Tabbed Browsing in Opera Mini

Windows Mobile users have long be able to enjoy the feature rich, amped up browsing experience delivered by Opera Mini.  However, to enjoy it one had to have Java installed on their phone as well.  This was okay in many cases, but could present a couple of problems, including:

• no Java Runtime for your phone model
• slower performance due to runtime use

This all changed with Opera’s new release of Opera Mini 5.  Although it is still in beta, this update is available to any Windows Mobile user who wants to try it out.  You can check out further details below, as well as get the information on how to download it to your phone.

Oslo, Norway – March 4, 2010

Opera Software today launched a native version of Opera Mini 5 beta for Windows Mobile 5- and 6-based handsets.

By integrating Opera Mini with the Windows Mobile platform, Opera is able to deliver an optimized version of the popular Opera Mini browser that dramatically improves performance and the overall user experience. While Opera Mini traditionally requires Java, the new Windows Mobile version does not, which means that Opera Mini will work on any Windows Mobile phone.

The Opera Mini 5 beta for Windows Mobile includes the same rich feature set as the Java-based version. Renowned features, including tabbed browsing, the password manager, bookmarks and Speed Dial, are built-in to deliver convenience while on-the-go.

One of Opera Mini’s major benefits is that it compresses data traffic by up to 90 percent, resulting in significantly improved page-loading and speed. This results in a dramatically reduced data load, which can translate to lower browsing costs when on a pay-per-MB data plan or when on expensive roaming.

“Windows Mobile deserves a mobile browser that looks better, handles better and delivers better than the default browser,” said Dag Olav Norem, Vice President of Products, Opera Software. “Even though Opera has 50 million satisfied Opera Mini users, we always seek ways to improve our browser for each and every mobile phone user out there. Now, we are pleased to offer the world’s most popular mobile Web browser as a native Windows Mobile application.”
Download

Windows Mobile 5 and 6 users can download Opera Mini directly to their phone for free from m.opera.com/next/ or read more at www.opera.com/mini/next/. Java is not required on the mobile phone for this download.
About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera’s cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. Learn more about Opera at http://www.opera.com/.

I have been using MicroB, the default web browser for the Nokia N900, for a couple of months now. It is hands down the best web browser I have ever used on a mobile device. Being a power user, I thought I knew everything there was to know about using the browser until I stumbled upon an article on WAP Review that really breaks down the basics of MicroB.

I learned some new shortcuts that are possible using the keyboard that really come in handy during daily usage. My favorite shortcut is using the backspace key to go back one page. The weakest part of MicroB to me is the lag when you use the back icon because it brings a visual history of recent webpages. Using the backspace key makes going back much faster, so this is my new favorite, even if I do have to slide out the keyboard to use it.

So, if you are interested in finding out some more about the Nokia N900 browser or you just want to make sure you are taking advantage of the shortcuts available to you, head over to WAP Review and check it out.

Alas, the never ending search for a desk top browser experience on the smallest of screens, your phone. Once again prompted by updates, I’m having a look at the Skyfire browser for Windows mobile.

With this latest update I’ve decided to go a bit deeper into the application, so let’s see how it goes.

Skyfire is one of those browsers that is not completely dependent on your device, but uses cloud technology to serve you a compressed version of the web through their own third party servers. Much like Opera Mini, and recently, the Opera Mobile 9.7 Beta.

First up I’d mention that this will work equally as well from a storage card as installed to your device, so if you are being miserly with storage space [like me] you’ll already appreciate this. You may also notice, from the screenshot above, that since Skyfire came out of beta, it’s received even more update love. Every tweak helps right? It’s good to know that this is a well supported application,

The first screen or option you’ll be presented with is a choice to make Skyfire the default browser, I chose no for now, knowing I can change that later, to test with other apps. First up though, I want to see how it performs on it’s own. One of the most striking things about Skyfire is what it comes with/ the default bookmarks, that give you access to all sorts of services with no set up at all.

There’s also a today screen plug in included in this iteration, a nice touch. One of my little negatives with Skyfire has always been the fact that you cannot import bookmarks to the browser in any way. Well unless it’s a very elusive option. You will have to manually enter the URL of all of your most read sites, something that may be off putting to a lot of users.

BUT, and it’s a big but, for usability and intuitiveness, Skyfire goes all the way up to eleven for me. The amount of settings/options you have to configure are as minimalistic as I’ve seen

Everything else is configured through the browser interface and shortcuts, and it’s really self explanatory. All of the menu shortcuts go no deeper than two levels, keeping with the simplicity of the program. Performance though is what everyone is going to judge this app on, so I.ve done a screen cap video that gives a relative speed comparison for you to look at.

Overall, performance is the key, Skyfire plays video, is really quick to load and even runs JAMM 3.0 with it’s animated home page, no other WinMo browser does all of that. Another performance not here is that it’s doing all of that on my Tilt/HTC Kaiser. If you are looking for a better internet experience on Windows Mobile you have to give this a try

Skyfire is available for free, for Windows Mobile and Symbian devices

Just a heads up, Iris has been updated again, although it’s a minor update and only includes minor, and the inevitable bug fixes, if you are using it you’ll want to update!

You can download the beta update Here

You have to repeat the process you followed initially to acquire the program, but it’s well worth the effort. I’m slowly adding all of my most used bookmarks to the beta and using it more and more. Actually, Iris is still not supported for my part of the world, but it’s working fine.

I’d still like to see the ability to add existing bookmarks from other mobile browsers added, but it is actually rendering pages faster than the latest Opera 9.5 Beta, and maintains all of your current settings on update installation.

One other Query I have, if I register for  the Beta every time I download it, why do I not get any email notification of updates? Just a little irk I have!

Check it out and see if you like it!

There’s been a huge amount of Windows Mobile Browser news over the past week, courtesy of the MWC. Also our friend Werner over at SmartPhoneMag has put up a full list of all the browser news, and his insights as to the current situation with Windows Mobile browsing. One of the  browsers, Iris from Torch mobile, is finally out of Beta and ready for public consumption, and it’s still free.

I have tried out Iris many a time through it’s development, and of course it didn’t last, install, try, uninstall you know the drill. Although, as with all mobile browsers, the rule of thumb is to deliver the closest thing to a desktop browsing experience on a mobile phone, as possible.

Market leaders in the Mobile browser world, Opera, have defined the feature set, paradigm, for what we expect from a WinMo browser, and all other browser developers, including Microsoft have been playing catch up for quite a while. As most WinMo users are using Opera mobile for a comparison platform for a browser, any software that comes close for free is going to be a viable option, in steps Iris…

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