Opera Mini de-betas on Android Opera has taken the beta tag off the Android incarnation of its low-bandwidth mobile browser, offering an Opera Mini 5.1 that includes a few small improvements over the 5.0 beta. Yes, they've jumped straight from a 5.0 beta to 5.1 This brings the Android version in line with last week's update for various other platforms. The …
I can see the point for big websites when I've got a poor connection speed, but most websites I look at have a mobile edition, and the rendering's fast enough on a desire to make webkit work just fine for the others as long as you've got wifi. I'm sure it will come in useful at some point though
It's VERY handy for setting up custom searches - almost any website with a search box can be added as a custom search to Opera Mini, meaning when I'm out and about and get the urge to impulse buy a DVD, game or whatever I can very quickly get to IMDb results, reviews, prices etc.
Yes, I know I can use ShopSavvy et al, but tbh I feel like a tit standing in the supermarket scanning barcodes with my phone.
It would be nice to have a zoom in/zoom out function, it would probably then become my default browser. At the moment I am stuck between scrolling all over the place to find what I want (especially with the new BBC News site - don't get me started), and constantly going in, and out of the settings.
Had i been able to set 5.0 as default browser (yes i'd tried all the clunky intermediaries) I would probably still be using it, but as I am now using Froyo (CM 6.0 RC1 to be exact) and the standard browser is very rapid and X-scope renders pages much easier on a mobile screen, I am afraid Opera has missed it's chance with me
The interface is rough and clumsy compared to the default Android browser, and the rendering isn't nearly as good.
However, I use Opera anyway- for the bandwidth savings. It eats into my data allowance less, and also works a great deal better when you're on a train which keeps going through tunnels. That last bit is important, if you're reading your interpipes while commuting..
It's free, it's not crippled, doesn't have ads, so you may as well give it a whirl. For some people, the clunkyness will be too irritating, for others the bandwidth savings will make it all worthwhile.
I only tend to use it when I'm stuck on a 2G network, but 5.1 is a solid upgrade. I do wonder what's keeping them from releasing Opera Mobile on Android though - they seem to be concentrating a bit too much on Symbian (and even Windows Mobile has it!) - considering both these platforms seem to be dying I'm not sure that's a wise move.
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