Develop Bugs

[Apps] Web Browsers

Hi all ,
I've noticed lately in the last week theres been a rush of updates on web browsers. Heres my short notes on them
Fennec :- Latest version isn't that bad compared to last release. Its quite stable now. Also it finally has auto updates so it will always be updated. At 11megs its quite large. http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/m/alpha <--- Use your phones web browser
UC Web 7.2.2.5something :- Lets just say I'm very biased with this browser, It was my default on my winmo phone. Its fast, Got a crap load of options , the best one being night mode (I use it to save power as background is dark). The only bad thing is that its a Proxy based browser like Opera Mini so I would advise you not to use it for anything sensitive like banking. Other then that its hell fast.
Use your internal browser on phone and goto http://wap.ucweb.com
Skyfire 2.x : Not bad but I don't use flash or multimedia on my phone so I rarely ever use this. But it does look like its improved since I last used it 6 months ago on Winmo. Www.Skyfire.com or MARKET
Xscope 6.06 : This is my current default browser as Its small, fast and not a proxy browser. Best option for me in it is "LOAD NEW PAGES IN BACKGROUND" . Theres not much to say other then I love it. Get it from MARKET

Fennec is VERY laggy..

AldasG said:
Fennec is VERY laggy..
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I'd recommend Dolphin HD. Not the quickest browser, but the most convinient to use. Easy gestures, great HD interface, background loading, addons, easy zoom, everything! Tried a bunch of other browsers, but I stick to that one.

you forgot to list opera mini and dolphine HD
my top choice goes to SkyFire,
2nd place opera mini
999999999999 place for Dolphin HD is the slowest browser available in the market right now

No i didn't They havn't been updated in the last week. Dolphin HD was updated yes but I've never been a fan of it. Opera Mini is ok but for some reason I hate it. I use Opera Desktop and want a decent Opera like on Winmo (opera 6.x?) not a proxy based P.O.S that was ment for nokia phones

AllGamer said:
you forgot to list opera mini and dolphine HD
my top choice goes to SkyFire,
2nd place opera mini
999999999999 place for Dolphin HD is the slowest browser available in the market right now
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I don't know why you say this, I have absulutely no problems with the speed. You might tried an older version? If it's indeed the slowest, it shouldn't be more than a few seconds behind. I'm using it every day. Let's say fudzilla.com loaded up in 10 sec. (just checked now)

The renamed Fennec (Firefox Now) is pretty nice and fast. Definatly something to keep out for

ickyboo said:
The renamed Fennec (Firefox Now) is pretty nice and fast. Definatly something to keep out for
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It's still very unstable on SGS...

AllGamer said:
my top choice goes to SkyFire,
2nd place opera mini
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agreed!!
3rd stock browser
4th dolphin HD

My vote is for opera. Very snappy on my vibrant.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App

So far I've tried Opera Mini, Stock and xScope. I've liked xScope most of them all. I notice a lot of people here recommending SkyFire but not even mentioning xScope. Any particular reasons why?

Sooo..What's wrong with the stock browser? I find it to be good enough for me...

same here. i found that the stock browser works best for me.

Stock browser for the win!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Here I use Opera Mini and really enjoy it.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Today I learnt something nice, Xscope 6.06 saves bookmarks the exact same place as stock browser! so any widget/app that uses stock browser's bookmarks work fine like LauncherPro's new popups! SWEETTTT

UCWEB is very bad

i've tried dolphin hd and xScope, liked them on my nexus but on the galaxy they were not only slow but they also really slowed down the whole system and made it very unstable ....that was before i ran the lagfix.
That may not be the case after the lagfix but atm i am happy enough with the stock browser's limited features to risk sludging up the system again.

Talking of browsers, anyone know of a browser that lets you save the webpage to SD card for offline use?
My Nokia N95 had this as standard, and the iPhone has various 3rd party browsers offering this but so far not found any for android

Stock FTW !!! followed by skyfire...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

[Q] Looking for a fast aftermarket browser for evo/flash...

