The Windows Mobile Web Browsing Bible is out!

[Menneisyys]

Hope you all follow the General forum in here ;-) If you don’t, you may not have read my latest major roundup you will definitely be interested in: the Windows Mobile Web Browsing Bible, fully updated to the latest Web browsers (DeepFish, Opera Mobile 8.65, NetFront 3.4, WM6 Internet Explorer etc.) . Make sure you don’t miss it!

See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1202096 for the Bible.

[SpyderTracks]

Many thanks, Menneisyys, I will have a gander now :D

[apd]

That is a phenomenal review!

[Menneisyys]

Thanks guys! :)

In the meantime, I've updated the article; I still haven't cross-posted it here because of the tremendous need for slicing it up; therefore, the new version is at http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1828&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 .

If you haven't done so as yet, DO check it out, it'll answer ALL your question about Web browsing on Windows Mobile.

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (04/05/2007): Added a new row on Address bar (history / deletion / autocomplete), with a lot of screenshots; other minor changes in the chart.

[Menneisyys]

In addition to yesterday's cleaning up the English & additional proofreading and today's adding a new row on the Address Bar history (deletion) / autocompletion, I've slightly modified the Opera Mobile-related information in the chart of the article, based on ResearchWizard's excellent feedback (http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=183887). (BTW, his Opera Mobile guide (http://my.opera.com/ResearchWizard/blog/show.dml/457334) is just excellent and really worth checking out (alternative, direct link here (http://www.rewiz.de/operamobile/Opera-Mobile.html))).

BTW, many have asked why there's neither "Verdict" nor "Most recommended" section in the Bible. The answer is very simple: while I, personally, consider Opera Mobile 8.65 the best browser closely followed by the WM6 (or, at least, WM5 AKU2+ - previous versions were 50% slower to load pages and, therefore, I wouldn't really be able to return to using them) IEM equipped with PIEPlus 2.2 if the bad JavaScript / non-existing AJAX support and the relatively high memory usage aren't a problem.

However, as you may have drastically different requirements, the above may not be the right solution for you. For example, you can ONLY use free software because, for example, you need the cheapest solution for enterprise-wide deployment, which means you'll need to cast a glance at Webby, Minimo or, probably the best free alternative, Opera Mini. Or, alternatively, you want to keep the original page layout on your low-resolution QVGA model; then, the first browser you should check out is Thunderhawk (not taking DeepFish into account).

That is, there was a reason I didn't (and still don't) provide a quick recommendation. There are a LOT of factors you need to consider when selecting your browser of your choice. You WILL want to thoroughly examine the feature / comparison chart, thoroughly compare each feature and consider whether the lack of a given feature is a showstopper for you or not. Providing a some-sentence-recommendation like ""go for Minimo if you need a free and, therefore, easily mass-deployable browser and memory consumption isn't an issue", "go for Opera Mini if you need minimal memory consumption, speed and also being free" or "stay with PIE if you don't need strong JavaScript / AJAX / CSS support and multitabs but want a free, dependable browser"" would have been an oversimplification.

I felt it useless to try to even replicate the information available in the comparison / feature chart in a Verdict section - there's simply too much information, I would have ended up pages on this "simple" subject. This is why I’ve left it out altogether – you’ll need to consult the chart so that you can make an educated, informed decision..

[Menneisyys]

Updated the chart with Thunderhawk-related information. This means there are no question marks in the Thunderhawk-specific column any more. I've also provided several screenshots of Thunderhawk in action. Thanks to the Bitstream folks for providing me access to their service!

BTW, the article has been frontpaged by Pocket PC Thoughts (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=433969) in the meantime.

[Menneisyys]

I’ve just posted a brand new Radar article, with a lot of new screenshots, to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1209974

[Menneisyys]

PPCT frontpage (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=434026); Just Another Mobile Monday frontpage (http://justanothermobilemonday.com/Wordpress/2007/04/03/menneisyys-windows-mobile-web-browsing-bible/)

Finally, I can not stress and emphasize enough: if you have a specific need but lack the time to fully scrutinize the chart, use in-page searching (Ctrl-F) to quickly find the compatibility information you need. For example, if you want to know Flash, AJAX or JavaScript compliance, just use the word in question (for example "Flash") as the search expression and you'll really quickly find out which chart row discusses the given question.

[Menneisyys]

WM Web Browser Bible updated with Picsel Browser-related info!

Thanks to HowardForums user diadjika (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=9029999), I had the opportunity to thoroughly test Picsel’s famous Web (and document) browser for Windows Mobile and accordingly update the Windows Mobile Web Browser Bible.

http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselMain.bmp.png

The browser is WM5+ only (no WM2003(SE) support, sorry) and is NOT available for download officially; it’s shipped with some Windows Mobile models as is the case on other mobile platforms (for example, Palm OS).

It’s a direct (non central server-based) Web browser with REALLY excellent dynamic zooming / panning capabilities (regarding them, it’s the best of all Windows Mobile browsers) and built-in PDF, MS Excel / MS Word / MS PowerPoint and text reader. That is, it’s pretty much understandable why Palm OS users praise it so much.

Unfortunately, it also has its shortcomings; for example, the lack of a multi-tabbed architecture (as is the case with DeepFish / Thunderhawk and, of course, PIE without a third-party add-on), lack of file up/download capabilities, total lack of local caching, Ajax / Flash / Java / decent JavaScript support etc. In addition, sometimes it’s just painfully slow to download stuff, particularly with Yahoo Mail and for example the AximSite forums. That is, if you can’t stand its lack speed (with some pages – with other pages, it has no problems at all), you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Make sure you thoroughly check out the brand new column in the comparison chart of the Windows Mobile Web Browser Bible for more information to see how it compares to the alternate browsers. The chart contains a LOT of screenshots showing the Picsel browser in action.

Some additional menu screenshots (see the chart for more!)

Normal (http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselBrowserIcon1Normal.bmp.png) / Reflowed (http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselBrowserIcon1Refl.bmp.png) layout
Bookmark view (http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselBrowserIcon2Bookmark.bmp.png)
Folder view (http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselBrowserIcon3FolderView.bmp.png) (2 (http://www.winmobiletech.com/032007WebBrowsers/PicselBrowserIcon3FolderView2.bmp.png))

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (08/31/2007) : Opera Mini 4 beta 2 out; the FULL review has been posted to these forums: PPCT (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=441551), AximSite (http://www.aximsite.com/boards/applications/217687-review-best-brand-new-java-based-browser-opera-mini-4-beta-2-a.html), XDA-Developers - 1 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1472938), XDA-Developers - 2 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=326369) FirstLoox (http://www.firstloox.org/forums/showthread.php?p=71460), BrightHand (http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?p=1572912), HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=9801300), SPT (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?p=124350), MoDaCo (http://www.modaco.com/REVIEW-Best-Brand-Java-t258747.html), Opera Mini forums (http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=202620).

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (10/20/2007): I've published a review of Opera Mobile 8.65 Final (PPC/SP), Picsel 1.0.5 (PPC/SP) and the brand new Spb Pocket Plus 4.0 (PPC). A new version of jb5 (PPC/SP) has been released and a brand new, albeit very simple IEM add-in Web Viewer for WM5 (PPC). Also, I’ve linked in some of my recent reviews of some new (not very important) Web browsers: TeaShark (PPC/SP) and UCWEB (PPC/SP). Finally, I've published some genuine, never-before-published tips and tricks on utilizing the Pocket PC hardware application buttons to control Opera Mini and Opera Mobile. It's a MUST for any serious Pocket PC user - you'll LOVE my new tips & tricks. See THIS (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2250&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1). Cross-posted to: PPCT (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=444198), AximSite (http://www.aximsite.com/boards/applications/219835-web-browsing-news-10-18-2007-new-opera-mobile-picsel-spb-pocket-plus.html), XDA-Developers - 1 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1598712), XDA-Developers - 2 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1598714), FirstLoox (http://www.firstloox.org/forums/showthread.php?p=72372), BrightHand (http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?p=1595174), HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=10080625), SPT (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?p=125780), MoDaCo (http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartphone-General-Discussion/260711/Web-Browsing-News-as-of-10-18-2007-new-Opera-Mobile-Picsel-Spb-Pocket-Plus/).

[Hocus]

Total newbie question but I have been browsing everywhere. is pie plus something I have to purchase or is there an addon that I can use from the xda developers crew. My reason for asking is I just went to wm6 on my mda pro, but I can no longer hit download links on certain sites.

cheers if any one can help.

[Menneisyys]

Total newbie question but I have been browsing everywhere. is pie plus something I have to purchase or is there an addon that I can use from the xda developers crew. My reason for asking is I just went to wm6 on my mda pro, but I can no longer hit download links on certain sites.

cheers if any one can help.

There are no free add-ons from XDA-Dev people. PIEPlus, however, won't help with these problems.

Can you give me an exact URL so that I can check why it doesn't work?

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (11/12/2007): the final version of Opera Mini 4 has been released. I've written a VERY thorough tutorial on installing and using it; it's available HERE (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2302&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1); cross-posted to PPCT (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=445401#445401), AximSite (http://www.aximsite.com/boards/applications/220930-opera-mini-4-new-star-born-free-web-browser-you-must-give-try.html), XDA-Developers -1 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1659203&posted=1#post1659203), XDA-Developers -2 (http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Opera%20Mini%204%3A%20A%20new%2 0star%20is%20born%20-%20the%20FREE%28%21%29%20Web%20browser%20you%20MUS T%20give%20a%20try%20to), FirstLoox (http://www.firstloox.org/forums/showthread.php?p=72688#post72688), BrightHand (http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?t=250054), HowardForums - 1 (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=10205610#post10205610), HowardForums - 2 (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1275369), SPT (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?p=126478), MoDaCo (http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartphone-General-Discussion/261613/Opera-Mini-4-A-new-star-is-born-the-FREE-Web-browser-you-MUST-give-a-try-to/), official Opera Mini forum (http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=212888). Note that it also links in my brand new MIDlet Bible, which will be a god-send anyone wanting to run this EXCELLENT browser on his or her handset.

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (02/01/2008):
I, after more than a week’s waiting (see my previous post HERE (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2431&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)), still haven’t received any feedback from the Strategy Analytics Inc. folks regarding the lack of Opera Mini in their 5-Star Safari Leads Mobile Browsing Experience (http://www.strategyanalytics.net/default.aspx?mod=ReportAbstractViewer&a0=3730), which, in many Windows Mobile users’ (including me) opinion, is the most useful / quickest Web browser for the Windows Mobile platform. And, for other mobile platforms too – on my Symbian Nokia N95 and BlackBerry 8800, I almost exclusively use this browser to access the Web. Not including it in the test makes the entire report pretty hard to depend on – it’s like completely ignoring, for example, Ferrari (a top-performing car) when evaluating the cars of Formula-1.

