It's been a few days since Opera unwrapped its latest beta browser for mobile phones, and we've had some more time to get acquainted. Opera Mobile 10 beta (download), which runs on certain Symbian Series 60 smartphones, adds some improvements to its password manager and has made a few tweaks under the hood. However, its most significant alterations are in its visual design. Bottom line: We like it, and we like how similar it is to Opera Mini 5 beta, a recent overhaul of the free Opera browser for Java phones.
There are some downsides with the version 10 beta browser that have cropped up--these go beyond the known issues and bugs. Opera's smartphone browser continues to struggle with accurately rendering complex pages. When zooming in on CNET Download.com on the Nokia N97, we saw text and graphics overlap. While Web sites often redirect to a URL optimized for mobile phones, we'd still like to see graphically rich pages rendered more faithfully in Opera Mobile on those that don't have specialized versions.
Its responsiveness was also an issue on the Nokia N97 test phone, but we suspect this has more to do with the device than with Opera. CNET reviewers dinged the Nokia N97 for its choice of an inconsistently responsive resistive touch screen instead of the capacitive touch screen that's found on the iPhone.
Even if you don't have a compatible Nokia, Samsung, or Sony Ericsson phone to test Opera Mobile 10 beta with yourself, you can watch our First Look video to see the new browser beta's features--its new tabs interface shines.
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The mobile browser space is heating up again, with some significant new releases such as Opera Mini 5 beta and Internet Explorer Mobile 6. Mozilla jumps in, too, releasing Fennec 1.0 beta 4 for Maemo this week.
If you haven't heard of Maemo, it's Nokia's platform for Internet devices. This Fennec beta brings us ever closer to a stable version of the in-development Firefox mobile browser for Nokia Internet Tablets. Nokia's Internet devices are just the beginning, though. Support for the legions of Nokia's smartphones would presumably follow, as would work on the version of Fennec for Windows Mobile phones, currently in an inchoate alpha 3 stage.
The beta 4 release adds some specific adjustments and bug fixes, especially around the add-on, bookmark, and download managers. Here's the full list, courtesy of Mozilla:
- Improved touch-friendly theme
- Improved panning and zooming performance and behavior
- Add search providers from the site identity panel
- Manage search providers from the Add-ons Manager
- Simplified the Download Manager (removed searching and find file on disk)
- Streamlined the bookmarking process
- Simplified the bookmark management
- Pop-up notification when background tabs open
- Bookmark list now displays the URL and tags associated with a bookmark
- Added a product information page (about:fennec or use the button in Preferences)
- Support for add-ons options in the Add-on Manager
- Support for updating add-ons
- Support for the HandheldFriendly meta-tag (support for the viewport meta-tag is coming)
The last peep we heard about Fennec was in late June, when Mozilla updated its mobile edition of the Firefox browser for Windows Mobile phones. This week, the Firefox browser maker has released an updated version for the platform powering Nokia N800 and N810 Internet Tablets: Fennec 1.0 Beta 3. (You can also download a desktop emulator for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.)
Following 'the rule of threes,' it could be a good guess that after this third beta, the final version will be next in line. A Mozilla spokesperson, however, told CNET that more beta builds are expected in the future.
This beta update for the Linux-based Maemo operating system especially addresses performance and user interface, starting with a theme refresh. In the future, the interface will also be better able to support a variety of devices and orientations.
(Credit:
Mozilla)
Additionally, Fennec 1.0 beta 3 takes on slow scrolling and panning. The third beta should see sped-up performance and the ability to scroll iframes. As you pan, Fennec for Maemo's new image-rendering system will save more of the screen. It should take less time to refresh the screen as you navigate back and forth.
The next build will focus on smoothing out rough edges, Stuart Parmenter, Mozilla's director of mobile engineering, said in a blog post. The team will particularly pay attention to using the browser's new rendering system to nix the checkerboard pattern you see when panning around.
As a beta product, Fennec 1.0 beta 3 is intended for testers to help work out the kinks. Read the full release notes here.
Article updated at 1:15 pm with a comment from Mozilla.
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