinson · 03-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Really quite amazing! Appreciate the iSilo RIM Avantgo plucking directions. It's truly a masterpiece. It actually does mean that I can jettison Avantgo if I needed to (that will help with an old Clie with limited memory)... and avoid having to tap through their ad on the opening screen each time. (Now, if only Avantgo would update space.com regularly, then this would be the ticket.)

Thank you Alexander. I still think iSilo (and the other pluckers) should be giving you a commission on their sales!

Is there anyway of having iSilo *automatically* fetch certain content each day? Or does that require manually opening it up first?

brecklundin · 12-20-2007, 02:22 PM

thought since this thread gave me a GREAT tool for offline new browsing I would dredge it up from the tombs.

I have it running right now on my "reader" and have even added a couple RSS feeds too. Very nice and if I find I spend oodles of time using it I can upgrade to an account providing more bandwidth for like $19/yr.

I can say it formats GREAT on my nx73v running Palm OS 5.x, even includes some images, or not, as you decide. I really like that I was able to configure it to save the content to my memory stick not main memory. It updates via either the cradle or WiFi. I suspect it works via whatever internet connection your device supports. They also seem to have versions for several OS's too...

All in all a nice way to get more Kindle like content for free. After fiddling with it all AM I kinda like it.

02-18-2006, 06:22 PM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	AvantGo exposed! How to use AvantGo with any (offline) browser Anyone who's ever been eight years old has wondered the same thing: How to make those darn AvantGo channels work without the AvantGo browser. AvantGo boasts a large selection of channels where the URL is kept secret, so official channels are available only to AvantGo subscribers. While trial and error had traditionally been the main method of finding out the URLs, this approach came recently to an halt with AvantGo restricting access to its sync servers based on a range of IP numbers or network addresses. As a consequence popular channels such as the mobile edition of Wired.com stopped working with non-AvantGo browsers. The solution I present here is based on the customized RIM portal AvantGo offers to BlackBerry users. It works for both, online mobile browsers such as NetFront and Opera Mobile, and offline browsers such as iSilo. The only requirement is cookie support.

02-18-2006, 06:23 PM	#2
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	AvantGo with your mobile browser AvantGo with your mobile browser Get an account (which can be quite a nuisance) https://my.avantgo.com/register/account_form_1.html Subscribe to any of your favorite AvantGo channels https://my.avantgo.com/browse/ Login to the RIM version of AvantGo https://rim.avantgo.com/rim Change to non-secure URL if your mobile browser doesn't support HTTPS http://rim.avantgo.com/rim Browse to your liking

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02-19-2006, 01:11 AM	#4
Harpgliss Member Retired Posts: 149 Karma: 6287 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New Hudson,Mi. Device: TH55	Hi, WOW!!!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely amazing. I have already gotten Wired set back up and am working on a few others. Hope this does not get "fixed" like some of the other options you have found. David

02-19-2006, 05:59 AM	#5
Laurens Jah Blessed Posts: 1,295 Karma: 1373 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Netherlands Device: iPod Touch	Also works with Sunrise XP. The secure HTTPS version doesn't seem to work, though, so use http://rim.avantgo.com/rim. You need to log using IE as described by Alex earlier and enable "Send Internet Explorer cookies". No need to copy the cookie manually.

02-19-2006, 08:07 AM	#6
robinson Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 997293 Join Date: Jan 2003	Say, I'm confused about what's changed! Or is this old news? All of my iSilo channels, including about 8 avantgo ones, work fine, just as they have for months (a year plus even), without any need to circumvent the avantgo system by going through the rim entrance. What gives? Maybe it's just a solution for the channels that we never got to work before. Or, perhaps it formats the ones we do pluck better? Still, I think the lead-in post/notice here should be changed as it makes it sound as if avantgo has recently changed things in such a way that NONE of the old links work--and that's simply not true! As always, Alexander your work on all this is to be complimented!

02-19-2006, 08:43 AM	#7
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,171 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Sorry for confusing you, robinson. What I meant to say is that the trial and error approach for finding URLs to newly added channels, or even some popular channels including Wired.com, would not work any longer as these channels are now located on AvantGo's own servers which restrict access based on IP addresses.

02-19-2006, 09:13 AM	#8
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	Nice, but now that the cat is out, how long will it take them to "fix" this hole?

02-21-2006, 12:15 AM	#9
Zire Fanatic Posts: 522 Karma: 14050 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Astoria, NY Device: Zire 71	Alex...do you ever sleep?

02-22-2006, 06:34 PM	#10
lars Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2006 Device: Palm TX	Dear God, THANK YOU, Alex!!! I've been going nuts trying to find out what was going on with Wired News and Jpluck. Now I know, and thanks to you, I've got it back on my Palm. Whew! BTW, is everyone getting an occasional drill-down page from Wired News that contains only an ad graphic and no article? ...lars

03-09-2006, 01:40 PM	#11
gadgetguru Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 6370 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Asia Device: Tungsten T5	I haven't been able to use Sunrise and this trick to work these past two days, I was wondering if it was my connection or Avantgo has wisened up and plug the loophole...

03-09-2006, 04:14 PM	#13
gadgetguru Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 6370 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Asia Device: Tungsten T5	I'll check it later. Thanks!

03-30-2006, 11:39 AM	#14
robinson Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 997293 Join Date: Jan 2003	Really quite amazing! Appreciate the iSilo RIM Avantgo plucking directions. It's truly a masterpiece. It actually does mean that I can jettison Avantgo if I needed to (that will help with an old Clie with limited memory)... and avoid having to tap through their ad on the opening screen each time. (Now, if only Avantgo would update space.com regularly, then this would be the ticket.) Thank you Alexander. I still think iSilo (and the other pluckers) should be giving you a commission on their sales! Is there anyway of having iSilo automatically fetch certain content each day? Or does that require manually opening it up first?

Advert

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12-20-2007, 02:22 PM	#15
brecklundin Banned Posts: 1,906 Karma: 15348 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: mine	thought since this thread gave me a GREAT tool for offline new browsing I would dredge it up from the tombs. I have it running right now on my "reader" and have even added a couple RSS feeds too. Very nice and if I find I spend oodles of time using it I can upgrade to an account providing more bandwidth for like $19/yr. I can say it formats GREAT on my nx73v running Palm OS 5.x, even includes some images, or not, as you decide. I really like that I was able to configure it to save the content to my memory stick not main memory. It updates via either the cradle or WiFi. I suspect it works via whatever internet connection your device supports. They also seem to have versions for several OS's too... All in all a nice way to get more Kindle like content for free. After fiddling with it all AM I kinda like it.