01 June, 2007

The complete guide for using OpenPandora outside US with Tor

Since Pandora started blocking users outside US some solutions where proposed, but only one made to the top - Tor.

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Tor can help you anonymize web browsing, by bouncing communication around a distributed network of servers called onion routers.
This is nice, but how this helps?
If the communication is bounced over network of servers and the last server that forwards communication located in US, Pandora will think that the user himself is located in US and will not block him.

So what we need is to force last server to be in US and use Tor only for communication with Pandora. This is done in four simple steps:
  1. Install Tor.

    Got to http://tor.eff.org/download-windows.html.en and download just Tor (marked for experts only), or use this link http://tor.eff.org/dist/win32/tor-0.1.2.14-win32.exe.
  2. Update torrc file.

    Open torrc file from Start->Programs->Tor and add paste at the bottom

    StrictExitNodes 1
    exitnodes desync,whistlersmother,lefkada,bettyboop,croeso,TorLuwakOrg,nixnix,inap1,redpineapple,cronic,sasquatch,slowturtle2


    This will force the last server to be located in US.
  3. Create tor.pac file. I have created it directly under c: drive (c:\tor.pac).
    Start by creating new text file. Open it in Notepad and paste

    function FindProxyForURL(url, host)
    {
    if (shExpMatch(host, "www.pandora.com")) return "SOCKS 127.0.0.1:9050";
    return "DIRECT";
    }


    Rename it tor.pac.

    Alternatively you can download my tor.pac from here: http://openpandora.googlepages.com/tor.pac.
  4. Set tor.pac to be used for automatic configuration in Internet Explorer.

    Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools->Internet Options.
    Select Connections tab.
    Open Lan Settings by pressing the button.
    Check/Select 'Use automatic configuration script'.
    Write in Address "file://" following the tor.pac file name with full path. I wrote "file://c:\tor.pac" (without the quotation marks).

Now you activate Tor from Start->Programs->Tor->Tor and run OpenPandora. It will take some time until Pandora will load, but when it loads the music never stops.


24 May, 2007

Patched version 0.6.8 - Support for Pandora new layout

Patched version 0.6.8 is ready.

It fixes the layout problem after recent changes to Pandora layout.
This is only an initial fix and an official update will come later.

Remark: The OpenPandora update mechanizm will try to load this page http://openpandora.googlepages.com/download/, but due to a problem with GooglePages it will not be recognized. The correct URL is this one http://openpandora.googlepages.com/download, without the slash (/) at the end. This is a new issue with GooglePages and I hope they will fix it soon.

Enjoy your music.



23 May, 2007

New pants for Pandora

Pandora just changed the look of their site and the player, slightly broking OpenPandora.

The new site does look much better, also adding more functionality to the player.
I'm working on a patched version. Stay tuned.

-Enjoy your music.

14 May, 2007

Some good news

Stealing the title from Pandora blog, but adding some real good news:

You can use OpenPandora even outside US. Thanks for the blog commenters for finding the solution.
You have to install Hotspot Shield and that all enter under proxy settings host 127.0.0.1 and port 895.

And back to Pandora with some new features:
  • Volume normalization (finally!)
  • Tune shared station for your taste using thumbs up and down
  • Now you can move station even from shared station and QuickMix
  • Backstage is available back for all users, even those outside US.
  • and more
Enjoy your music.

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08 May, 2007

What's next?

Now that Pandora closed their gates and plugged out the cable for connections outside US, they simply made us search for an alternative.

Share the community with your alternatives. Just add a comment to this post.

06 May, 2007

Public Proxies

You can use public CGI-PROXY located in US to surf the net as if you was surfing in US.

Some random proxies can be found here: http://tools.rosinstrument.com/cgi-proxy.htm. Just type the site you want to reach, like http://pandora.com.

Use this trick to play Pandora outside US.