Discussion: Future of Browsing with old machines: Proxies

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

I came across this post in the VintageApple subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageApp...ered_this_for_my_lcii_time_to_venture_out_on/

Down in the comments, was this link to a method of displaying web sites on ancient browsers using a proxy:
https://virtuallyfun.superglobalmegacorp.com/2014/03/03/surfing-modern-web-with-ancient-browsers/

It made me realize that with the exception of HD and 4K video (which itself could be downsized to a playable resolution), we could practically be using our PowerMacs to browse the internet forever.

What do you guys think about that prospect?

 

[eyoungren]

I came across this post in the VintageApple subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageApp...ered_this_for_my_lcii_time_to_venture_out_on/

Down in the comments, was this link to a method of displaying web sites on ancient browsers using a proxy:
https://virtuallyfun.superglobalmegacorp.com/2014/03/03/surfing-modern-web-with-ancient-browsers/

It made me realize that with the exception of HD and 4K video (which itself could be downsized to a playable resolution), we could practically be using our PowerMacs to browse the internet forever.

What do you guys think about that prospect?

I think it's one solution.

Classila, which is made by the same guy who gives us TenFourFox runs on OS9 and functions by using a mobile device user agent. So that is another solution.

You can also change the UA of TenFourFox itself as well as some other OS X browsers. Changing it to a mobile device UA is also a solution.

Cameron Kaiser has stated that once he abandons source parity T4Fx will continue on with feature parity. T4FX will be with us still for quite a while.

I have no desire to browse Google with Internet Explorer when I have T4Fx.

But, the final solution for me, at some point will be a Mac Pro. I'm behind the curve but I've just advanced to late 2005/early 2006. We'll see how many years I have left yet.

 

[Dronecatcher]

Funny you should mention that - this popped up on Youtube the other day....

 

[1042686]

Isn't that the Castlevania sound track?

Pardon the stupid question to what seems like common knowledge to all of you wizards but how does a proxy work at rendering today's web so it will run on an old ppc box? I thought they were about top secret surfing?

 

[dustinschings]

As someone who just got an amazing deal on a 600MHz G3 iBook 12", I will be testing this method this week. Possibly tonight.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

It's a solution for gimmick's sake, really.

Pardon the stupid question to what seems like common knowledge to y'all PPC geniuses but how does a proxy work at making today's web run on an old ppc box?

The proxy does the heavy lifting and calculations and formatting and serves up images to the receiver.

Old browsers don't know how to do HTML 5. So the proxy does it for them.

Obviously, crazy JavaScript won't work. But there's probably a way it could be done.

Think of it as an emulator from new codes and formats to old HTML 3 formats your PPC can display without being confused.

 

[eyoungren]

Pardon the stupid question to what seems like common knowledge to all of you wizards but how does a proxy work at rendering today's web so it will run on an old ppc box? I thought they were about top secret surfing?

Back in the day, Opera (the Opera Browser) had a 'turbo' feature. Essentially, the browser intercepted everything and sent it to Opera's servers. There everything was processed and 'optimized' and then spat back out to your browser.

You got low res images, optimized (and lower res) video and optimized code. Which if you were just browsing quickly was fine, but not for streaming video of any quality of viewing higher resolution images.

Essentially, it was just as Eriamjh1138@DAN described - a proxy server that sat between your browser and the web. It worked then because a lot of people were still using dialup to connect to the internet.

Once cable and DSL became much more popular this kind of thing stopped being a thing.

But as a solution for older Macs/PCs it's a pretty good idea.

 

[1042686]

Lol I remember those "turbo" solutions back in the late 90s. IIRC AOL had one too. So it's a VM server storing up websites you frequent in a format old ppc macs understand as to help speed them up. That makes sense why there is such a slow down in the beginning (proxy DL'n the page). Does this process maintain content as well ie: links, clickable pictures etc.? The other thing is using a proxy, wouldn't it just display the same old content? The video IIRC does not show any use of the page content beyond scrolling. I assume there's a way to update field specific content within stored webpages so you don't get that opening lag each time.

I agree it is a cool use of an old idea to bring functionality to old ppc machines if/when that's all ya got. Gives me an excuse to pick up a cheap old ibookg3 to break. Anyhow thanks for helping me to understand how it works (ppcmac chat fellas too)

 

[Dronecatcher]

This solutions renders the entire page as a GIF, with an image map to retain all the clickable links plus it keeps input fields etc.

I think this method is best suited to 68K hardware and similar era machines.

 

[1042686]

This solutions renders the entire page as a GIF, with an image map to retain all the clickable links plus it keeps input fields etc.

I think this method is best suited to 68K hardware and similar era machines.

Is an input field is where new content is downloaded so the website image is not static?

 

[eyoungren]

Is an input field is where new content is downloaded so the website image is not static?

I think you're misunderstanding.

The proxy server may store content so it can serve it up faster to you, but if content on the site changes it will update that and send it to you.

This wouldn't be something for sites that are constanstly changing content over the course of seconds.

As far an input fields, he's meaning boxes where you type in content, such as a username or password.

 

[1042686]

Oh so the proxy is smart in the sense that it automatically updates stored websites? Duh I should have assumed this. Smarter people than I thinking up these great ideas

 

[Orizence]

Im still thinking of trying this by using my MacMini which is already used as an iTunes server anyways, but I cant really think of any websites that I visit that I cant use anyways on my G5.

Now my question is would this allow you to use websites such as forums or blogspot\blogger and still post?

 

[Slix]

Opera Turbo is still around in the latest renditions of the Opera browser. It's really nice for slower networks, for sure. I wonder though, if someone were to make a web browser with a built in proxy (a la Opera Turbo) with up to date HTML5 functionality, how well it would work, say, over TenFourFox, especially moving forward. It's a shame the last Operas that worked on PowerPCs are so out of date by now.

 

[TheMrKocour]

Isn't that the Castlevania sound track?

Pardon the stupid question to what seems like common knowledge to all of you wizards but how does a proxy work at rendering today's web so it will run on an old ppc box? I thought they were about top secret surfing?

Music was made in 80s at Czechoslovakia, first one is composed by author and second is Commando from C64 remade on Sinclair ZX Spectrum with AY-3-8912.