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Opera – a new version of the browser for Symbian S60 phones

Maker Opera Software, distribution conditions – shareware, price - $19.95.

A new version of a popular browser for Symbian Series 60 has been released under the number 8 and is intended for Symbian OS 7.0 and higher. It doesn't work with the operating systems of the previous generation (Nokia 7650, 3650, N-Gage, Siemens SX1, and Sendo X). The program is build on Opera 8 for desktop and is SSR-compatible (Small-Screen Rendering). The main goal is internet surfing in GPRS networks. Not recommended for 3G networks.

All the innovations can be conditionally divided into two classes. The first one includes user interface. The manufacturers tried simplifying address entering and navigation along the network the most.

The main menu of the program is represented with bookmarks like Open", "Navigation", "Display", "Tools" and "Settings". "Hot" buttons are foreseen for the most frequently used functions. We'll consider entering www.mobile-review.com from the "Open" line as an example. The "1" button opens an address line with a default prefix www preset. Down deviation of the cursor allows quickly change it for wap. Domain names like ".com", ".net" and ".org" are available for fast input at once. Moving the joystick up, you'll access a list with visited addresses, which is also available from the history file. So, only a central part of the name is to enter (only if you haven't still visited the resource before). Here in this menu item you can open a bookmark menu (button "2"), a home page ("4") and a history file. The next tab is devoted to navigation exclusively. Fast access to the item is available only for adding a new bookmark ("7") or setting a tag (button "3" to set a mark, "6" to transfer to the next mark). While surfing, you can opt not to download pictures at all. A full-screen page view is considerably reworked ("Display" line). With full-screen on the picture fills the whole display including a service bar.

The "Tools" bookmark allows search access (hot button "9"). A default search service is www.google.com. Here you can also search along the page, upload a file, send a line via SMS, MMS or е-mail, and access the page info. You can also empty cache and delete cookies.

The settings menu holds screen settings (java-scripts on/off, pop-up window blocking, rendering conditions - quality or speed), the main connection settings (selecting an access point, the way to move along the text, suffixes and prefixes). You can edit the list of suffixes and prefixes, and added entries appear in fast input options. Expanded options allow turning the mobile accelerator on. This extra chargeable option is a very curious thing! It helps economizing traffic by caching pages on a special server. You can adjust cache size (little - 0.5 MB, medium - 1 MB, big - 2 MB). Working with cookies is organized well. You can allows or forbid them directly from the settings menu.

The engine is considerably reworked and optimized for faster page upload. And the navigation along the uploaded page has been improved. The joystick is endowed with the main role while moving along the page.

Any joystick deviation will activate the next link, which is highlighted at the same time. While uploading pictures are scaled automatically and displayed properly. A question about making a site version available for viewing from a PDA was brought out on the forum, and that's why I'll note you'll have no problem with viewing via this browser.

Uploaded files can be stored in Nokia folder on disk C or any folder on your memory card. At an attempt of downloading an unsupported format, you'll get an alert, however it'll influence downloading in no way. You can set a current page (from the previous session), the browser's start page (www.opera.com is set by default) or own one as a start page.

A considerable engine modification is the second significant change in the program.

Back and reload are added, ECMAS scripts are fully supported. Added WML 1.3 and 2.0, HTML 4.01, CSS2 encryption protocol, inquiry protocol XmlHttp, dynamical HTML. Streaming formats rm and 3gp are supported and played back with a usual real-player. Also added mailto reply function. A multipage off-line manual comes in addition.

And in conclusion several words about an RSS news line. Many sites have included this news format. Though realization on many sites still leaves much to desire. Namely, such sites as www.lenty.ru, www.playmobile.ru and others made mistakes in RSS line, however, www.mport.ru shows the line properly.

This application is undoubtedly the leader among all the browsers considering settings and capabilities.

Victor Dashkevich (v.dashkevich@gmail.com)
Translated by Maria Mitina (maria.mitina@mobile-review.com)

Published - 19 August 2005

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