Opera Mini has a short history (the project was started only slightly over two years ago), but, today, with the release of version 4, it has become one of the most useful, best browsers available for anything handheld.
In this review & tutorial, I provide you with a complete tutorial of installing and using this recently released browser and, in addition, I explain why you may want to prefer it to other Web browsers.
First, some screenshots taken on wildly different platforms / devices:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
(VGA Windows Mobile Pocket PC screenshot)
(QVGA Symbian S60v3 Nokia N95 screenshot)
(176*220 Windows Mobile Smartphone screenshot)
Note that note of the above screenshots use real full screen mode – hence the top and bottom bars. The last screenshot with enabled full screen mode can be seen in the following screenshot:
1.1 Why you will want to use it?
You’ll find it a god-send particularly when
you’re over a VERY slow (for example, GPRS) connection and want the fastest browsing solution, preferably with images
yours isn’t an unlimited data plan; that is, you pay big bucks for every Megabytes
you don’t want to pay for a third-party browser (they, in general, cost big bucks)
you’re a desktop Opera user (you should be – give it a try, you’ll love it, particularly if you have a notebook with a high-resolution (at least SXGA+) screen – Opera’s zoom-in features are way better than those of Internet Explorer and are only matched by Mozilla) and you want to synchronize your bookmarks with it as easily and automatically as possible
you look for an easy-to-use, non-separate, integrated RSS reader – that is, you need a Web browser that also notifies you when you surf to a page also having RSS feed
your mobile device is resource-constrained, while you’d like to keep tens of Web pages, preferably with images, open at the same time (without the need for reloading). This is where most (if not ALL) other browsers severely fail, even on high-end mobile devices packed with tens of Megabytes of free (!) RAM memory.
you want something like the minimap feature of the Nokia Web browser on newer Nokia devices, the NetFront 3.4 Technical Previews (which, being just previews, are severely restricted and lack Flash, more than 10 favorites and other goodies) on Windows Mobile or the iPhone Safari browser but usable on any platform (incl. any Windows Mobile device) – but even faster and having much less resource demands
you want something with hardware button / keypad support. Opera Mini supports them just great. If yours is a phone with the dialpad on the front of your phone, you’ll REALLY love these shortcuts because, then, you will rarely (if ever) need to use the softkeys (or, on touchscreen devices, the stylus) to navigate the menus. Using button shortcuts is WAY faster. As opposed to this, (on Windows Mobile) NetFront and Minimo doesn’t support buttons at all and (on Symbian) Nokia Web isn’t very good either. The MS Smartphone version of IEM is, shortcut button support-wise, is also definitely inferior to Opera Mini – it supports far fewer operations than Opera Mini.
In the following two sections, I compare it to the other browsers available for the two current, major mobile operating systems, Windows Mobile and Symbian. (Freely skip the one not pertaining to you.)
1.1.1 How does it compare to other Windows Mobile browsers?
While there’re quite a few Web browsers on Windows Mobile, only few of them are actually usable: the built-in Internet Explorer Mobile (preferably with a capable plug-in like PIEPlus, Spb Pocket Plus 4.x (but NOT older versions) or MultiIE), Opera Mobile and NetFront. These three browsers (and the other Web browsers and IEM plug-ins I, generally, don’t really recommend: Picsel, Thunderhawk, Minimo etc.) all have their strengths and weaknesses, on which I’ve thoroughly elaborated in my two (a separate one for Windows Mobile Pocket PC’s and Smartphones HERE and HERE, respectively) Web Browsing Bibles
1.1.2 How does it compare to other Symbian browsers?
On Symbian, there’re two other, really decent Web browsers.
Opera Mobile is available for all S60 v2 (!) and v3 devices and is pretty decent. For example, unlike its Windows Mobile counterpart, it supports in-page text searching (which is painfully missing from the WM version). It, however, doesn’t use a compression service, which means long downloading times over slow links and has pretty high memory requirements.
Nokia’s Web browser coming with all S60v3 FP1 models is also very decent: it supports in-page searching, Flash Lite, minimap view and a lot of other goodies. However, it’s decidedly slower than Opera Mini and if your phone is a Nokia N95-1 with 64M RAM only, you’ll inevitably run into the MAJOR problems caused by its taking a lot of memory.
While Opera Mini 4 allocates about 10 Mbytes of memory to itself (which is a big letdown on the N95-1), after the initial memory allocation, no more memory will be allocated and you can safely go on browsing.
1.1.3 When will you still need to stick to a traditional Web browser?
Unfortunately, there’re several areas Opera Mini doesn’t excel at. While, say, 95% of the time it works just wonderfully (no wonder I use it for most of my Web browsing on both Windows Mobile and Symbian phones) for just accessing the Web, in the remaining 5% you’ll need to “fall back” to other, traditional, non-Java-based browsers. You wi
if you need full JavaScript and/or AJAX support. Only a subset of these standards are supported (albeit still a LOT more than in Internet Explorer Mobile, Thunderhawk or Picsel!). See THIS for more info if interested.