And, of course, I’ve already elaborated on the bad ranking of Nokia Web (running on Symbian S60 3rd edition devices – that is, NOT on Windows Mobile) and, particularly, Opera Mobile (running on all major mobile platforms). Again and again, if you do learn the dialpad shortcuts and/or, with Opera Mobile running on a dialpad-less Pocket PC, use a third-party tool to assign its key functionalities (accessing favorites, current tabs, back etc.) to Pocket PC hardware buttons, they both become quicker and easier to operate than Internet Explorer. It’s clearly at this point (in addition to the lack of Opera Mini) that Strategy Analytics Inc.’s report severely lacks – it’s evident the test folks didn’t really make an attempt at learning the dialpad shortcuts / configure Opera Mobile for easy and much quicker access / use.
Still as far as Windows Mobile and Symbian are concerned, a brand-new Web browser, Skyfire (http://www.skyfire.com/) has been released. See some of the related threads HERE (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=363205), HERE (http://www.modaco.com/content/Windows-Mobile-News/264791/Skyfire-browser-to-bring-a-true-desktop-browsing-experience-to-your-mobile/), HERE (http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/mobility-site-news/224307-promising-browser-windows-mobile-skyfire.html), HERE (http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=13761) (a preview) and HERE (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=364309). I, as I’m located in Europe, still haven’t had the choice to test it (it's, currently, only available for US residents).

Based on the first reports, it’s based on a similar architecture than Microsoft’s, for the time being, discontinued DeepFish (RIP!) and Thunderhawk’s Java applet emulation. That is, it, in practice, generates an image of the page on the server and transfers this to the client – there isn’t local HTML (?) / Flash parsing / execution on the client side at all. This has both pros and cons, as has already been explained in my Web Browsing Bible (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=1828&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).

I REALLY hope Skyfire is WAY better implemented than DeepFish (or Thunderhawk's applet emulation). DeepFish was really slow – not only because its beta servers were, generally, really overloaded, but also because it was implemented using the slowish Compact Framework, as opposed to the much faster Win32 API. Unfortunately, Thunderhawk’s (remote, image transfer-based) Java applet emulation isn’t really capable of emulating running it on the local mobile either. Therefore, I seriously doubt you’ll be able to, say, play fast Flash action games under Skyfire – you’ll still need a local Flash interpreter (only available Opera Mobile or Internet Explorer - and, also, NetFront, but the latter has a pretty buggy and definitely less compatible Flash engine) for that.

I’ll meet the Skyfire folks at Barcelona; hope I’ll be able to play with their browser a bit so that I can quickly test its usability, small screen-friendliness (for example, does it have the same, excellent text boundary recognition engine than that of Opera Mini in full layout mode) and Web standards compliance.

[Menneisyys]

UDPATE (05/11/2008): see my latest User-Agent related article & updates HERE (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&p=2633&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1). Cross-posted to: PPCT (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?p=684405#post684405), AximSite (http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/applications/228195-updated-list-mobile-user-agents.html#post1059219809), XDA-Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2190969#post2190969), BrightHand (http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?p=1678937#post1678937), HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=11059290#post11059290), MoDaCo (http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-general-discussion/268310/an-updated-list-of-mobile-user-agents/).

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (05/23/2008): SkyFire 0.60 review posted to http://www.pocketpcmag.com/cms/node/6203; cross-posted to:
PPCT (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/showthread.php?p=685735),
AximSite (http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/applications/228446-skyfire-brand-new-promising-web-browser-technical-review-comparison.html),
XDA-Developers (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2217058),
BrightHand (http://forum.brighthand.com/showthread.php?p=1681849),
HowardForums (http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=11097006),
MoDaCo (http://www.modaco.com/content/pocket-pc-general-discussion/268583/skyfire-a-brand-new-and-promising-web-browser-technical-review-comparison/).

[Menneisyys]

I’ve just published my last roundup, sporting the latest Web browsers available:

Iris 1.0.16 (1.1.0 b3)
Opera Mobile 9.5b2 / b15233 (!)
Opera Mini 4.2.13337
SkyFire 0.85.0.8184
PIE, along with Spb Pocket Plus 4.0.2
Internet Explorer Mobile 6 (IEM6) (!)
NetFront 3.5.009 b729

… and compared all these to the Safari running on the iPhone with firmware v2.2.

The new roundup is available at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3130648

[Menneisyys]

UPDATE (21/02/2009) : My latest, related article has just been posted to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3360125