Is there an aftermarket browser that works very well with the evo and flash?

not really, most have issues with macromedia, adobe shouldnt be a problem, I use firefox but it still has pinch to zoom issues, I keep it because no other downloads as well, I've lost signal for 10 minutes on a mediafire download and it resumed while others would have dropped it

I use miren browser

http://www.skyfire.com/
Best browser out there. It was the best on Windows Mobile...and when I got my Evo I tried all the others and ended up back on Skyfire.

postwick said:
http://www.skyfire.com/
Best browser out there. It was the best on Windows Mobile...and when I got my Evo I tried all the others and ended up back on Skyfire.
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it just seems that the stock browser is slow. skyfire sucked on my hero and i didnt need or want all the social options integrated within it, in fact, the only browser that i ever used was opera mini. I dont NEED flash but its nice to have the option.
guess im just seeking something faster. thank you

perhaps a better question could be: which browsers actually support flash? thank you thank you

Dolphin is great in my opinion. Plus it gives you the option to run flash on the page instead of automatically running it. This saves on page load time.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

andresmalvarez said:
Dolphin is great in my opinion. Plus it gives you the option to run flash on the page instead of automatically running it. This saves on page load time.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
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ill try dolphin again also. i just installed skyfire and am messing around with it. so far it seems pretty fast via wifi. i hate ads but i also hate paying for licenses...especially on browsers. thanks!

flash always works in miren for me when i set it to chrome desktop..

so far I have really like Opera Mobile - sometimes pages are a little off but I haven't had any major issues with it - I even like the way tabbed browsing works (I went to nVidia's site to be sure flash worked and it seemed fine to me)
I am an Opera fan though and use it on my desktops to
have read a lot of good things about Dolphin HD tho I have never tried it

MrDSL said:
I use miren browser
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+1
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I am using scope.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

thegh0st said:
so far I have really like Opera Mobile - sometimes pages are a little off but I haven't had any major issues with it - I even like the way tabbed browsing works (I went to nVidia's site to be sure flash worked and it seemed fine to me)
I am an Opera fan though and use it on my desktops to
have read a lot of good things about Dolphin HD tho I have never tried it
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I take it, then, that they've added Flash support to Opera for Android. When I first got my Evo (last fall) I tried it and it didn't work. I settled on Skyfire. One thing to understand about it is that it is not a raw browsing experience. The page is pulled through their proxy servers which "process" it and deliver the content to your phone. One of the cool options is to view in-page videos through the proxy which optimizes them on-the-fly for mobile devices. I've even watched streaming live sports that way and it works great.

MrDSL said:
I use miren browser
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Click to collapse
+1 really liking it...used it since its release.
Sent from my MYN ENHANCED EVO 4G!!!

postwick said:
I take it, then, that they've added Flash support to Opera for Android. When I first got my Evo (last fall) I tried it and it didn't work. I settled on Skyfire. One thing to understand about it is that it is not a raw browsing experience. The page is pulled through their proxy servers which "process" it and deliver the content to your phone. One of the cool options is to view in-page videos through the proxy which optimizes them on-the-fly for mobile devices. I've even watched streaming live sports that way and it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now this is something I do know about - that of which you speak is Opera Mini - that does proxy websites - I am not using that - I am using Opera Mobile (two different Opera's - they make 2 kinds of mobile browsers (mini has always been free - mobile used to cost but I didn't have to pay so it seems to be free now to)
Opera Mobile is a full browser and operates as the desktop version would with no proxy servers involved in reconfiguring the websites then forwarding them - it just pulls the data straight to the device

Best browser of galaxy s2?

Which is the best browser to use on galaxy s2?

Dolphin HD - free from market...extremly easy to navigate + friendly interface
Hot tip -it has option to keep desktop view -not like the stock browser where u are forced to switch it everytime u reopen the browser.
also speed dial included + option to set up gestures (swipe) that will make it even easier to use.
regards

Dolphin hd is so cluttered. Dolphin mini is pretty nice though. I'm currently trying opera mobile.
But nothing beats stock browser.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

Thanks all i tried dolphin HD ,ya i somewhat didnt like it UI.
Opera mobile was comparitively slow. Dolphin Mini havnt tried yet will try out.
Tried Xscope browser and it worked best till now, we can even remove top status bar of android so its full screen with Xscope, But it crashed couple of times.