These browsers will inevitably be invoked when you make Opera Mini download a file (this, however, doesn’t mean you will need to stick to using these browsers!)
As you can’t make Opera Mini the default system browser, links received in e-mails and HTML files in the local file system will still need to be browsed via these browsers – unless (if it’s a remote Web page, not a local, say, HTML file or file attachment) you paste the address of the page to the address bar of Opera Mini (OM for short).
If you need Java applet and/or Flash (Lite) support. It’s with very few pages that you do need them; for example, Handango’s Friday giveouts, requiring full Flash compliance, are one of them. And, for YouTube, you will want to use alternate methods to play, NOT direct, in-line playback. (If you do use the TCPMP plug-in under Windows Mobile, then, you will still need to use IEM.) That is, generally, it’s when you want to play some online Flash games (see THIS Flash Bible for more info if interested) that you will need to stick to a browser supporting Flash.
There are some other restrictions; for example, you absolutely MUST edit text longer than 4-5 kilobytes. Then, because of the MIDlet Manager (also abbreviated as KVM) restrictions, you’ll end up having to switch to a “real” browser – at least for the time of editing.
You need to save Web pages to the local file system and/or copy text out of them. Unfortunately, OM is completely unable to do this. Unfortunately, with current KVM’s, not even copying a URL (for example, that of the current page) to the clipboard is possible.
Again and again, speaking out of experience, a casual user will very rarely need to switch back to these browsers and, after finding out how easy Opera Mini is to use, how quick it is to load pages and operate and how wonderfully low system requirements it has, he or she will want to stick with Opera Mobile.
1.2 Installation
(Note that this section only contains WM5+ Windows Mobile Pocket PC screenshots showing the MIDlet manager Jbed. As I recommend Jbed the most and I do urge you to install Jbed on your phone too, I didn’t bother including screenshots / instructions on installing OM under other MIDlet managers. Similarly, I don’t give you Symbian screenshots either – installing and running OM is done in a very similar way as under WM.)
1.2.1 Installing a MIDlet Manager
If you have a Windows Mobile device with at least WM5 as the operating system (sorry, previous operating systems aren’t supported – not even WM2003SE, let alone even older OS’es) and it’s not the latest models (for example, the Kaiser / Mda Vario III / Tilt) of HTC, then, you will want to download the Jbed MIDlet Manager HERE. If you do this on your desktop computer, transfer the CAB file to your handset and click / activate it from File Explorer (or any other explorer tool like Total Commander). Just install it (it’ll be installed in the main memory) and you’re set – you can go on installing Opera Mini itself.
Jbed will run on ALL Pocket PC’s and Smartphones running at least WM5. If you have an earlier operating system, check out the “Platform compatibility” section (with three rows corresponding to non-phone-enabled Pocket PC’s, Pocket PC Phone Edition and MS Smartphones in turn) in the main MIDlet Bible chart for download links; then, you’ll want to use either TAO Intent or IBM J9. Of the two, I’d prefer the former, but that’s only me.
Note that you can ONLY use this MIDlet manager if and only if your locale is set to a language using Western characters: Spain, France, Finland, you got it. (This doesn’t only cover Western languages; for example, Estonian only uses letters already present in some other Western languages. That is, while Estonian is an East-European language / locale, it’ll still work.) If, on the other hand, you have a, say, Slavonic locale (for example, Slovak), Jbed will NOT work. If your locale is Russian, then, you will want to check out THIS file instead; linked from HERE. Note that the latter MIGHT work with other East-European locales; I haven’t tested this myself.
Also note that if you have a non-phone WM5+ Pocket PC (for example, a Dell Axim x50(v) (with the WM5 upgrade) /x51(v) etc.), you will also need to download THIS file and unZIP its contents to \Windows on your Pocket PC.
1.2.2 Installing Opera Mini itself
If you’d like to download the browser onto your desktop computer and, then, transfer it to your phone, go to THIS page and click the opera-mini-advanced.jar link (I don’t provide a direct link to the latter as it always changes, as newer and newer builds are released). A JAR file will be downloaded. Transfer it to your PDA via ActiveSync, a memory card, a wireless connection, the WinCE File System plug-in of Total Commander etc., fire up Pocket File Explorer on your phone and click it. It’ll initiate the install process.
If, on the other hand, you’d like to do this on your phone, enter the address http://mini.opera.com/ into any of your Web browser on your phone (screenshot HERE) , scroll down and click “Try the new Opera Mini 4” link. This will take you to the page http://mini.opera.com/?rel=4, where you only need to click “Download high memory version”. Then, the installation will start – just like with the offline process outlined in above.
It’s pretty easy to install Opera Mini. You’ll just need to answer OK, Yes and Continue. For example, when you’re presented THIS screen (asking you whether OM should be put in the root folder or any subfolder), THIS and THIS question to to launch it. During the process, you’ll see other dialogs; for example, THIS showing the compilation process.
Now that you’ve launched the app, keep answering OK / Yes / Accept as can be seen in THIS screen. On the next screen, you’ll (again) press OK (the “Yes, but ask me next session” will be selected by default; it’s perfectly OK with us). After this, answer Yes to the next question too and, then, activate Accept to accept the license agreement.
