IP sensing website

[Longname]

Hi -
I like to read lifehacker.com but every time I try to go to lifehacker.com the website does an country IP sense and 'kindly' switches me to the Japanese website.

For example I can't get to this link because the website keeps redirecting me to the Japanese site.
http://lifehacker.com/#!5791208/run-you ... offee-shop

I am using Firefox 4 but same thing happens in every other browser.

Appreciate any help. Thanks.

[Mike Oxlong]

See the little flag thumbnail pics on the upper right side of the screen, next to the Twitter, Facebook and RSS buttons? Click the flag of the US or another where English is the lingua franca.

[6810]

Thought about using a proxy site? Long ago I was IP banned from a music forum (shared a link, sigh) but regularly visit via a proxy server. They go up and down all the time, so just google and find one you like.

[omae mona]

See the little flag thumbnail pics on the upper right side of the screen, next to the Twitter, Facebook and RSS buttons? Click the flag of the US or another where English is the lingua franca.

The problem is that by the time that flag appears, you've been redirected to the top page. So the flag takes you to the English top page, not the article you were trying to link to.

My usual workaround is to copy the URL, paste it in your browser, and change the hostname portion to "us.lifehacker.com". This will get you directly to the article you wanted.

It is also possible that if you register for an account on lifehacker.com, it might store your language preference in a cookie so links work properly. But that's just a guess. I haven't tried.

[Longname]

Thought about using a proxy site? Long ago I was IP banned from a music forum (shared a link, sigh) but regularly visit via a proxy server. They go up and down all the time, so just google and find one you like.

Thanks - proxy is more of a solution if you can't get to a website at all for various reasons.

This is not that type of situation.

The problem is that by the time that flag appears, you've been redirected to the top page. So the flag takes you to the English top page, not the article you were trying to link to.

My usual workaround is to copy the URL, paste it in your browser, and change the hostname portion to "us.lifehacker.com". This will get you directly to the article you wanted.

It is also possible that if you register for an account on lifehacker.com, it might store your language preference in a cookie so links work properly. But that's just a guess. I haven't tried.

Sorry but I don't think your 'usual workaround' actually works. If you try it with the link I posted you will see that the website continues to switch you to the Japanese. I will try registering and see how that goes.

[omae mona]

Sorry but I don't think your 'usual workaround' actually works. If you try it with the link I posted you will see that the website continues to switch you to the Japanese. I will try registering and see how that goes.

Sorry to hear that. It is working for me. Believe me - I tried it before I posted, to make sure I was not sending you down the wrong track. Are you saying when you use this url, you still get a Japanese page?

http://us.lifehacker.com/#!5791208/run-your-home-network-like-a-coffee-shop

That works perfectly for me. I see a nice English article called "Run Your Home Network Like a Coffee Shop for Easier Guest Access and Family-Friendly Browsing". And I haven't registered. All I did was put "us." at the front of the hostname in the URL. If the above link doesn't work for you, then I can't even guess what's going on.

[Mike Oxlong]

I just click on the flag to get the language pref I want, get redirected to the main page in my prefered lang, and then do use the Lifehacker search function to find the article I want. Once I've set the lang I want, subsequent visits to the page are always in that language, so I only need to click the flag and search for the article once before being directed straight to articles I click on in the future.

[omae mona]

I just click on the flag to get the language pref I want, get redirected to the main page in my prefered lang, and then do use the Lifehacker search function to find the article I want. Once I've set the lang I want, subsequent visits to the page are always in that language, so I only need to click the flag and search for the article once before being directed straight to articles I click on in the future.

well, I'll be darned. It *is* remembering my language setting now after clicking on the flag. I swear this was not working before. By coincidence, I was struggling with this exact issue several days before Longname started this thread. Probably I was drunk or wasn't clicking the link hard enough. Thanks Mike.

[Longname]

Yes. it appears Mike has solved the anomaly. After clicking the flag (which I never noticed before) the website stays in the language and country of choice. I am glad I asked so big thank you to Mike and everybody who contributed.