After purchasing of iPod touch, I thought that there is no better browser for mobile devices, then mobile safari. Although I heard repeatedly that Apple has developed a revolutionary new browser for iPhone, but I could not imagine that browsing the WWW with a PDA-like device could be so handy.
Mobile Safari has significant advantages over traditional mobile browsers such as Internet Explorer or Opera Mobile Mobile 8.xx.
Here are some of them:
1.The speed - Mobile Safari loads sites more quickly
2.Very good support of web technologies such as XHTML, JavaScript and Ajax
3.Tabbled browsing - you can comfortably open multiple tabs and switch between them
4. Zoom: Unlike above rivals, Mobile Safari shows a web page as an overview, then you can focus different parts of a web page with a double-tap, so that this part will be automatically fit to screen.
5.Quick-time video support: You can see embedded video sequences in quick time format, even in full-screen mode.
and some screenshots:
It is no wonder that the other browser developers try to implement these ideas in own products. The reaction of Microsoft in form of Windows Mobile 6.1 with an improved version of Internet Explorer is not particularly noteworthy, because the improvements seem to be limited. The new Opera version is much more interesting in this case. The developers promise us many interesting features. We can discuss long, who copies which product, but as a consumer, I find this movement a good thing because I can save a lot of money by abdication of buying of iPhone and conversion to the new operation system, instead I can use my existing device.
Here is a list of the features that developers of Opera promise:
1.Opera will be faster
2.The user interface will be redesigned, it should be much more intuitive to navigate,
3.Zoom effect à la iPhone / iPod touch
4.Support of flash - this feature is one of the main arguments when choosing between Safari and Opera Mobile
5.Widgets - small Web programs
Opera Mobile in action:
This all sounds very good and the price of about $ 20 is ok if you consider how much money you are saving, while renouncing the purchase of iPhone. The only problem is Opera Mobile is still in the development.
SPB Insight works with the same principle as AvantGo but the programmers from SPB Software House promise noticeable more performance, but not for free.
The Software is from the beginning not free and it costs $19.95 (once), but it is free from advertising and you have no size-limitations.
The other highlight of this software are user-interface, it has not only a good design, but also a good functionality. It seems that the programmers spent a lot of time with analyzing customer’s wishes. For example you are able now to admin your channels from the software, so you don’t need to login in web interface for that any more.
You are also able to make separate update all of your channels and you have still a possibility to choose the channels from the online catalogue or make own one from rss or atom-feeds.
ICQ is one of the most used web applications on PC and I think that any of Pocket PC owners early or later decide to install this messenger on their devices. But Pocket ICQ from Mirabilis seems to be forgotten by their developers. That’s why it is worth to see some alternative messengers that support protocol of ICQ.
One of the alternative messengers with support of ICQ protocol is mChat.
This Program has many advantages such as:
- it’s free
- Multilingual Interface (English, German, Russian)
- Two rows contact list (for better overview)
- Smiles-Support
- Quick switch between program-windows with tabs
- Shows X-Status
- Shows Information about ICQ-Client on the other side (e.g. QIP)
Disadvantages:
- Don’t support Toonel.net
Homepage of Project:
http://mgslab.com/Index.php?&lng=en
AvantGo is a program with that you can synchronise and read predefined and self made channels on your Pocket PC, Palm or mobile phone.
After the registration on the Website www.avantgo.com you have a possibility to choose the channels from a big list of predefined news or to make a new one from rss-feed. After the sync, that takes around 2 or 3 minutes (Depends on the size of your channels) you can read your channels offline.
The maximum size of free account is 2 Megabytes and it is enough for 10 or 15 channels, but if you want to have more space, you may buy 8 Megabytes for only $19.95 annually.
Resco Explorer is a file manager for Windows Mobile that I use as alternative for native file manager. Unlike Windows Explorer, that supports only basic functions, Resco Explorer has dozens of useful features. There are such features as registry-manager that makes editing of registry possible, ftp-tool, zip de-compressor, network browser, encryption-tool, viewer for text and graphic, today plugin with system information + quick launch toolbar and so on.
But not only the features played a big role for me, but also design and it is really good.
There is only one disadvantage for me, it is the price of $24.95.