Upon the first execution, after you click a link (and, therefore, initiate a network connection) you’ll need to press at least one button several times until the progress bar is full. You can do this with any button if you have numeric buttons; do this with the D-pad (any directions) if you don’t.
1.3 Usage
After this, you’ll find using OM pretty straightforward by using the two WM5 softkeys (or the touch screen). I’m pretty sure you’ll find it easy to use.
Note that in the review of the previous beta3, I’ve already spent a LOT of time explaining how link synchronization and managing RSS feeds work. Please do refer to the article for a complete overview of both these techniques.
Users new to OM will surely notice that entering text is done differently than using regular Web browsers. Now, if you click (move the focus to and press the Action button on it) a text input field / area, you won’t be able to do an “in-line” edit, but you’ll be taken to a separate and, in most cases, full screen text editor. Jbed’s text editor is one of the best (for comparison: TAO Intent’s (a well-known, widely used KVM) editor has severe restrictions: it doesn’t support copy/paste operations), but keep in mind that it (as with ALL the other KVM’s on Windows Mobile and some KVM’s on Symbian) can’t edit texts larger than some 4 kilobytes.
Note that after exiting (Menu / Exit) or shutting down (with an external task manager tool or by resetting the device) OM, you will need to go to Start / Programs and select the Esmertec Jbed icon (highlighted HERE) and click (or, press Launch while it’s selected) “Opera Mini” inside. Note that if you’re a somewhat more advanced user, you can easily invoke OM4 without starting Esmertec Jbed first (that is, you save some screen taps / button presses) by following my remarks in the “Direct, system-level links (shortcuts) to MIDlets” row of the main chart of the MIDlet Bible.
Under newer Symbian versions, you need to basically do the same as above. The difference is that these newer Symbian versions (as opposed to, say, the MIDlet Manager on the S60v1 N-Gage) puts a direct link to OM into Applications (example screenshot HERE); that is, you don’t need to create these links yourself.
1.4 Changes since beta 3
In addition to some, mostly “dumbphone” (that is, not Symbian / Windows Mobile-related) bug fixes, there is some welcome news for touch screen users.
First, you may already have noticed how complicated it is to reorganize the favorites list on the mobile phone. You repeatedly need to select Manage / Move up (or, down) to move a given favorite up or down, which involves a lot of work (and there’re no sorting capabilities built-in). Of course, if you have access to a desktop Opera browser, you can quickly do this stuff by either quick sorting (Sort / View by … in the context menu) or mouse-based drag and drop.
Now, if you have a touchscreen-based device (for example, a Pocket PC), you can, with the stylus, just highlight a favorite (as you would do when using the traditional way of reorganizing them) and, then, keeping the stylus down, drag it to its new position (note that this will not be animated – that is, you’ll only see the favorite moving after you’re lifted up the stylus from the touchscreen).
In addition, there’s another goodie you might want to know: now, keeping down the stylus on a Web page results in the context menu to be shown. The context menu slightly varies on the markup you’ve invoked it on:
links have a "Link" submenu, allowing for opening the link either with or without images (and also getting its address) as can be seen in HERE
images have a “Open Image” shortcut, which, in addition to showing the image in a new window, also let for downloading and saving it
the page itself (no links / images) “only” have the mobile view switch, reloading and information shortcuts
This context menu is also accessible by pressing “1” on the keypad - or, of course, emulating the keypress on the on-screen software input panel or, finally, assigned to a hardware button. This all has been thoroughly explained in the MIDlet Button Bible – make sure you DO read it because it’ll REALLY ease your life and increase your productivity.
Note that this all has also been (shortly) mentioned HERE.
The home screen also has some new links; for example, the brand new "GameJump" taking you to some freely available Java MIDlet games directly downloadable to your phone. They aren't particularly good; that is, don't expect anything like Gameloft or I-Play-like (see the links to the best Java MIDlet game developers at the end of MIDlet Bible!). I've tested three of these games on my N95: Arcade Park 1 (compared to the native PPC version, REALLY weak), CS Garfield (pretty OK but there're much better, albeit commercial bowling titles for Windows Mobile) and Spin Blocks (not worth bothering on devices with QVGA or larger screen because it uses 176*220). All in all, there's no free lunch; however, you may still want to look around for some games.
1.5 Frequently asked questions / misconceptions
1.5.1 Proxy servers and Opera Mini 4
Some people state (see for example THIS and THIS) the final version of OM4 doesn’t work with proxy servers any more, unlike with earlier OM4 beta builds. I’ve thoroughly tested this and found out that they do work assuming you explicitly switch the network access mode from Socket to HTTP (Menu / Tools / Settings / Network protocol).
1.5.2 Lack of code signing and the consequences
As you may already have noticed, Opera Mini is unsigned. This, unfortunately, means (depending on the actual KVM used and the operator restrictions / customizations) nagging screens when trying to access the Net. With Windows Mobile, you can “hack” the most widely used KVM’s, including the highly recommended Jbed. With Symbian, where the situation can be worse - again, depending on what additional restrictions are added by your mobile operator. Of course, you can always de-brand your device as is explained at, say, HERE.