Hunteres said:
Dolphin HD - free from market...extremly easy to navigate + friendly interface
Hot tip -it has option to keep desktop view -not like the stock browser where u are forced to switch it everytime u reopen the browser.
also speed dial included + option to set up gestures (swipe) that will make it even easier to use.
regards
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The addon that let'S you switch between android and desktop view doesn't seem to work for me, at least not on amazon.
techpal said:
Thanks all i tried dolphin HD ,ya i somewhat didnt like it UI.
Opera mobile was comparitively slow. Dolphin Mini havnt tried yet will try out.
Tried Xscope browser and it worked best till now, we can even remove top status bar of android so its full screen with Xscope, But it crashed couple of times.
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Dolphin HD also has the option to go fullscreen and remove the status bar.
So far I'm very pleased with Dolphin HD, since 5.1.0 it's really a joy using it again!
And imho it beats the stock browser by far, in features, speed and usability!

I tried Dolphin HD and Opera but I am still using stock browser

intruda119 said:
But nothing beats stock browser.
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Here.
Next is Dolphin though.

techpal said:
Which is the best browser to use on galaxy s2?
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Why another thread about browsers when we got one already?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1101308
/CK

Ok guys .Found best browser for me and that is Dolphin Mini. Its faster than dolphin HD to me and renders webpage correctly(in LARGE font dolphin HD sometimes doesnt render webpage correctly). Also i like UI of Mini better than HD, also there is Back button at bottom which HD misses i assume.

I use the stock browser. It's fast and simple.

stock - GPU accelerated says enough

And how do you install your bookmarks from PC to stock browser? I find out how to do it with ease on Dophin HD, but not for stock browser. It is a shame, that can't sync Google Chrome bookmarks with android browser. I'm using Bookmarks to SD.

The stock browser is hardware accelerated, it's extremely fast for scrolling and zooming. I find it a lot smoother than Dolphin HD.

Opera, and input opera:config
set more connections, bigger space in ram,,,,a more more settings to speed uo loading web pages

Dolphin HD is good. But I found another browser which is called Boat Browser Mini is great. It's very simple and easy-to-use. Even makes me feel like use Safari on iPhone. It's cool.

miren browser guys

stock for me nice and simple

mamajinco2 said:
Dolphin HD is good. But I found another browser which is called Boat Browser Mini is great. It's very simple and easy-to-use. Even makes me feel like use Safari on iPhone. It's cool.
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Click to collapse
Another vote for boat browser mini from me.
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Boat browser is the best!!!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

The stock one has but one flaw. No user agent switch. No problem for rooted users with custom roms though.

That's it! I'm done with Chrome!

Such a horrible browser! Lags, freezes, slow, stupid checker board.... Horrible. Constantly refreshes every time I leave the app and come back real quick. The stock browser in my HTC incredible s is faster and more efficient... Even with 4 flash videos running at the same time!
I just used opera mobile just now and it is world's better than crappy chrome mobile.
The only thing it has going for it is the ability to sync desktop bookmarks and current tabs opened... But it's so laggy and slow, it's a pain.
opera Mobile is now my default browser
How can something so awesome on the desktop suck so badly on mobile?
#smh
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I have been enjoying the latest dolphin browser beta: http://dolphin-browser.com/beta/
Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using xda premium

Wow... I keep going back to Chrome. Haven't found any that zoom and wrap any better. Have never seen a refresh. I tried Dolphin, Boat, FF Beta, and Xscope. Keeping Xscope for flash, Chrome for 90% of all other. I use Firefox on PC, so Chrome sync is not used, I don't like so many bookmarks anyway. While I have my favorites on my home page, I find this bookmark app helpful. I find the font and text size in Chrome much better than any other browser. If it would use flash, it's the only one I'd use.

Chrome and Dolphin are the best I've used so far, and neither make me super happy. Chrome lags big time on certain sites (Tumblr for example) and closes tabs as soon as you look away. Dolphin is faster, most of the time, but has rendering issues on some sites (ESPN for example, gives the mobile site vs the tablet site, no matter what the user agent is). As an iOS user historically, I was expecting the browser experience to be better on Android since it's an "open" system, but unfortunately that has not been true. Hopefully someone steps up to the plate.
I had a TF101, and I felt the stock browser on that was better than Chrome now. Especially small usability things like having a bookmarks bar. It shouldn't take 5-10 seconds to load my bookmarks (multiple taps + loading wait), they should be available quickly and efficiently.

