[browser] Can't download random files

[Albert Astals Cid]

I am trying to download a foo.tar.xz file and the browser won't let me.

My use case:
 * Wifi driver in laptop is broken
 * Phone can download stuff
 * Download driver, pass it via adb, mtp or some other way to laptop
 * Be happy again

This is an hypothetic scenario but i have had this in the past.

UX specification: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Qrd4Flfs3EH-fI79IfrYgLdAx2nce-L7ve8NKLCX324/edit#slide=id.g1da5cf439_00

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

To elaborate a bit more on what happens: when trying to download a file that no installed application knows how to handle, the user is presented with a message from the content hub saying exactly that, and a cancel button. The user is not allowed to download a random file with no associated application.

I don’t know what the proper solution to this problem is. Maybe make the file manager app able to handle any file type by default?

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

Why not just save it to Downloads and inform the user in addition "File will be saved to Downloads area"
The problem is there is no local UI to view or delete. If the browser grew a download viewer that would resolve it for me.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

That would require the browser to advertise itself as a content handler for any type of file, which as a consequence would also show it as a handler when trying to download a file from another application.

In any case we’ll need design guidance, adding an ubuntu-ux task.

[Giorgio Venturi (giorgio-venturi-deactivatedaccount)]

We will have a downloads folder for the browser post-rtm. It will be available through the content-hub.
Design is already completed.

[Jean-Baptiste Lallement (jibel)]

This affects downloading zip files from 7Digital which is one of the main music provider in the music scope. So user purchases music and cannot download it.

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

That specific use case is being supported per bug 1365993
This bug is for files that cannot really be used on the device

[Pat McGowan (pat-mcgowan)]

Can we fit this in for the next ota?

[TenLeftFingers (tenleftfingers)]

I think this is the same issue so I'll add it here. Please let me know if I should file a separate bug:

Avi does not work at all because the browser asks which app to open with, but only suggests the Gallery app. It then downloads the .avi to .cache/com.ubuntu.gallery/HubIncoming/4/
The Gallery app doesn't show the movie afterwards so it is inaccessible and difficult to delete unless you know how to use the terminal.

[Olivier Tilloy (osomon)]

@TenLeftFingers: this is related indeed. Although the fact that the gallery app doesn’t show the file afterwards seems to be a bug in the gallery app itself (or maybe an unsupported codec?). Feel free to file a bug at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gallery-app/+filebug with details on the file you’re downloading.

[lepidas blades rompolos (lepidas)]

I tested wget and can download a .png for example

[Timo Jyrinki (timo-jyrinki)]

webbrowser-app (0.23+15.04.20151221-0ubuntu1) vivid; urgency=medium

  [ Michael Sheldon ]
  * Add support for handling downloads internally within the browser.
    (LP: #1354391)

 -- CI Train Bot <email address hidden> Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:39:36 +0000

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package webbrowser-app - 0.23+16.04.20151221-0ubuntu1

---------------
webbrowser-app (0.23+16.04.20151221-0ubuntu1) xenial; urgency=medium

  [ Michael Sheldon ]
  * Add support for handling downloads internally within the browser.
    (LP: #1354391)

 -- CI Train Bot <email address hidden> Mon, 21 Dec 2015 20:39:36 +0000