Best GPRS & WIFI browser - Windows Mobile Development and Hacking General

Hi guys;
I redcently re flashed my hermes and foolishly didnt take a backup of the browser i was using. Im after a browser that I can use without a stylus and that offers iphone like full page browsing. I realise that the features I want are bandwidth heavy but I mostly use WIFI for web browsing anyway.
Thanks

Um. That's awfully vague, but I'll give it a shot anyways.
These are the best browsers out right now, maybe one will ring a bell.
Opera 9.5 beta
Skyfire
Ibis Browser
Iris Browser
Opera Mini 4.1 or 4.0
Netfront Browser 3.5

I like NetFront 3.5 the best...but it will put a beating on your battery.

Related

What is the best web browser for WM5 (Wizard)

hi, i am using IE right now since opera has expiered and right now i need to choose a web browser. can u people recomand/suggest good browser. the best would be free
can u just tell what u are using and give like where u got it.
cheers, matt
Do you good to read this thread started by me http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=44177
Now mainly use Opera mini (java app) because its small and fast and compresses web pages so less download costs, and ftx browser which is a pie bolt on but faster, with tabs and does not have that annoying keyboard pop-up problem
Cheers

best webbrowser for the wizard?

today at the university I tried out the wlan capabilitys of my device and it was a great experience sitting in the cafeteria and surfing at some news sites with that little fellow when all the others used big laptops occupying all their tablespace :lol:
I used the internet explorer first and then tried out the mozilla minimo browser. IE was "ok" and minimo just sucked with the handling and speed. I also know there's an opera version but I never tried it online. any other good browsers out there? any favs? :wink:
A lot of people seem to agree that Opera 8.6 is a really good browser. It's not free though. You get a 30 day trial, but after that you must pay for it. It's 24USD I beleive.
Try Thunderhawk. http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/
I've been using Thunderhawk ( http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/index.html ) with great success. I absolutely love it. They route all traffic through their servers and software so you end up with the web page designed for your desktop rendered nearly perfectly on your Pocket PC.
The methods they use reduce all graphics to a size managable by our devices without any drop in quality. Pages load extremely fast and I'm just using my T-Mobile internet connection. Between it and IE, just isn't even a contest.
I have not used Opera though, so I can't comment on it. But I highly reccomend trying Thunderhawk.
I don't have the Screenshot program installed on my device, but here are a couple of pics I snapped so that you can see the layout. First is DrudeReport.com and I'm sure you're familiar with the second. :wink:
B**tard! You beat me to it!
but thunderhawk is not free!
I use PIEPlus, which is very nice.
Thanks guys I will check out both, thunderhawk and pieplus. But actually pieplus doesn't seem to be free either.
Let me extend my question at this point
Which cool and usefull internetrelated software do you use on your wizard?
Also give Netfront 3.3 a trial though it is not free.
I am using it and am very satisfied with it. Specially if you surf the web with a fast WiFi connection then sites with flash animations really turn out great. It is the only WM5 browser with flash support.
Regards
Opera 8.6.
I used others but this one allowed me to run java scripts that PIE couldn't.
I can use it on my banking sites and other secured sites that other have had trouble or simply don't work.
It is worth the money. IMO.
thunderhawk vs Opera? Anybody?
Opera Mini 2.0
It's a Java App. and it's free.
Go to mini.opera.com on PIE and download and install.
To me it has the fastest and best performance when compared to native WM browsers. I use it daily... the only time I don't use it is when I want to look at an animated radar image. That is about the only limitation to Opera Mini... no animated images. You can still download files, and save images from it. 8)
To be honest I have stuck with PIE. Opera does format a little better but considering you now have to pay for it I will stick with PIE.

Emulation of iPhone Browser? Why not?