I actually quite like chrome on a tablet!
Its always been really responsive and fast.
Tried, dolphin beta, Firefox & opera but none of them compare to chrome.
The lack of flash support isnt a huge problem for me.

Seriously? something must be wrong with your OS or hardware because for me is working great! I'm a ex- Transformer prime user with the stock browser and Chrome is by far the best browser experience I ever had in an Android tablet, although I have not tried that Dolphin Beta mentioned above

yeah, I feel you
I know that chrome is FAR from perfect as of now, and I even have dolphin installed, but something about it just keeps making me come back to it...

I click on the Chrome icon and it opens to my bookmarks home page in about 1 second. Click XDA BM and opens in 1-2 seconds. I find Chrome VERY fast, just lacks flash which is a BIG "just".
Dorkington said:
I had a TF101, and I felt the stock browser on that was better than Chrome now. Especially small usability things like having a bookmarks bar. It shouldn't take 5-10 seconds to load my bookmarks (multiple taps + loading wait), they should be available quickly and efficiently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Chrome is 2nd rate til they enable full screen option, and default desktop setting.
Boat browser swims circles around chrome right now.

If you put Chrome on a transformer prime, it's known to cause all the other browsers you have installed to then lock up and crash on a very regular basis.
You have to uninstall Chrome, and then flash, and reinstall flash to get back to normal. I was curious when they decided to use chrome as the default if they'd fixed this. I think the answer is sorta.
While the lockups arent near as frequent or bad as they are on the prime. It still happens. The best combo on the prime was browser, and opera. Which seems to work well on the nexus as well.

My only gripe with Chrome is that the new tab page opens up Mobile Bookmarks as the default bookmark folder, even though I have absolutely no bookmarks stored in that folder. Why can't I just be taken to the root bookmark folder?
Other than that, Chrome is smooth enough to be usable for me. Usually if it starts chugging, it's because I have another app open in the background eating up all of my system resources. Having to refresh the page after leaving the app for an extended period of time makes sense given the limited resources on this device, and it happens with other browsers, too. Android's memory management is only as good as the memory management of your third party apps, which is to say most developers are still terrible at it.

I too have problems with Chrome. Currently using the stock browser.

Turbocom said:
I too have problems with Chrome. Currently using the stock browser.
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Click to collapse
How does one install the stock browser on the Nexus 7? (Preferably without rooting)

thevuman said:
Such a horrible browser! Lags, freezes, slow, stupid checker board.... Horrible. Constantly refreshes every time I leave the app and come back real quick. The stock browser in my HTC incredible s is faster and more efficient... Even with 4 flash videos running at the same time!
I just used opera mobile just now and it is world's better than crappy chrome mobile.
The only thing it has going for it is the ability to sync desktop bookmarks and current tabs opened... But it's so laggy and slow, it's a pain.
opera Mobile is now my default browser
How can something so awesome on the desktop suck so badly on mobile?
#smh
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chrome on the Nexus 7 is great.. I've never had any of the issue you described. No lags, refreshed, anything. It's fast and perfect.
I've heard people complain about it but all I can think is that there's something wrong on their end.

You guys don't get the checkerboard effect either? Surely you must. I've seen it in video reviews too.
I fap to the porn forums on Tapatalk 2

Checkerboard? Never saw that, but then I've never watched a video in chrome. I either use the You Tube app or Xscope.

tcat007 said:
Checkerboard? Never saw that, but then I've never watched a video in chrome. I either use the You Tube app or Xscope.
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Checkerboard, meaning the whole page hasn't rendered and as you scroll, white squares will fill in spots on the page that haven't rendered yet.

Yeah I find the same with Chrome, good example is to load the Engadget website and scroll through it as its loading.
Using Dolphin, the best browser in my opinion. Might give the new beta a go.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

I love Chrome, it is my first option on all my devices. Never really liked Dolphin

Boat Browser. Android Chrome is still in its puberty. When it has matured, it will be something to reckon with.

Best browser and why

Which browser you use and the reasons why. (Maybe compare features with other browsers) i used boat browser but after having problems viewing full site web i am indecided now between opera chrome or firefox...

