Database Users

Opera 8.6, how's it working for you?

I'm wondering what the experience has been for people using Opera 8.6. I installed the free beta version months ago, which is working, and I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy the latest retail version.
Any Opera users care to comment on their experience?

Generally I find this a good browser but there a few problems which I must mention:-
1) One cannot configure it to store its Cache to SD card. There are ways around this but nothing out of the box.
2) For large web pages with graphics and annimations vertical scrolling becomes really painful as the page does not scroll smoothly with the vertical bar. This gets really really annoying at times.
3) There is a slight lag between pressing of a link and the browser responding. You tend to press the link repeatedly thinking the browser has not responded and then it hangs. However this is something you soon get used to so not that much of a problem.
4) Quite often it does not load the page fully and gets stuck towards the last bits of the page. This is more so for pages with annimations. The progress bar gets stuck when the page has almost been downloaded and only a small percent is left. You then have to refresh the page and usually the 2nd attempt gets you through the full page.
4) The worst problem for me which has really limited its use is that once you have used this it stops some other programs to start and you have to soft-reset. Typical examples are Netfront, Planmaker and Textmaker. After using Opera and having killed it these programs will often not start without a soft-reset.
As I said at the start it is still a good browser and so I am not mentioning the good things but these are just the glitches which seriously mar the user experience of an otherwise good product. In fact though I have a registered version I find myself using it less and less and prefering Netfront over it simply of some of the annoying bugs I mention.
Regards

I agree with smrz completely, and have suffered from the issues outlined, but I'd like to add:
- Opera 8.6 can't handle some pages very well (I'm thinking of the Yahoo pages where you need to log in). It just doesn't render them in any sort of useable fashion.
Having said this, I still use it as my main browser, and find that in combination with PIE, then I can do pretty much everything I want on the web.
Cheers,
Steve.

are there any differences between the beta version and the retail version?

1) One cannot configure it to store its Cache to SD card. There are ways around this but nothing out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here a post I wrote on moving cache of Opera on SD card...
http://www.planete-htc.com/index.php?mod=forum&ac=voir&cat=101&id=5514
Open opera.ini file, go to [User Prefs]. At the end of that paragraph, write that ligne
Cache Directory4=\Storage Card\x with x the folder you choosed for cache on your SD.
For french roms, Storage Card must be replaced by Carte de Stockage
Opera is not perfect, but is largely better than other mobile browers...

Thanks for the input. I'm not sure I will pay for the retail version at this point.
Re: the difference between beta version and latest retail version, I'm sure there are many and would depend on the beta version. Main one that comes to mind is that I understand the retail version has a tabbed browser interface while my old beta version does not.
I wonder if Opera mobile will ever support Java?

opera 8.5/8.6 does not support java & javascript?
what about vbscript?

Where do we copy the opera.dll
I am running a trial version. Have the cracked opera.dll file. Where do I copy this to in order to prevent the 30 days to run up?

;1040241 said:
I am running a trial version. Have the cracked opera.dll file. Where do I copy this to in order to prevent the 30 days to run up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's an idea: how about *paying* for it? I mean, it's only $24 or about 2% the RRP of an HTC Universal. Don't try to kid yourself that circumventing anti-piracy measures is anything other than stealing. If you use a cracked copy, you are a theif.

I agree I always buy software. I have 50+ apps on my IIs and all are paid for you, shouldn't try and steal money from hard working developers who are trying to make a living.

I am finding Opera 8.60 retail to be AWESOME!
In fact, I ditched the JasJar some months ago and have been using a JAM for some time. I only bought a new JJ cos of Opera on VGA. It's rendering most pages such as my online banking (which PIE cocked up completely), it zooms perfectly, and it's just amazing! If WM5 had come out with a decent broser on day one it would have driven operator ARPU's and internet usage. Now I have google with me wherever I go. I kind of had it on my JAM, but not really with that crappy low res screen.
This is a no brainer app and worth every cent!

