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Selasa, 16 Maret 2010

Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 released

Opera has finally unleashed the release version of Opera Mobile 10 and Opera Mini 5 on Symbian, Windows Mobile and that not-really open source whatshisname. Opera Mini 5 is a Java application where websites will be 'cleaned up' and images compressed on the server side before being sent to the client (thus saving the user precious mobile bandwidth), where as the native Mobile 10 will crunch the data on the phone itself.

Speed is noticeably quicker on the new versions compared to the old Beta 2, in both rendering and UI navigation itself. The biggest issue I have is the lack of ability to delete Google as the default search engine. For all the wolf cries Opera has been making to the EC in forcing Microsoft to install a browser ballot on their desktop OS, I find that Opera are a bit hypocritical for not allowing me to easily switch the search engine.

Minor issue aside with the search engine, Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 are great alternative browsers for your smartphone. Go download now.

Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 released

Rabu, 04 November 2009

Opera Mobile 10 beta perfect score in Acid3

As mentioned earlier, Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60 platform renders web pages accurately. This is thanks to the Opera Presto engine, which powers the desktop version of Opera 10. I ran the Acid3 test and it gained a 100/100 score - a very impressive score for a mobile browser even if it didn't pass the pixel for pixel likeness (not surprising considering the limited resolution). In comparison, the latest Firefox 3.5.4 has a score of 93/100.

Just for kicks I also ran the browser through the Acid2 test. The result, whilst not perfect, was still impressive.

Opera Mobile 10 beta perfect score in Acid3

Selasa, 03 November 2009

Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60

Opera recently unleashed the public beta of their newest Opera Mobile 10 for Symbian Series 60 platform. It features the same user interface as Opera Mini 5 beta including tabbed browsing and a speed dial similar to their desktop edition.

It is quite a bit faster than Opera Mini 5 and the built-in Webkit browser. Unfortunately it is a RAM hog (about 20MB used with a single tab open). With Opera Mini 5, I can run Gravity, the standard S60 browser and a couple of other applications in the background at the same time, even with the limited 45MB of available RAM on my Nokia E55. Not so with Mobile 10, as eventually after opening a couple of tabs I will encounter the low memory message. It also does not have support for flash, though I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing.

Overall, a good first impression. The rendering is quick and accurate offering a truly desktop like experience - not surprising as it uses the same Opera Presto web layout engine as their desktop browser. You can even tinker with the settings via about:config. For example if you have a device with more RAM, you can always increase the cache size for better performance. I like it, but personally I see no major benefits for users to completely switch over from Opera Mini 5/Series 60 web browser combo just yet, particularly if the lack of available RAM is an issue.

Opera Mobile 10 beta is compatible with any modern devices running on the Symbian Series 60 3rd/5th edition and Symbian^1 platform. These includes the Nokia N97, Samsung Omnia HD and Sony Ericsson Satio. Access the beta by directing your mobile's standard browser to http://m.opera.com/mobile or download here.

Update: Opera Mobile 10 beta is now also available for the Windows Mobile platform.

Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60

Rabu, 16 September 2009

Opera Mini 5.0 Beta

Opera Mini 5.0 is simply the best Opera Mini yet. I've used it for half a day now and it has only crashed once so far - which is impressive considering this is merely a beta version.

The installer is quite a bit bigger than previous Opera versions (and it will download more during installation), but with data cost cheap these days - and the fact that most phones comes with WiFi - this isn't a huge issue as it was a couple of years ago. The increase in size (almost double) can be attributed to the new and slick UI.

Desktop Opera 10 users will immediately recognise the new Speed Dial. Instead of a list as in previous version of Opera Mini, you will be greeted with a thumbnail grid. Here you can assign your favourite websites as shortcuts. Like the desktop version, Opera Mini 5 will capture a snapshot of the site (well a part of it anyway).

On the top you will find the address bar and search bar. Underneath it is the navigational toolbar including access to the settings and Speed Dial. The top right plus icon is the 'new tab' button. Yes, Opera Mini 5 allows users to create tabs. Stability is fine even on my now aging Nokia E51. I tend to open more than five tabs at any one time with no sign of slowness or RAM leakage.

