View Full Version : Video: Opera Mini 4 versus Pocket Internet Explorer
Brandon Miniman
11-20-2007, 11:49 PM
There haven't been many attempts at building a better browser for Windows Mobile. Over the years, we've seem some projects come and go, but in the end, we're still left with PIE which does a mediocre job at bringing us the internet on a mobile device - pages load slowly and viewing a desktop page is like trying to read a book with a blindfold. Microsoft knows they need to build a better browser, and are working on improvements (some of which I've seen).
One such company that is trying to build a better browser is Opera. With the release of version 4 (http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=news&id=4688), a few important changes have been added (in addition to the usual bug fixes and increases in performance), such as landscape mode (good for Smartphones) and an excellent pan feature that makes navigating a web page on your Windows Mobile device akin to using an iPhone. A feature that I didn't show on the video is the mouse feature. If you are using a non-touchscreen device, you can press the star key to have a little mouse pointer smoothly jump over the clickable areas of a web page. Very neat. Here's how to download Opera (http://www.operamini.com/features/). It's brought to you at the glorious price of free.
Rainman
11-21-2007, 10:37 AM
I do like this browser. I just hate having to start the Java app first then the Opera Mini. But I think I will be using this as my primary browser.
I do like this browser. I just hate having to start the Java app first then the Opera Mini. But I think I will be using this as my primary browser.
You don't need to. You can shortcut directly to it and if you have a signed copy, it won't even ask for access permission.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=344622&highlight=opera
Brandon Miniman
11-21-2007, 06:56 PM
You don't need to. You can shortcut directly to it and if you have a signed copy, it won't even ask for access permission.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=344622&highlight=opera
Ok, so this will eliminate that annoying pop up that occurs when using the program?
sanjsrik
11-22-2007, 06:19 PM
Totally, completely, and absolutely confused. Every single review I've read seems to imply that the "jar" and "jad" files should automatically execute or better yet, there is almost NO mention in any of the reviews that you have to have a JVM running on WM5 devices that don't have it in the first place. So, fine, do a little research and find Midlet Manager. Install it, and try to run the "jar" or the "jad" clicking on the "Opera mini" icon that is installed inside of the midlet manager application yields the same result every time.
"Failed to run the MIDLet"
No idea what this means. No explanation anywhere about it in the application.
Is this not meant for Treo 700wx? On the download page for Opera Mini, after going through the device selection for a Treo 700wx, I'm told that after testing that Opera Mini will run on the device.
Yet, there seems to be NO instruction except for the "follow the prompts on screen." What prompts on what screen? I can no more install this without Midlet manager than I can run it without getting the error message when I tap the "Opera Mini" icon in Midlet Manager.
For the Treo 700wx, is there something special I have to do that will make the application run? Everyone is touting this application as much better then PIE, however, PIE runs. I don't have to install any JVM, and I don't have wonder what I'm doing wrong.
Any help and/or explanation as to what I'm doing wrong would be greatly appreciated.
Ok, so this will eliminate that annoying pop up that occurs when using the program?
Exactly. It makes it feel much more like a normal application since you won't need to start the Java Manager and it won't ask you for permission. If you need help getting it working, let me know.
Totally, completely, and absolutely confused. Every single review I've read seems to imply that the "jar" and "jad" files should automatically execute or better yet, there is almost NO mention in any of the reviews that you have to have a JVM running on WM5 devices that don't have it in the first place. So, fine, do a little research and find Midlet Manager. Install it, and try to run the "jar" or the "jad" clicking on the "Opera mini" icon that is installed inside of the midlet manager application yields the same result every time.
"Failed to run the MIDLet"
No idea what this means. No explanation anywhere about it in the application.
Is this not meant for Treo 700wx? On the download page for Opera Mini, after going through the device selection for a Treo 700wx, I'm told that after testing that Opera Mini will run on the device.
Yet, there seems to be NO instruction except for the "follow the prompts on screen." What prompts on what screen? I can no more install this without Midlet manager than I can run it without getting the error message when I tap the "Opera Mini" icon in Midlet Manager.
For the Treo 700wx, is there something special I have to do that will make the application run? Everyone is touting this application as much better then PIE, however, PIE runs. I don't have to install any JVM, and I don't have wonder what I'm doing wrong.
Any help and/or explanation as to what I'm doing wrong would be greatly appreciated.
You only really need the Jar.
Go to this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1666254&postcount=6
**** the link's Jar file to your device. Open the midlet manager and install it. Depending on which manager you got, there should be an install option and it will search your device. The rest should be intuitive.
Once it's installed, just follow my post here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1667954&postcount=8
It should run fine after that.
Let me know how it works out.
Jaime Rivera
11-23-2007, 07:01 PM
Did you all notice the difference in download data between each. Opera downloaded Brandon's Buy.com with 123kb as opposed to PIE which did it at 325kb. Opera Mini definitely is better and cheaper for browsing.
Did you all notice the difference in download data between each. Opera downloaded Brandon's Buy.com with 123kb as opposed to PIE which did it at 325kb. Opera Mini definitely is better and cheaper for browsing.
That's because it goes through the Opera servers to get compressed and optimized before it gets sent to your device. Both a good thing and a bad thing.
Menneisyys
11-25-2007, 06:30 PM
there is almost NO mention in any of the reviews that you have to have a JVM running on WM5 devices that don't have it in the first place.
Well, you may have missed mine, where I've stated ALL Windows Mobile users should upgrade to the Jbed MIDlet manager. It's at the official Opera Mini forums at http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=212888&t=1194892347&page=1#comment2323301 . Incidentally, you may also find the MIDlet Bible useful - it's a sticky thread ( http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=210354 ) in the same forum. However, you don't necessarily need the latter in order just to be able to run Opera Mini.
So, fine, do a little research and find Midlet Manager. Install it, and try to run the "jar" or the "jad" clicking on the "Opera mini" icon that is installed inside of the midlet manager application yields the same result every time.
"Failed to run the MIDLet"
It seems you're running TAO, one of the worst MIDlet Managers. Use Jbed instead.
For the Treo 700wx, is there something special I have to do that will make the application run?
Nothing - just switch to Jbed and everything will work just fine.
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