Piracy
Nice thinking and have no objection. But if you got something for the first time you simply dont go about splashing money around. It is only fare that I want to make use of it, see & decide. If you check 8.6 is not the latest version it is an old version. By paying I would now be getting v9 (see I checked it and am planning to) but need to see if it is what I need / want.
Stereotyping aint really good. Peace anyway....
PS: Besides doing this kind of stuff is always the best way of learning the logic, structure of how a device works. And that is my main interest in these stuff. Not getting all for free. Thanks for your comments anyway...

bbaytu said:
Nice thinking and have no objection. But if you got something for the first time you simply dont go about splashing money around. It is only fare that I want to make use of it, see & decide. If you check 8.6 is not the latest version it is an old version. By paying I would now be getting v9 (see I checked it and am planning to) but need to see if it is what I need / want.
Stereotyping aint really good. Peace anyway....
PS: Besides doing this kind of stuff is always the best way of learning the logic, structure of how a device works. And that is my main interest in these stuff. Not getting all for free. Thanks for your comments anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yust for info...8.6(with the bug correction version 8.6u1) is the last and the only opera for ppc version ever done. Version 9 is for PC...if I'm wrong excuse me and tell me were you find the ver 9 for ppc...
Regards
Massimo

bbaytu said:
Nice thinking and have no objection. But if you got something for the first time you simply dont go about splashing money around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Opera on the trial. 30 days is plenty of time to make your mind up. If you don't really use it enough to make up your mind in that time, then don't buy it. If you do, buy it. $24 really is next to nothing for a product. That wouldn't a decent sandwich, cake and a cup of tea!
It is only fare that I want to make use of it, see & decide. If you check 8.6 is not the latest version it is an old version. By paying I would now be getting v9 (see I checked it and am planning to) but need to see if it is what I need / want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They provide a trial for that purpose. If they didn't, I still wouldn't agree. Afterall, I can't try out a holiday before I buy it and if I don't like the terms, I can simple boycott the product.
Stereotyping aint really good. Peace anyway....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd hardly call it stereotyping. Stereotyping is painting a group with a broad brush and, in doing so, encompassing more than rightfully fit the description. However, calling all pirates theives is not stereotyping as all piracy is theft.
PS: Besides doing this kind of stuff is always the best way of learning the logic, structure of how a device works. And that is my main interest in these stuff. Not getting all for free. Thanks for your comments anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know I'm on a very high horse here, but I cannot and will not tolerate piracy. It *does* hurt people (developers, distributers, support staff, everyone in the chain and their families) and they only reason why it's not as widely regarded as wrong is because everyone knows they will more than likely get away with it. Steal Opera is no better than stealing a wallet or an item of jewellery or anything else. It's ALL theft.

I'm using an early beta that does not have the 30 day limit.
Am I stealing?
The reason I posted the question is because I am not averse to paying for a good finished product. It seems craigiecraig4 (if I have the name spelled right) would say that Opera 8.6 is a good finished product.
That is the type of opinion I was soliciting.

I think anyone who has a beta version of software on there device have in a way paid for it because they put there device on the line to test the product.

xda_guy said:
opera 8.5/8.6 does not support java & javascript?
what about vbscript?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does support JS but doesn't support Java.
ALL: Please DO read my web browser reviews. The vast majority of the questions asked in this thread have already been answered / explained in there.

bonisalive said:
Here a post I wrote on moving cache of Opera on SD card...
http://www.planete-htc.com/index.php?mod=forum&ac=voir&cat=101&id=5514
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An English tutorial is at http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=916&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Menneisyys said:
It does support JS but doesn't support Java.
ALL: Please DO read my web browser reviews. The vast majority of the questions asked in this thread have already been answered / explained in there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude - your articles are GREAT! Going thro many of your past posts now...keep it up!

Copy protected apps missing from the Market on Orange UK Hero?

Anybody else noticed this? I have an unmodified Hero I got straight from Orange and the Market seems to be missing a lot of paid applications, the ones that use copy protection.

badgaz said:
Anybody else noticed this? I have an unmodified Hero I got straight from Orange and the Market seems to be missing a lot of paid applications, the ones that use copy protection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes its a known problem which has been talked about in other forums.

yep. this does suck. Its almost like they dnt want our money

It just gets worse. This all should have been sorted out

badgaz said:
Anybody else noticed this? I have an unmodified Hero I got straight from Orange and the Market seems to be missing a lot of paid applications, the ones that use copy protection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you give specific examples? Thus far, I've had no issues with paid apps with my Hero - had several on my G1 that I had to download again to my new phone.
Regards,
Dave

foxmeister said:
Can you give specific examples? Thus far, I've had no issues with paid apps with my Hero - had several on my G1 that I had to download again to my new phone.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read:
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Android+Market/thread?tid=3529bae358433fcd&hl=en

Searching the Market for the apps mentioned on the earlier link, I can confirm that I can see some, but not all of them, an a T-Mobile G2.
I also noticed that I hadn't downloaded "DocumentsToGo" back onto my G1 (thought I had!) and when I tried it, I got the "Download Unsuccessful" message.
Regards,
Dave

I'm also missing apps on my T-Mobile G2. Can anyone else out there see the "Jack FM Live" app?

Nope I can't see that app.

The app I am missing is Battle for Mars. I have done the rounds ringing Orange and HTC to try and sort this out. Orange were fairly useless but finally just referred me over to HTC. HTC tried to claim there were different apps for different phones, but the example I gave them was Battle for Mars Lite was available, the paid for version was not available. They are meant to be ringing me back in 3-5 working days !?!! I will try and keep this thread posted. If anyone else has some news or can hassle Orange/HTC as well, I think that can only be a good thing and might push someone into sorting this mess out.

I can't find taskiller full - the free version is there but I want the one which has the full exclusion list. I've been in touch with the developer and he can see it in the market in France, although he thought that it may be due to waiting for google to review his account.
Guess it may actually be a similar problem to this. It's really frustrating because I would love to pay for the full version!

I've just got an unlocked hero that im using on o2. I can see the apps that others cannot, so maybe it's a network problem or related to the 'tinkering' networks like to do to phones before sending them.

trice1921 said:
I've just got an unlocked hero that im using on o2. I can see the apps that others cannot, so maybe it's a network problem or related to the 'tinkering' networks like to do to phones before sending them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you see taskiller full in the UK?

ewans said:
Can you see taskiller full in the UK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just checked. The full version is there, priced 0.70 Euros.

trice1921 said:
Just checked. The full version is there, priced 0.70 Euros.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is really annoying - I can only see the free version using wireless or mobile data (standard T-Mobile G2 Touch, no root, not unlocked etc.). I'll let the developer know, it's really unfair that people who want to buy his app can't.

I can now see Taskiller full and Bluex which i havn't been able to see since i bought my hero, i have the Orange version of the phone.

checked earlier in the day and couldn't see taskiller full. I can now... I assume some back-end setting's been changed (whether it was a taskiller-full-specific thing the author did, or something google did centrally, I don't know)

Still can't see it on T-Mobile!

ewans said:
Still can't see it on T-Mobile!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problems here, its really annoying. I really want the Bloo facebook app. The new 1.3 version is meant to be good .
Also on the topic of not being able to get stuff on this "open source OS".. WHERE is amazon mp3 uk . Can't take much for amazon/google to just shift the same program to access the uk mp3 store lol.

can confirm bloo 1.3a showing up for me(orange)
the guy who did http://www.cyrket.com/ mentioned apps appeared and disappeared due to sdk version checking. while i assume that isn't the issue here, maybe it's the same kind of thing? the hero's listed capabilities and the app's metadata are incompatible?
(tho why that would change just because it's sold by orange instead of t-mobile I don't know)

[UK] TVCatchup.com let them know you want a WM application/webportal

Hi guy's
I've started a thread over at tvcatchup.com's forum to gather support for a windows mobile application or at least access to the tv streams that the iphone uses as they have a special portal that doesnt use flash.
Just wondered if it would be possible for you to show your interest in this thread too and bring tvcatchup.com to WM
Thanks

+1 ________________

Cant believe there arnt more people out there who want this working on WM!!, maybe its my fault for just making this post in the Leo section of the forum.
I've tried seting my user agent in Firefox to iphone 3.0 UA and managed to get the page to load where for bbc one it has this url
http://84.234.22.109:1935/iphone/iphone_bbcone.sdp/playlist.m3u8?stream=bbcone
which downloads a playlist, if you open the playlist in notpad you get this
#EXTM3U
#EXT-X-STREAM-INFROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=100000
http://84.234.22.109:1935/iphone/ip...t.m3u8?wowzasessionid=431120102&stream=bbcone
But after that I have no idea what to do to make it stream on the phone

DMAND said:
But after that I have no idea what to do to make it stream on the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the m3u8 file format that's the problem there. It's not something we can play on WM devices.
I've tried to sign up to the site so I can post words of encouragement and support on the thread, but it just keeps throwing an error, so i can't
Good luck with this - I'd love to see this on WM.

Surely the playlist just directs the iphone to some H.264 stream, Im sure something like coreplayer would be able to play that? but as you say the playlist doesnt open.
I tried renaming the .m3u8 to just .m3u (as that's what coreplayer recognises) but no luck after that,
Can I ask a mod to move this to a more appropriate section to get more exposure.
Thanks

made a post on tvcatchup thread. lets wait and see if they show any interest.

Well it looks like there's been a response from them
Their are 12 versions of Windows Mobile operateing system.
Id hate to guess how many different phones are useing the variaty of Os's.
Their are massive compatibility issues within each and every OS version and Mobile Phone Type.
iPhone was chosen as our first step onto the mobile market as their is ONE operateing system and specifications between each iPhone are the same. Its one of the most sold new phones on the market and its keep selling. It was highly feasible for an iphone application.
Windows Mobile on the other hand would be very complex. It would cost TVCatchup to develop such application, and we have not yet finished the iPhone which is in Beta.
One step at a time im afraid, we can not jump into every handset from day one.
If theirs a skilled windows mobile developer reading this that uses TVCatchup, we do have an API.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea where they got the 12 versions of WM from but its the last sentance that perked up my ears, They have an API for a budding xda developer to use!!!

DMAND said:
Well it looks like there's been a response from them
No idea where they got the 12 versions of WM from but its the last sentance that perked up my ears, They have an API for a budding xda developer to use!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep... i read that and replied also (im ukbreakbeat on there)
Come on XDA Devs... you know you want to get on this!

Cheers mate, I've contacted a certain dev on here with a well know tv app, hopefully they give him the goodies

Anyone know about any progress? Is FryWalker working on it?

He let me know he had been in contact with their lead developer, and that they were very helpful, I belive he's working on it

I thought I'd bump this as Fry seems to be getting the cold shoulder from the tvcatchup guys apparently, I thought anyone interested in the development would like to know and of course let them know that us WM owners still want an app developed!

Surely all that would be needed is a codec for core player to allow it to play the m3u8 playlist??
I have done a bit of sleuthing and there is a program called pocket player that claims to be able to play m3u8 files but I've had no luck with this so far.

I just use Skyfire to watch.. and it works fine. Looks perfect especially in landscape mode.

Yeah Skyfire works but it's frame rate is low

Hi,
I'm using skyfire on t-mobile UK and get an error on the stream stating it is non-UK - has anyone else seen this and does anyone know a workaround ?
Ta,
Inclement

inclement_weather said:
Hi,
I'm using skyfire on t-mobile and get an error on the stream stating it is non-UK - has anyone else seen this and does anyone know a workaround ?
Ta,
Inclement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you check on the TV catchup forums, this is because you downloaded the US version of the software and not the UK version.

DMAND said:
I thought I'd bump this as Fry seems to be getting the cold shoulder from the tvcatchup guys apparently, I thought anyone interested in the development would like to know and of course let them know that us WM owners still want an app developed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought they were all on board for Fry to develop his MyPlayer app to include TV Catchup streams?

SteveI said:
If you check on the TV catchup forums, this is because you downloaded the US version of the software and not the UK version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi - thanks for the tip - I checked around and had to change my DNS settings to a UK server then reinstall Skyfire so it'd pick up a UK farm. Done that and it connects fine !
Only thing (there's always something) is now that the picture is great but there's no audio - any ideas why no sound is coming through and if there's something I need to change ? I checked the IP settings and there's no compression set - not sure what else to check.
Thanks for any help,
Inclement

Karlos G said:
Yeah Skyfire works but it's frame rate is low
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. Installed it last night, and it works albeit a bit choppy. I only tried it due to a dedicated iphone freak at work going on about tvcatchup, and that the HD2 can't do it. Can't wait to see him later

Series Droid market://details?id=ruvaa.seriesdroid

This is an application i have been working on for a while, so i thought will give you guys a preview.
Now available in Android Market. You can report any bugs or issues here
I would really appreciate some feedback and suggestions too

I use apps like your all the time
I'm really interrested by testing it
My email to send it : [email protected]

Leon_Citron said:
I use apps like your all the time
I'm really interrested by testing it
My email to send it : [email protected]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the interest, i have mailed you the apk file.

Is this meant more as a historical episode guide, or a current episode/TV Guide type of application?
The reason I ask , is I was looking for just such an app last week (The current and upcoming episode type), and found one that works rather well and seems well polished already..
It's called "TV Show Favs" and has the ability to flag shows for your own listing, see upcoming schedules by day, get episode synopsis, guest stars, and you can even look up any show, and look at it's historical episode info.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/tv-show-favs/com.tvshowfavs
Not that having another app isn't fine... but you might want to see if you can differenciate your app vs this one in some fashion.. your screens look very nice already, but as a user I'd ask myself "What can this new app do that my current one cannot'.
Good luck on the development though...