Press down on a link until a pop up appears. This gives you the option of opening the link on a new tab. Very useful. As you can see from the screenshot, copy and paste functionality also makes a debut. Selected text can be copied and then pasted onto the Opera's search field. You can also paste the copied text outside the browser, but doing so requires you to use a trick that forces the standard Series 60 text entry field to pop up (as documented here).

Plenty of settings are available for advance users, including the usual (image quality, font size, landscape mode) and nifty new additions such as the password manager. (Edit: turn off inline editing to gain access to your phone's standard text entry field - essential to get T9 working)

Rendering was never a problem with Opera Mini, so the results here are pretty standard to seasoned Opera Mini users. Still they are fast to load. I expect Opera to have beefed up their server too in anticipation to the beta release. Fonts are smoother due to the use of some form of Clear Type technology as well. Anyway you will have no problem browsing the web even with a small QVGA display. Here are a couple of examples on how websites such as this look like (high quality image, smallest font setting):

One downside I found is it has its own text entry system, overiding the standard Series 60 text entry field pop-up. For example with their system, I have to cycle through a bunch of symbols manually to get the appropriate symbol I want (@ for example), but with the old Opera Mini, I can press the * key and select the symbol I want quickly. Predictive text does not work here either, again due to the lack of access to the phone's standard text entry field. (Edit: Ok, turning off inline editing in the settings allows you to enter the S60 text entry field - phew!!!)

It's early days for the Opera Mini 5.0, but judging by the quality of the beta version here and the amount of new functionalities, Opera has yet another winner on their hands. Despite being only a beta software I am so impressed by the stability on my E51, so impressed in fact that I have already uninstalled Opera Mini 4!

Access the beta by steering your mobile phone's standard browser to http://m.opera.com/next

Opera Mini 5.0 Beta

Senin, 27 Juli 2009

Opera moans about Internet Explorer icon now

I love Opera. In fact I use the browser occasionally whenever I need a quick web check (not browsing for more than a couple of minutes), as it is a hassle to boot up Firefox (seeing how RAM hungry it is).

But dear Opera (and the European Commission), please shut the hell up. First you complained that Microsoft is wrong to bundle a web browser with their own product, which even I do not understand. When Microsoft relented and announced that Windows 7 will be shipped Internet Explorer-less in Europe, you moaned about that too. And now Microsoft is doing exactly what you wanted them to do, allowing customers to pick the browser of their choice via a ballot screen in future releases of Windows. And still you take the time to bitch.

According to The Register, Opera Software's Hakon Wium Lie is reported to have questioned the use of the Internet Explorer icon on the ballot screen.

"The blue 'e' has become so associated with the Internet in general, due to the bundling with Windows. We think using the blue 'e' might not be such a good idea,"

Jesus. If you spend more time actually marketing your own browser like the peeps at Mozilla, maybe you will actually gain more marketshare. Firefox is a proof that you do not need regulations within the browser market to succeed. Sigg, if Microsoft drops the use of logo, I am sure the guys at Opera will moan about the 'Internet' in 'Internet Explorer' next... I love the browser, but the politics is just terrible.

FFS Opera. Instead of whining about everything, how about allocating some actual development time to make Opera Mini faster and Opera Mobile better?

Opera moans about Internet Explorer icon now

"The blue 'e' has become so associated with the Internet in general, due to the bundling with Windows. We think using the blue 'e' might not be such a good idea,"

Rabu, 01 Juli 2009

Brilliant captcha

Captcha are those challenge-response security fields where it makes you enter a word/number (like the one you need to fill in every time you want to post a comment on this blog), in order to verify the poster isn't a bot. These are not completely spam proof, but ever since enabling it I've seen spam comments on my blog drop to an average of about once a week. Captchas are randomly generated, but every now and then I stumble upon a captcha that is truly idiotic, especially if they are based on dictionary words. Here's one I got today whilst wondering around Ticketmaster.

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Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 released

Opera Mini 5 and Mobile 10 released

Opera Mobile 10 beta perfect score in Acid3

Opera Mobile 10 beta perfect score in Acid3

Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60

Opera Mobile 10 beta for Symbian Series 60

Opera Mini 5.0 Beta

Opera Mini 5.0 Beta

Opera moans about Internet Explorer icon now

Opera moans about Internet Explorer icon now

Brilliant captcha

Brilliant captcha

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