Opera Software produces a range of web browsers; I use their desktop browser for my day-to-day web browsing.
For some time, they've also produced Web Browsers targeted at mobile phones and other handheld devices. Traditionally, they've had two such products. Opera Mobile is designed for high-memory devices, and runs in native code, whereas Opera Mini has been its light-weight cousin.
On 22nd March 2011, Opera Software released Opera Mini 6, which is their best yet by a long way. At last, there is a native version of Opera Mini for Symbian phones, rather than having to rely on Java as an intermediary.
Opera Mini allows you to browse the web on a mobile phone or handheld device. It does not require a great amount of memory, meaning that even low-end devices can usually run it. Features that make it a winner include:
- Data Compression: The hard work of rendering the page is done on an Opera Server, and the page is then compressed before being sent to your phone. That can reduce your bandwidth use by up to 90%. (Secure HTTPS pages excepted)
- Synchronised Bookmarks: If you use the Opera Link service, your desktop bookmarks acquire a folder called “Opera Mini”. Any bookmarks you put in there appear as bookmarks in your Opera Mini installation, and any bookmarks you store in Opera Mini appear there.
- Tabbed browsing.
- Speed Dial
- Cookie management.
- Save passwords if you wish.
- Kinetic Scrolling.
- HTML5, and full-page rendering so that you can browse a web-page and it looks normal.
- View the whole page or zoom into part of it.
- Text flows so that you don't have to keep scrolling horizontally to read a paragraph.
Compared to the default browser supplied with most handheld devices, it's so much better.
Links to follow: