Android users - Which browser?

[neilski]

Due to moving out of my flat very soon, I've cancelled my broadband contract and am using my Streak as my main way of connecting to the internet for the time being so was wondering what people are using as their browser of choice these days.

At the moment I'm using Opera Mobile as I gather it compresses images and doesn't automatically load Flash to save on my monthly data allowance or have I got this totally wrong and there's another browser that's a PH favourite and miles better than the rest?

[bishbash]

I use Miren, allthough I'm not sure it will help with reducing your data allowance in the same way that opera mini does, I'm usually on wireless so not bothered about that too much.

[CzechItOut]

I use Opera Mobile, as it is the "least worse" of all the browsers I have tried.

Am I the only person who is very confused why Google don't make a version of Chrome for Android?

[aizvara]

CzechItOut said:

Am I the only person who is very confused why Google don't make a version of Chrome for Android?

The team developing Chrome browser and OS are separate from the Android team. I think some of the browser code is shared (UI and JS engines?). The Chrome guys are on record as saying that they haven't really talked about that idea, but are likely to be sharing more code as time goes on.

[Marf]

Opera Mini here

CzechItOut said:

I use Opera Mobile, as it is the "least worse" of all the browsers I have tried.

How does it compare to Mini?

[Gren]

Tried most of em and none were any faster than the standard one and none offered anything extra that I wanted. All they did was hog more space.

Using a Desire so not sure if the Sense browser is different?

[MrTom]

Dolphin HD here,
proper tabbed browsing, gestures (stores urls of your favourite sites as a gesture you draw on the screen, e.g. I draw a 'P' with my finger and PH loads up).

[TazR6]

Other.
Dolphin Mini. I find it to be great.

[neilski]

Marf said:

Opera Mini here

CzechItOut said:

I use Opera Mobile, as it is the "least worse" of all the browsers I have tried.

How does it compare to Mini?

Mobile has a "desktop client" mode that fools websites into thinking you're on a PC rather than a phone so it doesn't switch to the mobile version of the site by default. One thing I've found is that using the desktop client mode you can watch iPlayer over 3G instead of wi-fi which iPlayer normally forces you to do.

On my Nokia (not Android) there's a data counter that displays the amount of kb being downloaded as each page loads and Mini uses considerably less than Mobile but without such a counter on Android there's no way of knowing if this still holds true.

Mobile also seems slightly quicker than Mini (on my Streak).

[Bill Carr]

Miren here. It's the best I've used so far (not tried Dolphin)

[Marf]

neilski said:

opera mobile vs mini stuff

Cool thanks

[BlackLabel]

I know this is an old thread but was wondering if someone can help me with an issue I have.

I've just inherited a galaxy tab 2 (my 8 year old nephew has 'upgraded' lol) and had a question about using multiple tabs on a browser.

For example on the laptop and pc I use Firefox and could have one tab having iplayer running and listening to the news whilst abother will have PH or another site open where I'm doing some reading etc. However on the android platform it appears if I move from one tab to another the first tab shuts down.

Is there a solution to my problem?

[Dave_ST220]

Hmm, when you say shut down does the tab close or does it stop responding? I use chrome and IIRC a non active tab becomes inactive (if you see what I mean!!). I look at live data sometimes and when switching between tabs they take a while to reload as it were. Probably a battery saving option??

[BlackLabel]

Dave_ST220 said:

Hmm, when you say shut down does the tab close or does it stop responding? I use chrome and IIRC a non active tab becomes inactive (if you see what I mean!!). I look at live data sometimes and when switching between tabs they take a while to reload as it were. Probably a battery saving option??

It just stops responding. For example, was watching some live snooker there on the bbc site and when I moved over to this tab the snooker streaming on tab 1 stops. When I move back over it starts again (live). I just want to be able to listen to the content on tab 1 whilst reading the content on tab 2 etc.

Does any browser do this.

Thanks for responding btw

[abbotsmike]

Have you tried using the iplayer app? It may behave in the same way, but worth a try!

In general though, They haven't got the grunt to handle multiple tabs, so that is probably part of the reason behind it.

[Murph7355]

Chrome.

[dtmpower]

Murph7355 said:

Chrome.

This ^

[Dave_ST220]

Just double checked, Chrome seems fine It only loses the data when I exit the browser so I'd assume you will need to at least keep the browser open?

[edeath]

I have selected Built in browser. But this is Chrome on the Nexus 5 not the normal built in one.

[BlackLabel]

Thanks will give Chrome a go.