You may also want to read THIS post (in THIS, pretty instructive thread) on why OM4 isn’t signed by default. (In a nutshell: the high price of the Verisign root certificate would have forced the developers of OM to make their browser commercial.)
I hope someone will be able to come up with a signed version of OM4 that works on at least Windows Mobile (with Jbed at least) and / or Symbian phones.
1.6 Recommended links
Please DO read the articles linked above; most importantly, the MIDlet Bible. It explains a LOT you might not ever have thought of. You will find it REALLY useful. If you do want to use Opera Mini to its full potential, you MUST read it and all the related tutorials (for example, the one on button handling, which is of extreme importance with OM4).
Big Thank You
Thank you for the complete article. I read a lot of your articles in Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine , and its good to read it here to.
Wonder if anyone can help me... I am trying to setup a direct link to run opera mini on my 6800 instead of having to go in through jbed every time... However it always says it cannot find the s0_ . I've looked in the appdb folder and the only thing in there is s0_... however there are no .Jar files. It has JAH and others in there... I tried installing it via the website via PIE and also via the direct download then activesync.
http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/ppc-...ed-includes-info-new-java-midlet-manager.html
that's the directions I was following for setting up the direct link... however I guess perhaps Opera has changed the way the file is installed? I tried installing the other version of Java that comes on the Mogul (I have an alltel 6800) and it actually has a .jar file in it's appdb folder. However instead of being in windows, it is in the program files folder.
So... Anyone have any ideas on how to get direct links working with Jbed and opera mini4 final?
In the meantime, I’ve managed to make Opera Mini the system-level browser capable of opening remote links from OTHER, local applications (for example, Messaging). This is what many-many people sought for and now – it’s possible. That is, it’s one of the greatest hacks of all times and, as you’ve guessed, REALLY enhances the usability of Opera Mini. It works on both Pocket PC’s and Smartphones.
Article cross-posted to PPCT, AximSite, XDA-Developers - 1, XDA-Developers - 2, XDA-Developers - 3, FirstLoox, BrightHand, HowardForums, SPT, MoDaCo, Opera Mini forums.
Another Software Provider, just like Skype, did not support O2 XDA Flame.
Skype does not work on my Flame.
So for Opera Mini, which should I download?
CWKJ said:
Another Software Provider, just like Skype, did not support O2 XDA Flame.
Skype does not work on my Flame.
So for Opera Mini, which should I download?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the generic advanced version
Thanks. I will try the Opera Mini 4 Generic Version.
drgibson said:
Wonder if anyone can help me... I am trying to setup a direct link to run opera mini on my 6800 instead of having to go in through jbed every time... However it always says it cannot find the s0_ . I've looked in the appdb folder and the only thing in there is s0_... however there are no .Jar files. It has JAH and others in there... I tried installing it via the website via PIE and also via the direct download then activesync.
http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/ppc-...ed-includes-info-new-java-midlet-manager.html
that's the directions I was following for setting up the direct link... however I guess perhaps Opera has changed the way the file is installed? I tried installing the other version of Java that comes on the Mogul (I have an alltel 6800) and it actually has a .jar file in it's appdb folder. However instead of being in windows, it is in the program files folder.
So... Anyone have any ideas on how to get direct links working with Jbed and opera mini4 final?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have exactly the same issue!! Someone help, please
chillaxtodamax said:
I have exactly the same issue!! Someone help, please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it doesn't work with the factory, ROM-based MIDlet Manager, install the Jbed version I've linked to. It will surely work - it has worked with everyone.
CWKJ said:
Another Software Provider, just like Skype, did not support O2 XDA Flame.
Skype does not work on my Flame.
So for Opera Mini, which should I download?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Skype is working on my Flame.
may have missed it, but is there an option to get rid of the yes no grey screen everytime you click to go to a new page? using a kasier
fil said:
may have missed it, but is there an option to get rid of the yes no grey screen everytime you click to go to a new page? using a kasier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
install Jbed
Menneisyys said:
install Jbed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cheers, took a bit of fidling but, wow! seems to change the layout a bit, bit all the better!
Im sure im just being thick, but i have installed opera via my phone following the instructions on the first page. This worked fine, but after closing both opera and ie, i cant find where opera has downloaded to! There is no opera icon in my programs and i cant find it anywhere in file explorer. Am i being completely stupid of have i overlooked something. any help is apreciated thanks.
Oh btw im using a kaiser.
oweng23 said:
Im sure im just being thick, but i have installed opera via my phone following the instructions on the first page. This worked fine, but after closing both opera and ie, i cant find where opera has downloaded to! There is no opera icon in my programs and i cant find it anywhere in file explorer. Am i being completely stupid of have i overlooked something. any help is apreciated thanks.
Oh btw im using a kaiser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's inside "Esmertec Jbed"
OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr
Unfortunately, I had to hard reset and for the longest I was hoping that would not have to do that because I had Jbed and OPM with copy paste invoke working flawlessly. Thanks Menn!