@DroidGnome
This is more like a historical episode guide, but i do plan to implement upcomng schedules and other features as well.
I did come across that after i started developing this and that app is quite nice already.
What i did not like about that however is the need to register and use an online account,
my application was developed with mostly offline mode in mind.
The only time data network is used is to update the stuff.
However to really get a good idea about the app you would have to try it, so i will try to upload a beta version here soon.
Thanks

update
i have added the latest beta version of the application, if anyone is testing out there let me know whats happening thanks.

Added a video for series droid ui preview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BppnQC3RSDc
slow transition effects is coz video was taken on an emulator not an actual device
If you like it download it on android market just search "Series Droid", if you like it please help me by rating it

thanks
works g8 on my phone

10 £0.10p Apps/ 10 Days!

Bit of a newb post for me this one and I know you people probably expect better of me xD.. but what the hell..
FIRSTLY - Yes I know this thread is posted on other phones! However it's not on the Desire so some people may not know ^_^
If you haven't already noticed (it's hard not to!) the Android Market is celebrating it's 10 BILLION downloads, by offering us 10 popular apps each day, for just 10p/10cents (whatever your currency is)
There are 10 new apps each day, and if you have a problem with downloading them just check out this, and you can download them from your PC to your phone!

Might want to highlight the link a bit more
Too bad it's not possible to buy an app for future use.
I wanted to buy Asphalt 6, but I only have a Desire, so it's not possible

ZigmaDK said:
Might want to highlight the link a bit more
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you wish

bortak said:
If you haven't already noticed (it's hard not to!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its hard to, yeah, but there are always people like me... sooo, thanks. I got 3 apps for .30$

ZigmaDK said:
Might want to highlight the link a bit more
Too bad it's not possible to buy an app for future use.
I wanted to buy Asphalt 6, but I only have a Desire, so it's not possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think apps are linked to google account? and you can redownload when you change device if you use your same account..

I got swiftkeyx because I figured it would come in handy one day though I prefer to use swype myself. I actually kind of hoped I could use it on a tablet when I get one then I noticed there is a different tablet version

Spent already $ 0.40 LOL

Oh... i want to buy these apps but i've got no credit card here -_-

Dunno what happened or how this works exactly, but last night i had swiftkey and endomondo for $0.10, and now they are regular price. As I remember, they were not listed on the promotion link in the market on my device, nor on the android market website. Now it's the same thing with awd launcher ex, it's not listed but it's $0.10. Anyone has a clue how this work? Do we know the exact list of apps that are available for $0.10?

they only do 10 apps per day, then the previous day's apps go back to regular price I think..
links on market don't update that quick either. better check the website if u want up to date info

xcly said:
they only do 10 apps per day, then the previous day's apps go back to regular price I think..
links on market don't update that quick either. better check the website if u want up to date info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed they only stay 10 cents for 24 hours then it goes to 10 new apps.
My guess is google wears the cost and still pays the dev the normal money they would get

lalek said:
Dunno what happened or how this works exactly, but last night i had swiftkey and endomondo for $0.10, and now they are regular price. As I remember, they were not listed on the promotion link in the market on my device, nor on the android market website. Now it's the same thing with awd launcher ex, it's not listed but it's $0.10. Anyone has a clue how this work? Do we know the exact list of apps that are available for $0.10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 10 different apps every day, so the apps that cost 10p today will go back to normal price tomorrow, and so on and so forth. The website link I sent lists all of the available apps for that day, and I'm pretty sure the new market also has a category from the "main menu" type thing where it displays all the 10p apps.

Yay. Big link for me
I already bought 10 apps.
The reason I was moping was that I can't buy asphalt, because the desire I have isn't supported, so I can't even buy it.
So its not possible to buy for a future tablet, if your current device doesn't support it in the first place.

ZigmaDK said:
Yay. Big link for me
I already bought 10 apps.
The reason I was moping was that I can't buy asphalt, because the desire I have isn't supported, so I can't even buy it.
So its not possible to buy for a future tablet, if your current device doesn't support it in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi if you have access to another android device bit more powerful than desire then u can add ur google account on that if its got gb running and download it to that device. For example i also wanted asphalt 6 for my next device so i added my google account to sisters nexus s and bought it on there.