I just tested changing user agents in Chrome - setting UA to a random string like "fff" gets a search page, but setting it to "Links" or "Lynx" gets "Your browser isn't supported anymore" - which is to say, this doesn't look accidental, but more like these UAs are specifically being blocked.
EDIT: Forging user agent in Links (with links -http.fake-user-agent) gets a usable homepage, but the results page just sends you to a turn-on-your-javascript page.
I wonder to what extent visually disabled internet users are affected by this, since I can imagine at least some of them using lynx with an on-screen reader for a terminal emulator.
Ask someone who is visually impaired. I know that they historically use browsers that do not support JavaScript. I also am acquainted with one developer who uses software for reading his terminal outloud, although I never asked the specifics of what he uses for web browsing or IRC for that matter. I do know that he loves the iPhone.
That said, I just found this post by a blind person who uses Lynx and complained about it the last time Google broke Lynx support:
maybe this is a knee-jerk reaction but I don't see any good reason for this. At it's core Google's job is to take an input and list outputs. The marketshare of people using lynx is small enough that whatever advertising or ai extras they want to squeeze in won't be meaningfully impacted by not working on lynx.
I just tested changing user agents in Chrome - setting UA to a random string like "fff" gets a search page, but setting it to "Links" or "Lynx" gets "Your browser isn't supported anymore" - which is to say, this doesn't look accidental, but more like these UAs are specifically being blocked.
EDIT: Forging user agent in Links (with links -http.fake-user-agent) gets a usable homepage, but the results page just sends you to a turn-on-your-javascript page.
Try http://frogfind.com/
Server error
Seems like elinks is affected too...bummer!
I wonder to what extent visually disabled internet users are affected by this, since I can imagine at least some of them using lynx with an on-screen reader for a terminal emulator.
What's the advantage of using lynx as opposed to Chrome/Safari and using the read aloud features?
Ask someone who is visually impaired. I know that they historically use browsers that do not support JavaScript. I also am acquainted with one developer who uses software for reading his terminal outloud, although I never asked the specifics of what he uses for web browsing or IRC for that matter. I do know that he loves the iPhone.
That said, I just found this post by a blind person who uses Lynx and complained about it the last time Google broke Lynx support:
https://blind.guru/blog/2019-11-25-endofgoogle.html
maybe this is a knee-jerk reaction but I don't see any good reason for this. At it's core Google's job is to take an input and list outputs. The marketshare of people using lynx is small enough that whatever advertising or ai extras they want to squeeze in won't be meaningfully impacted by not working on lynx.
Edit: corrected spelling error
Google's job is to sell ads, not provide accessibility to text-only browsers.
(for the record I grow to dislike g more every day, and also this move)
Internet marketers can misuse this to send lot of automated requests instead of paying for API access.
Related discussion earlier this year:
Google begins requiring JavaScript for Google Search
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42747092
Suggest changing title to something along lines of "Tell HN: Accessing google in lynx now shows unsupported"
Maybe, like in 2019 when a similar submission got traction, you'll be able to get it restored.
(I am no longer able to use Google with Lynx https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21626995)
Is Google exempted from the ADA?
Safari offers https://www.apple.com/accessibility/ features, so I'm pretty sure someone with visual disability can access google no issues.
Seriously? Apple only?
But Linux! And *BSD! Or some Illumos.
Or in general just some effin textmode terminal, running whatever is able to run Lynx/Links/Elinks(2?).