Now, I am up and running again. I don't need to login each session and I have a shortcut setup to my IE browser button. What I need help on (maybe I had a brainfart) how do I get the invoke paste script running again?
When I click a link in an email, mortscript launches OPM quickly but that is it. The link is not being pasted in the url field subsequently not taking me the site that was hotlinked. I've tried your original script and the new copy option script , I have tried both WM5 and WM6 on my WM6 device. I have even tried s0_ and s1_ changes but I don't think the latter has anything to do with the paste action. Does anyone have any input?
The script works fine for the clipboard and IE.
unorthodoxx said:
Unfortunately, I had to hard reset and for the longest I was hoping that would not have to do that because I had Jbed and OPM with copy paste invoke working flawlessly. Thanks Menn!
Now, I am up and running again. I don't need to login each session and I have a shortcut setup to my IE browser button. What I need help on (maybe I had a brainfart) how do I get the invoke paste script running again?
When I click a link in an email, mortscript launches OPM quickly but that is it. The link is not being pasted in the url field subsequently not taking me the site that was hotlinked. I've tried your original script and the new copy option script , I have tried both WM5 and WM6 on my WM6 device. I have even tried s0_ and s1_ changes but I don't think the latter has anything to do with the paste action. Does anyone have any input?
The script works fine for the clipboard and IE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no prob, I'll publish a new version today (mostly written for some SP uses not having a clipboard at all) that doesn't use the clipboard but emulates keyboard typing.
Menneisyys said:
no prob, I'll publish a new version today (mostly written for some SP uses not having a clipboard at all) that doesn't use the clipboard but emulates keyboard typing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I like the clipboard version. Allows me to share links with others. I would like to see all features available. OPM, IE and Clipboard functioning.
In my last (and, now, heavily outdated) article on making Opera Mini 4 be invoked on my just clicking a URL, I’ve already elaborated on the advantages of doing this (and, actually, the advantages of Opera Mini 4 itself). Please do read it if you want to know why making use of direct invocation can be really advantageous.
Because there’s a lot of news worth reporting on (and I’ve been asked by Serola to join the Opera Mini Fan Blog as the first blogger, because of which I've decided to update this really important tutorial) and the original article didn’t elaborate on other mobile platforms like Symbian and BlackBerry, I’ve decided to devote an entirely new article to this question.
1.1 badbob101’s StartOperaMini
(the download is at the bottom of the first post; as of 05/12/2008, 09b is the latest version, which you'll want to go for.)
I recommend this solution the most because it’s really-really easy to install and maintain and it’s much more flexible than, say, superdave’s, otherwise, in some respects cleaner and faster solution.
All you need to do is, in order to set it up, downloading and installing the free MortScript (just copy the MortScript-4.1-PPC.cab file from the cab subdirectory of the ZIP file to your handset and tap it there) and, then, just copying StartOperaMini.mscr anywhere (including a storage card) on your handset and, as with MortScript, clicking it from File Explorer. It’ll automatically find the current location of Jbed, the index of Opera Mini and set up everything just fine. Unlike with the early solution, absolutely no manual setup is needed.
Note that, after running it, in addition to several property files, two link files will also be created. Feel free to manually copy them to \Windows\Start Menu\Programs so that they are easily accessible (not just from a file explorer):
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
The - in the above screenshot highlighted - Start Opera Mini Setup lets you fine-tune your settings:
You, in most cases, won’t want to touch this. However, there are cases when you will want to do this; most importantly, when you want to enable the browser selector screen (see Badbob’s early script version’s default functionality) upon every invocation:
Another recommended setting you can do is NOT forcing the script to kill the already-running Jbed / Opera Mini session by double-tapping Kill Jbed first [Yes] item; the results of this will be as follows (with the given item highlighted):
Also note that you can also directly edit these options in the configuration file, StartOperaMini_ini.txt. For example, not letting for the killing of Jbed (to greatly speed up initial page loading and also keeping the already-opened pages in memory), just change kill_jbed(1) to kill_jbed(0) (that is, 1 to 0 in the parentheses) in it.
1.2 Other Windows Mobile solutions
You might also want to check out JZ SmartMort’s script-based solution, particularly recommended for MS Smartphone users and superdave’s native C++ program HERE. Note that the latter doesn’t let for using Jbed elsewhere than under \Windows\ and it doesn’t support the enhanced, autocomplete-capable 4.1 interface; you’ll need to switch to the pre-4.1 input mode by clearing the "Direct Address Input" checkbox in Setings.
1.3 Other operating systems
Unfortunately, other mobile operating systems don’t support this kind of operation. However, nothing is lost! Unlike under Windows Mobile (particularly on MS Smartphone devices with their pretty much restricted – no copy/paste features built-in, for example – OS), it’s very easy to quickly invoke a given URL in both Symbian and BB.