This question always crossed my mind, how come nobody has emulated the iPhone web browser? I've tried IE, Opera, and the mobile Firefox but they're all junk compared to the mobile Safari - mainly because of the finger movements that make it super easy to navigate. This is really the only advantage other than GUI "swiftness" the iPhone has.
Please discuss, and if your response is "why dunt u buy an itele lolz", you totally missed the point.
you have to try picsel browser, some ppl say its better than safari,
and about opera, if you tried opera mobile you have the wrong version because opera mini is the one you want to have. It is not very finger friendly but it is very fast and also very good to use with d-pad
cheers
well i only use opera mobile mini is not really my cop of tea
Look at skyfire.com. It's not out yet, but seems promising!
jv
Anyone know if skyfire is a proxy? or is it just a different engine? WebDAV?
johnnyv5 said:
Look at skyfire.com. It's not out yet, but seems promising!
jv
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does, nice demo.
Thanks, SkyFire looks very nice! I'm using Opera atm because it's the only half-decent browser I've found - however the zoom features suck because it can't render text correctly and you can't browse as swiftly compared to Safari. However SkyFire is very interesting, I'll be looking into this further.
Cheers
Saw in the Hermes thread that the WM6.1 PIE has an option that allows you to view the entire webpage then tap to zoom in on a certain portion of it. Sound familiar?
Wonder whatever happened to M$ deepfish browser? I wasn't one of the lucky ones who got on the beta test list. And I don't see anything new posted on the project website.
Is there any way to fool PIE into telling a site that it is an iPhone??
I know it's possible to get PIE to broadcast that it is a desktop, so why not an iPhone??
gregoryx said:
Anyone know if skyfire is a proxy? or is it just a different engine? WebDAV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is proxy-based . However, it is the best browser Ive seen for a mobile device to-date. They have a video on YouTube & it looks very promising. Definitely better than Safari because it not only supports AJAX, but full FLASH 8 & 9 as well. If you access ESPN.com, you can actually see the video's of the highlights to the right of the page just like you would on a regular desktop.
gregoryx said:
Anyone know if skyfire is a proxy? or is it just a different engine? WebDAV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is proxy-based . However, it is the best browser Ive seen for a mobile device to-date. They have a video on YouTube & it looks very promising. Definitely better than Safari because it not only supports AJAX, but full FLASH 8 & 9 as well. If you access ESPN.com, you can actually see the video's of the highlights to the right of the page just like you would on a regular desktop. Full sound & everything! Ive just been waiting for them to send my invitation since I signed up 2wks ago.
Well... Opera Mobile 9.5 will be released in a week or so. It's much better than Safari
Pisel would be just as good as safari - correction, better - if it supported flash. My only two gripes with picsel is the inability to view flash, and not being able to set it as my default browser. Its fast, the nearly-limitless zooming beats the pants off of anything available now or in near future. If I'm not planning to edit them, i open my text files with it too. :thumbsup:
Before we get Opera 9.5, the top two browsers in terms of speed are Netfront 3.5 followed by Opera Mini 4.
Netfront is way better than Picsel browser. Picsel is slooooww. It also have memory full problem, on top of other bugs.
I hve done some bencemark between all these browser in the Athena forum, if you're interested.
i been playing around with netfront... and im very impressed... its prob the fastest browser per load time... and its browsing is very nice allowing finger movements... also double tap on screen to zoom out of the page
which in turn opens up a window and allows u to use a nav box to scroll along the bigger portions of the page... i highly recommend for people to try it out ....
Edit: Netfront also has full ajax2.0 support