I use stock browser... and chome... was using dolphin... but its just "TOO" much for me ... my only issue with chrome is lack of flash... but its hella fast... but stock browser seemms to be a happy medium in most cases for my usage

U should try dolphin browser beta. Fastest browser out it uses the new HTML5 . No flash but I have stock browser for that

Tried Chrome but caused massive battery drain. Uninstalled and great battery life returned. Currently use Dolphin browser and I like all the extras I never use.

I like Dolphin. Tried Firefox a few releases ago but found it very frustrating. Tried the stock browser after flashing my phone with a new ROM but ended up getting Dolphin anyways. Dolphin does have a ton of extras that I'll likely never use but I still find it fast enough and super intuitive to use.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

Always used stock not having any issues its stable and works just the way it should..
Sent from my SGH-T999V using xda premium

JawjaBill said:
Tried Chrome but caused massive battery drain. Uninstalled and great battery life returned. Currently use Dolphin browser and I like all the extras I never use.
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I am also noticing chrome eats battery like crazy! Is fast though. Sucks that doesnt support flashplayer. And whoever mentions about what dolphin includes and blabla i think is just lies. Dolphin devs say they includ advanced stuff but truth is thwir browser is slower than chrome boat firefox and maybe opera.

Doesnt dolphin cause alot of battery drain as well? I switched to chrome because i always see tunny browser or something from using dolhin browser using up my battery a lot! Been using chrome for the past couple of months but I do miss the dolphin gestures!
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I use Chrome on the PC, so Chrome is the obvious choice, mostly because of the automated bookmark sync (I have loads of them). I like using the AOSP browser + CMarks, but it doesn't display the xda page properly after I log in (all text is gray and hard to read). Dolphin does the same thing. Only after I log in.
Not trying Firefox because the desktop version is a joke, why would the mobile version be different? And Opera hasn't been relevant for years.

sarni84 said:
U should try dolphin browser beta. Fastest browser out it uses the new HTML5 . No flash but I have stock browser for that
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+1
Sent from my Wicked Galaxy S3

Touchwiz browser.

BrownDevil said:
I like Dolphin. Tried Firefox a few releases ago but found it very frustrating. Tried the stock browser after flashing my phone with a new ROM but ended up getting Dolphin anyways. Dolphin does have a ton of extras that I'll likely never use but I still find it fast enough and super intuitive to use.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
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I concur. I found Firefox 14 to be incredibly slow. I don't like chrome (personal choice). Dolphin beta crashed too much for me.
I am using Dolphin 9.0.0. It seems to be the most stable and fastest to me. I don't like the menus sliding in from the sides. They tend to come up when I am trying to scroll sideways and I haven't figured out how to turn them off
Please remember that free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it :laugh:

I think im switching back to boat browser. I wish it had an appearance like chrome or firefox

I do recall switching from Boat to Dolphin for the extras I don't really use. Might switch back myself.
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Being able to swipe between tabs on chrome makes a big difference for me. It would have to be chrome in my book.

Chrome
I switched over completely to Chrome, I was using dolphin but I like the ability to switch between devices a lot easier.

Boat. Enough said.
They call me "Jelly" cuz jam don't shake like this!

Xscope Pro. It was the only browser I could find that would let me make an appt. for the DMV from work, I wanna say it was a java based website, but whatever it was, Xscope has been able to take anything I throw at it, and it's got a dark colored theme which is a plus for me because I hate looking at bright white light all the time. Also as a throwback, Steel was an amazing browser for it's time.

Try pushing menu => more => settings => lab => advanced swipe settings and choose disable
You may need to scroll down in settings to see the lab option.
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Aerowinder said:
I use Chrome on the PC, so Chrome is the obvious choice, mostly because of the automated bookmark sync (I have loads of them). I like using the AOSP browser + CMarks, but it doesn't display the xda page properly after I log in (all text is gray and hard to read). Dolphin does the same thing. Only after I log in.
Not trying Firefox because the desktop version is a joke, why would the mobile version be different? And Opera hasn't been relevant for years.
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Click to collapse
This must be the most stupid and ignorant post I ever read on Xda. Your comments about Firefox and Opera are ridiculous.
Sent from my HTC One S