1.3.1 Symbian
In Messaging, highlight the URL:
Press the left softkey and select Copy:
Switch to Opera Mini, press #1, press the Delete ("C") and, then, the Down buttons once to highlight "Insert symbol":
Now, long-press the Pen button until "Paste" is shown over the right softkey:
Not releasing the Pen button, press the right softkey; the contents of the clipboard are copied to the text input area:
You can, now, go on as usual by sumbitting the URL:
1.3.2 BlackBerry
In the mailer, highlight the URL by going up/down with the trackball:
Press the Menu button (NOT Action! The latter will take you straight to the built-in browser) and select Copy:
Switch / go to OM and press #1; press Del once to delete the contents of the input field and roll the trackball down to highlight "Insert symbol":
Press the trackball and select Paste:
The URL is pasted to the input field:
Now, just press the trackball three times (the first will be an OK; the third):
Note that this will work in all cases, even with true HTML mails even with the latest, 4.5 beta OS, because the current, still non-upgraded BIS / BES servers still send out non-HTML mails to clients. An example of an otherwise full HTML mail sent as plaintext:
Incidentally, the case is exactly the same with Symbian - that is, you'll always be presented pure-text versions of HTML mails with easily-to-copy links.
Excellent update. I'm not sure if I'm missing anything, but I never could figure out a way to copy and paste in Opera Mini on WM6. You addressed Symbian and BB, am I missing something already known or is this not possible?
JZ SmartMort v1.3 - Released!
Announcing JZ SmartMort v1.3
This version has a lot of enhancements, please read the release notes below.
Get it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=382043 or on SourceForge
v1.3 *** 2008-05-25
- Created a CAB file for distribution. If upgrading, please remove or rename the entire JZ folder. To install the CAB your phone will need to be uncertified app-unlocked. You can use this standalone utility: http://www.gpcarreon.com/?p=151
- Mort has allowed me to distribute his FREE MortScript, when you install JZ SmartMort it will place Mort's CAB files in the "MortScript Installs" folder, found underneath your JZ install location. This makes it easier to install all components necessary to run my software w/o having to download more from the web.
- CAB file will create a Start Menu shortcut for JZ Installer.
- Pulled out the .Net executable file from the pack, found a MortScript workaround instead.
- Storing everything in the registry. Optimized scripts for light memory usage and speed.
- Added PPC support to map the JZ Action script to the Application 2 hardware button.
- Added NetFront 3.5 support and verified all Opera Mini versions above 3.1
- Default browser has a timeout now which is user defined, default is 5 seconds.
- Opera Mini enhancements: 8 paste methods, adjust trim units, use different methods to pop the Opera Mini URL input screen and enable/disable "Auto-Complete Address Input"
- Ability to create the Opera Mini shortcut on your Start Menu.
- You can use the action/button mapped script to choose a JBed/Java app from a list. Added a JBed security prompt patcher along with the Application Unlocker which is also a part of the pack.
- HELPERS folder underneath the JZ installation area has scripts to reset device, kill voice notes, list JBed apps to run, Kill IE & Kill MortScript.exe.
- Ability to reset JZ SmartMort settings.
- Ability to select with cursor & copy to the clipboard (will ask how many seconds to allow cursor selection)
VirgilWoods said:
Excellent update. I'm not sure if I'm missing anything, but I never could figure out a way to copy and paste in Opera Mini on WM6. You addressed Symbian and BB, am I missing something already known or is this not possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Ctl-C / V on the on-screen keyboard. Also see my MIDlet Bible and Button Enhancer Bible for more info / tips.
JZ SmartMort v1.4 Released!
Announcing JZ SmartMort v1.4!
Now you can use JZ SmartMort to make Opera Mini a default system-level browser with ability use other installed browsers side-by-side!
Have a look at the screenshots of JZ SmartMort, available HERE or at SourceForge. Below are the prominent features that the software offers.
Copy / Paste
Clipboard / URL history
Multi-browser (Opera Mini, Opera Mobile, NetFront, Skyfire, Internet Explorer)
Make any installed browser system-level, where it opens links from anywhere. Ability to have a default browser (with a special timeout in case you want to open a link with a non-default browser).
Hardware buttons - supports Pocket PCs & SmartPhones for advanced hardware button mapping.
Opera Mini - shortcut on the Start Menu, different paste & URL handling methods to accommodate different phones.
JBed - create Start Menu shortcuts for any JBed app, run JBed App directly using JZ SmartMort, troubleshoot your JBed installation.
Ability to open synced Mobile Favorites with any browser, process killing and many other interesting features.
Includes general tweaks and hacks which will keep growing
Revisions:
v1.4 *** 2008-07-07
- Created help files.
- Browser: Skyfire fully compatible now, new scan/detection with fail-over paths (if browsers references don't exist in the usual locations like the registry). If default browser timeout is set to zero, the JZ Browser prompt will be bypassed entirely.
- Opera Mini: full-screen, kill JBed option, multiple URL & pasting options.
- Lots of new options for button mapping. All known registry and link file button hacks now integrated to allow virtually any command to be called up. Also provides ability to create a CUSTOM link file from scratch.
- Changed menus to include menu-returns for easy navigation and better user friendliness. Added letters to Action menu as qwerty keyboard shortcuts.