IE vs Picsel vs Opera

MODS: If this is not the correct forum feel free to move.
I have been using IE with the pocket plus features like tabs, smart scrolling, etc. but have been hearing a lot about the other browsers. I put Opera on for a couple days, but I think I was doing something wrong. Here are my questions:
1. How much space do they all take and can IE be removed if I go with one of the others?
2. Which is better on speed (any proof, or does it just feel faster?)
3. Do Picsel & Opera both have thumb scrolling & extra tabs without 3rd party app?
I would add NetFront 3.5 in this comparision as well.
Ghost26 said:
MODS: If this is not the correct forum feel free to move.
I have been using IE with the pocket plus features like tabs, smart scrolling, etc. but have been hearing a lot about the other browsers. I put Opera on for a couple days, but I think I was doing something wrong. Here are my questions:
1. How much space do they all take and can IE be removed if I go with one of the others?
2. Which is better on speed (any proof, or does it just feel faster?)
3. Do Picsel & Opera both have thumb scrolling & extra tabs without 3rd party app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) IE can be removed, but some of the files are used by system programs, and it is minute anyway.
2) PIE is the slowest, and the least accurate at page rendering, although I haven't used Picsel that much so I can't comment... Opera Mobile is brilliant! (Opear Mini, the one that runs in Java is great for not eating your data allowance).
3) Opera Mobile has thumb/finger scrolling, and tabs, not sure about Picsel though... Opera mini doesn't have tabs, and may not do thumb scrolling although I don't use it that much...
Out of those three, Opera Mobile is probably the best, but NetFront 3.5 SMOKES Opera Mobile.
yeah but netfront uses to much resources. if you even have it minumized it would slow down your device
what are the differences between opera mobile & opera mini?
Can they be used effectively without esmertec java [over 2MB] ?
For the record I did read the wiki on web browsers, but I had some more specific questions that I cant find the answers to and you guys have always been helpful
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NetFront <---
&
opera mini == a java applet which is made to run on all phones with java
from nokia to htc phones with touchscreen
opera mobile is a native windows mobile application which only runs on that platform
native apps in general are better intergrated with the os and is often faster
pie is in the rom and if one removes it one have to cook a rom without
it and as said other programs depend on the files being there
and removing stuff from the dedicated rom space dont give more storage
Netfront CPU issues have been resolved with build 519, just redownload from the Access Website. PIE is the slowest and renders the worst, proof is in the testing done by the great Menneisyys here
You should read up on all his articles and Bibles, there's so much information he offers. Btw, trash Picsel. Just trash it.
Take your pick between Opera Mobile, Opera Mini, NetFront, and possibly SkyFire .
In general
Opera Mobile - high CPU usage, good compliance, speed varies greatly depending on device (so you'll have to try it for yourself). Grab the MAXSD cab of build 1126 to test.
Opera Mini - FAST. Can't do stuff like select text. Must use through a Java Manager (using Jbed, you can create a direct link to Opera Mini, so it's okay.)
NetFront - Even with the fixed CPU usage of build 519, still a memory hog. This one versus Opera Mobile is a pretty close race, it's up to personal preference.
SkyFire - Perfect rendering of everything (even YouTube videos), but that's because this is essentially a VNC app, meaning everything is rendered somewhere else, and you're just viewing a constantly refreshed image of a webpage. I don't like it, personally, but some love it.
They are all scrollable with your finger (pagepan), although only Opera Mobile and NetFront have flick-scrolling.
aahh yeaah opera mini also go passed opera's server which compress stuff and pass it on to the devices
which is why it is fast
but guess if opera's server goes belly up as does it
i personaly use opera mobile but then on pc i also use opera so ..
Azimuth21 said:
Netfront CPU issues have been resolved with build 519, just redownload from the Access Website. PIE is the slowest and renders the worst, proof is in the testing done by the great Menneisyys here
You should read up on all his articles and Bibles, there's so much information he offers. Btw, trash Picsel. Just trash it.
Take your pick between Opera Mobile, Opera Mini, NetFront, and possibly SkyFire .
In general
Opera Mobile - high CPU usage, good compliance, speed varies greatly depending on device (so you'll have to try it for yourself). Grab the MAXSD cab of build 1126 to test.
Opera Mini - FAST. Can't do stuff like select text. Must use through a Java Manager (using Jbed, you can create a direct link to Opera Mini, so it's okay.)
NetFront - Even with the fixed CPU usage of build 519, still a memory hog. This one versus Opera Mobile is a pretty close race, it's up to personal preference.
SkyFire - Perfect rendering of everything (even YouTube videos), but that's because this is essentially a VNC app, meaning everything is rendered somewhere else, and you're just viewing a constantly refreshed image of a webpage. I don't like it, personally, but some love it.
They are all scrollable with your finger (pagepan), although only Opera Mobile and NetFront have flick-scrolling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you very helpful. I have read almost all that stuff and it is good info, but i like to have it confirmed. sometimes there is so much hype that a better option gets downplayed because it isnt as cool. All I have been hearing about is skyfire. Is it out yet?
Skyfire and Opera Mini 4.1, those are the two best ones I've come across.
Is there a way to get opera to download files other then mpeg ones? I can download avi's or almost anything else for that matter...or is opera just a browser in the literal sense?
Rudegar said:
aahh yeaah opera mini also go passed opera's server which compress stuff and pass it on to the devices
which is why it is fast
but guess if opera's server goes belly up as does it
i personaly use opera mobile but then on pc i also use opera so ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know OperaMini goes through opera servers, but the difference is Opera servers compress the webpage, which is then downloaded onto the phone. With Skyfire, the webpage is never downloaded, so it is constantly using data to view the webpage being rendered on a Skyfire server. Therefore, Skyfire wins initial draw speed of a webpage, but loses during any interaction with said page (it must load when you zoom, for example.) Personally I use Opera Mini for the pure speed, but Opera Mobile when I must do something secure (logging into emails, PayPal, etc), because it never passes through a separate server.
@bartybet
I don't know why you can't download anything else with Opera (i'm assuming Opera Mobile), since Opera Mobile's download capabilities are very powerful. Check Menneisyys and his blog, he has a post about mobile browsers and their download abilities, with Opera Mobile topping the list.
So it sounds like it is between netfront and opera mobile.
would you recommend opera 8.65 or the 9.5 pulled from the diamond?
Skyfire id the best to me. That's the only one that you can play videos in.
Ghost26 said:
So it sounds like it is between netfront and opera mobile.
would you recommend opera 8.65 or the 9.5 pulled from the diamond?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
9.5 all the way... way nicer to use, faster, supports flash...etc..
dieKatze88 said:
Out of those three, Opera Mobile is probably the best, but NetFront 3.5 SMOKES Opera Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol you funny netfront sucks opera 9.5.1126 owns it
Rudegar said:
aahh yeaah opera mini also go passed opera's server which compress stuff and pass it on to the devices
which is why it is fast
but guess if opera's server goes belly up as does it
i personaly use opera mobile but then on pc i also use opera so ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, cant wait for the bookmark sync thing to work, Opera Link or something....
On a slightly different note, do you think opera will
a) Update the diamond to the newest version of opera for free
b) Ask Flar to take down all links to opera beta cabs.
These are both if/when a proper version is released.
Rory
ChInEsE ChIcKeN said:
yeah but netfront uses to much resources. if you even have it minumized it would slow down your device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CPU usage bug is stated to be fixed in the new (current) version.
steb0ne said:
Skyfire id the best to me. That's the only one that you can play videos in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have a lot of alternate, REALLY superior means of playing back videos - see my YouTube Bible.

What is your prefered web browser on the HD2?

Of the ones I know if, there are the following:
IE
Default Opera
Opera Mobile 10
Skyfire
Any others people use on here?
9.7 the best
I think IE is the fastest, I wish it had pinch to zoom.
I like Skyfire for visuals and speed, but for forms and such the stock Opera seems to work best.
Opera Mini 5 is the best for me. Unfortunately I don't know how to make it the default browser. I also use skyfire for flash sites and the default Opera 9.7 for sites that requires password. But for everyday use, like ESPN, CNN, etc, etc, Opera mini 5 is the fastest and the best.
My main browser is Opera 9.7 cause of the multi-touch and ease of use, for flash sites i use Skyfire and for speed and to use some websites that dont look right on the other browsers i use IE... but mostly its Opera
i tried opera 10 but meh, seemed bothersome... even tho its flash enabled..
I use Opera 9.7 normally, but I've been giving Opera 10 a go. We will see I'm not 100% sold on it yet.
I like Opera 10, but if Opera mini 5 could be made the default I would take that... its so fast! Opera 9.7 UI is terrible imo.
I think i have tried all the browsers but i prefer opera 9.7 for daily use with skyfire for flash sites and opera mini 5 for speed browsing
I prefer the stock opera browser...
Opera Mobile 10 is sucks,
Opera Mobile 9.7 is much better.
what are you guys talking about there is a scrip for making opera mini the default browser you guys should look for it!
Opera. Don't know why but I started disliking IE a while back.
Opera 9.7 ftw!
is there any others that offer flash support, everytime i download skyfire, it just sits like 75% done and wont complete the download but skyfire still opens and works but is kinda crappy and lags.
I think Opera 10 is better.
marduk79 said:
Opera. Don't know why but I started disliking IE a while back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because IE is a horrible browser.
starkall said:
is there any others that offer flash support, everytime i download skyfire, it just sits like 75% done and wont complete the download but skyfire still opens and works but is kinda crappy and lags.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hear you. I hate skyfire. It is a shame it is the only one that displays all flash properly.
I wish opera could display flash 9.x and 10.x
IE is the only browser that works for most of the IT appliance GUI's I need to operate, but I wish it had pinch zoom. Zooming to fill in dialog boxes can be a pain, especially for entering passwords.
Opera's pinch is handy and makes filling in dialog boxes easier. But it fails to open the GUI screens on most of the devices I need to manage. Good for shopping, ok for webmail, getting work done not so much.
I do wish for a decent flash browser - some of our new IT reporting software uses Flash, and many of our online training sessions require it.
As a toy browser for fun 'n games though, stock Opera has been pretty cool.
Opera 9.7
Opera 10 gives me a memory error.

Categories

Resources