- Phone-specific menu under JZ Settings which expands button mapping for BlackJack II (Samsung i617) CV/MediaNet buttons, as well as, AT&T Tilt (HTC Kaiser) PTT & Long-PTT buttons. More will be added.
- Creation of Start Menu shortcuts & opening of JBed applications w/o needing to open JBed first.
- 3 different methods under JZ Settings > JZ Misc. Options for opening Favorites. Save a Favorite from the JZ Browser script when you pop a link.
- Incorporated VitoCopyPaste with a timeout to return your directional pad action button back to normal.
- Various speed & optimization considerations incorporated.
- Function to deal with MortScript losing focus (e.g. when Home is pressed while Mort choice menu is running).
Questiooon
Thanks Man It Was Great
Evruthing Worked.!
The Only Thing Is How To Return Opera And Ie Logo To The Icon???
Because Now I Got The Yellow Icon From The Moscript
Thanks.
88smiley88 said:
Thanks Man It Was Great
Evruthing Worked.!
The Only Thing Is How To Return Opera And Ie Logo To The Icon???
Because Now I Got The Yellow Icon From The Moscript
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using JZ SmartMort? If yes, then there's an option under JZ Settings > Browser > Patch IE Icon.
ot: duz Opera mini support www.hotmail.com? i can't seem to login, it says cookie on a blank page when i login
I used Opera Mini 2 years ago and hated it. I love 4.1 with JZ MortScript.
It has overtaken Opera 9.5 beta and Access Netscape with their high memory usage and 'out of memory' popups that are so annoying.
Thanks for the hard work.
JZ SmartMort v1.4.2 - Released!
Announcing JZ SmartMort v1.4.2
Get it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=382043 or on SourceForge
Great support for Skyfire (PPC/SmartPhone editions) and Torch Mobile's Iris Browser with the new 1.4.2 version of JZ SmartMort!!!
v1.4.2 *** 2008-09-21
- Added support for Torch Mobile's Iris Browser.
- Added support for Skyfire SmartPhone edition and modified Skyfire PPC pixel seeking logic when bar is shown and hidden.
- Added multiple Skyfire paste & open URL methods.
- Separated versions of Opera Mobile 8 & 9. Users can have both installed on the device and detected separately by JZ SmartMort.
- IME keyboard driver manipulation for Opera Mini to help pasting in some cases.
- Added option to Pin Last Used Browser as Default. JZ SmartMort will use the last selected browser and set that browser as default for the next time JZ Browser script is opened.
- Added FakeCursor to allow SmartPhone users ability to use more PPC geared applications.
- Added partial JZ SmartMort resets rather than the previously available full reset.
- Added BlackJack II button mapping for the updated WM 6.1 ROM. Both WM 6.0 & 6.1 OS versions are supported for button mapping on BJII.
Signed and Verified Opera mini 4.1
Does anyone have and Signed and Verified Opera Mini 4.1 you can upload or point me to?
I tried to download it from Opera but my 8525 is only tested/approved for Mini 3 and the version of 4.1 I get is unsigned and unverified.
I would really like to be able to download/upload from the browser.
addicus said:
Does anyone have and Signed and Verified Opera Mini 4.1 you can upload or point me to?
I tried to download it from Opera but my 8525 is only tested/approved for Mini 3 and the version of 4.1 I get is unsigned and unverified.
I would really like to be able to download/upload from the browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to do everything that a signed version can...
If you use my software, under "JZ Misc." settings is a "Security" option which will allow you to tell JBed to never prompt you with warnings. Making your unsigned version work the same in JBed as a signed one would.
JZ SmartMort said:
You should be able to do everything that a signed version can...
If you use my software, under "JZ Misc." settings is a "Security" option which will allow you to tell JBed to never prompt you with warnings. Making your unsigned version work the same in JBed as a signed one would.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is all I get when I go to settings under "JZ Misc". There is no "Security" Options.
addicus said:
This is all I get when I go to settings under "JZ Misc". There is no "Security" Options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I meant "General Tweaks/Hacks" > "Security"
JZ SmartMort said:
Sorry, I meant "General Tweaks/Hacks" > "Security"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked to perfection. Thank you very much. I'm downloading your 1.4.2cab now.
I'm having a few problems.
1. I can't fully uninstall the program. I wanted to remove 1.4.1 before installing 1.4.2.
2. I flashed my device to clear some issues. Now opera mini won't paste and open a link from my email. This is whether I am using 1.4.1 or 1.4.2.
Please assist.
While (as of today, a month after it being demoed at MWC for the press) there still isn’t any sign of the native iPhone version of one of the best Web browsers, Opera Mini, in the AppStore, the Opera folks don’t seem to have stopped with porting their browser into other platforms. In addition to the iPhone, there’s also a brand new Windows Mobile version released just two days after my publishing my previous news report on Windows Mobile browsers. (Please see the quick review of the Java version HERE)
Downloading, installing
Download it from HERE. The installer is WM5+ only and runs just fine on the iPAQ 210 (without the SMS / Phone DLL hacks.)
Pros / cons compared to the Java version
Pros:
- Visibly faster than the Java version
- Direct text copy to the system clipboard – no need to temporarily copy the selected and, then, copied text to any native text input area, as opposed to the Java version
- For a newbie, much easier to install than the Java version. (Although, with the latter, the custom third-party distributions with a pre-bundled Jbed JVM work just fine and are very beginner-friendly.)
Cons:
- The initial Opera Link synchronization throws an exception; however, it synchronized my mobile bookmarks just OK.
- There is no custom “smallest” character size – only three of them are available. They, however, are large enough on (W)VGA devices.
- While, as a native app, it could be invoked via an extension / type association (see my earlier articles / tutorials on this), by default, Opera Mini doesn’t allow the user to explicitly set up this, unlike, say, Opera Mobile. (I don’t know if the app indeed supports being invoked together with the link – haven’t had the time to test this in the Registry. Hopefully it is.)
Note that it, just like the Java version, doesn’t support italic characters either. It has, as with the Java version, has huge, easy-to-tap-with-finger drop-down lists – unlike, for example, NetFront 4.0. (Of course, they aren’t as nice as those on the iPhone, though.)
The native version uses the system-level keyboard, not the custom one of Opera Mini. This may be disadvantageous for people wanting to have a finger-only keyboard but refusing to install a third-party, large one. Nevertheless, I don’t list this as a disadvantage as, on Windows Mobile, it has always been preferable to have a system-level keyboard than a custom one - with all the niceties (seamless auto-completion, all keys etc.) By the way, with the address input field, the traditional keyboard shortcuts for quick text highlight (Ctl-A) / copy / paste don’t work. This could be fixed in a future version – as has also been done with Opera Mobile, back in 2006.
Memory usage
HERE (the official thread dedicated to the app) some people reported much better memory usage than with the Java version. I’ve pretty thoroughly tested this with my standard test pages (see THIS and THIS; more info on the test method in my past Web browser testing-related articles). Both versions were able to load several instances of these pages. (I’ve tested this to 19 with the native version and to some 6 with the Java one. The native version takes up about 520 kbytes of memory for each loaded test page, which is about one-tenth of the figure of other Web browsers.) Unlike on the BlackBerry, where 4.0 has a tendency to quickly run out of memory and, therefore, can’t really keep many pages in-memory at the same time – at least on the BB 8800 with the latest – official – firmware version.
Backspace Problem
when i hit the backspace key while entering text, it erases everything. I wrote a long email reply and when I hit backspace lost the whole thing. Seems like a pretty serious bug. Same thing apparently happened with an early blackberry version, but they fixed it. Any work-around?
I am extremely happy that Opera decided to make Mini native (I always thought Opera Mini was the best mobile browser available), but I will wait for Opera Mini 5 to leave beta before trying it.
I wonder why you guys like the new Opera mini? It's less usable than Opera mobile 10, because it's scrolling isn't much smooth (at least on my Touch HD). And Opera mobile 10 is less usable than Opera mobile 9.7, because of less settings, no option to change default page, ugly tabs, ugly animations wasting my time, no precise vertical scrolling (I mean when I scroll down, the page moves a bit to right/left) and no instant access to my taskbar (remember 9.7 where you tap the bottom-right icon to switch from fullscreen and you instantly see adress bar AND the taskbar? not anymore here). And I could continue, Opera mobile 10 and Opera mini 5 = useless crap. Opera mobile 9.7 = best mobile browser.
EDIT: Tell me, guys, what makes you use Opera mini 5/mobile 10? I just don't find anything positive on it and I'd like to know what makes it the best browser.
ZaxXx said:
I wonder why you guys like the new Opera mini? It's less usable than Opera mobile 10, because it's scrolling isn't much smooth (at least on my Touch HD). And Opera mobile 10 is less usable than Opera mobile 9.7, because of less settings, no option to change default page, ugly tabs, ugly animations wasting my time, no precise vertical scrolling (I mean when I scroll down, the page moves a bit to right/left) and no instant access to my taskbar (remember 9.7 where you tap the bottom-right icon to switch from fullscreen and you instantly see adress bar AND the taskbar? not anymore here). And I could continue, Opera mobile 10 and Opera mini 5 = useless crap. Opera mobile 9.7 = best mobile browser.
EDIT: Tell me, guys, what makes you use Opera mini 5/mobile 10? I just don't find anything positive on it and I'd like to know what makes it the best browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I imagine many will have the same reason it's so much faster than Opera Mobile "any version"
For me even with the not so great scrolling it's so much faster to load the page i need... Has the fast dial so very page i need again very fast to choose..
Many of us also have limited data so that'll be another reason.
stylez said:
I imagine many will have the same reason it's so much faster than Opera Mobile "any version"
For me even with the not so great scrolling it's so much faster to load the page i need... Has the fast dial so very page i need again very fast to choose..
Many of us also have limited data so that'll be another reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would agree with Stylez on this....I use it for the speed
Using Opera Mini 5 Beta 2 on WM6 and loving it! Skyfire is now uninstalled
How do I make it my default browser? My RSS readers keep opening up IE.