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I noticed that Google has two different mobile versions of his pages. One for his default Android browser and one for the others. And the one for the others is much simpler. It's most noticeable when you try to display iGoogle. In the default browser you get fancy user interface with many features and widgets whereas in Opera Mobile 11, you get really simple HTML page with practically no settings. I set Opera to use the user agent of the default browser and suddenly I got the better mobile version too. And naturally with all functionality.
So I ask.. why Google does that? He thinks, that other browsers can't handle advanced features of his pages? Or is he simply trying to put off people from using alternative browsers? Or is there an official way turn on this better version? Because changing the user agent seems to break some other pages and even the Google search, although it looks much better and more modern, is for some reason displayed extremely wide.
I couldn't find anything about this weird behavior but maybe I just used the wrong keywords
Bump. I have wondered this too, and it forces me to use dolphin (which is essentially the default browser spiced up a bit). I like the google homepage with the default android browser because it uses my location. Withe firefox, its as if Im on a computer and is less helpful. Anyone have a solution/workaround?
Well, as I wrote before, I changed the user agent of Opera to the user agent of stock browser/Dolphin so basically Opera pretended to be stock browser and I really got the nice modern Google Homepage, including my location. However the layout was a little bit messed up, the viewport was strangely wide, so it was kind of useless. But I guess it's a problem of Opera. You could try it too in Firefox, but I don't know whether it is possible to change your user agent in mobile Firefox, maybe there is an addon for it?
Easiest way to get the stock browser user agent is to open stock browser, use Google to search "what is my user agent", go to first link and select and copy the text it displays. You can just past it then wherever you want to.
Btw. I tried Dolphin HD and I almost switched because I really liked the UI (Opera is a little bit old school I would say) but when it came to rendering real full webpages, Opera was way way faster than Dolphin. At least on my Nexus S.
I really like the Opera mobile also with the Google search from the stock android browser using the user agent. I really wish there wasn't so wide like others here have posted. Hopefully someone or Opera will come up with a fix.
The instructions found in the below post has seemed to fix all of the rendering issues I had with Opera Mobile.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1009719
I really wish that opera would fix the problem of Google search being to wide. I really like the opera browser but it is annoying when searching to have to scroll to the right in order the click the search button sometimes.
I've tested at LEAST 14 browsers and I have yet to find one that I would use exclusively.
My requirements are simple (and in no particular order):
- must be able to play flash
- must have a working adblocker
- must be able to share pages with other apps
- must be able to copy/paste text
- syncing bookmarks/passwords, etc. would be desired
- must keep open tabs INTACT when I leave the app (multitask). I don't care if the tabs reload after a certain time, but it must not lose my tabs!
That's it... but apparently, what one browser has in features, it lacks in features.
Here are some examples:
Stock browser:
Pros: plays flash, text selection works, syncs bookmarks, can share pages.
Cons: no adblocker, slow, unstable, tabs often get lost when returning back to the browser.
Firefox:
Pros: adblocker (second to none!), great interface, has session restore, syncs everything(!), can share pages, addon support.
Cons: no text handling (can't select text), no flash, fairly unstable.
Opera Mini
Pros: best tab handling if you don't leave the app for too long (I've had over 20 tabs restore for me no problem), very fast, low bandwidth consumption, text handling works, can share pages, can sync bookmarks.
Cons: doesn't display desktop versions of websites (major pain!), no flash, no adblocker.
Opera Mobile (see above, minus the great tab handling)
Maxthon
Pros: flash, sync feature (although I don't use Maxthon on PC, so it's less useful), can share pages, text handling works.
Cons: sync feature requires manually logging in each session, no adblock, often poor tab handling with multitasking.
Zirco browser
Pros: adblocker, flash (although not working right now), can share pages
Cons: no sync, poor tab handling, non-working text selection, flash not showing video only audio.
Dolphin HD
Pros: flash, text selection works, can share pages
Cons: no useful sync, no working adblock, doesn't handle tabs well with multitasking
I've tested many more, but these are the "major" ones...
Why can't I find a browser that can do the few things that I need??
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
You can remove ads by using AdFree but it requires access to root. This removes ads universally throughout the system.
zephiK said:
You can remove ads by using AdFree but it requires access to root. This removes ads universally throughout the system.
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Yes, I've used Adfree before, but it's lacks the ability to turn off/on the adblocker at will - plus, I had issues with it blocking too well... LOL I prefer something integrated into the browser.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Can you Nexies recommend me your favorite, the best performing browser for Nexus S.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
I think most people would recommend opera or dolphin hd, firefox nightlies are a bit hit and miss
there is only two browsers, Opera and Stock... the others is just the stock with some things changed, but they render pages just like stock, lag in the same pages, freeze to load extacly same things and has almost same bugs...
Opera, in other hand, seems to be hardware accelerated, it is completely different, and for me, it is really better... loads every pages faster and so smooth as it should be in stock one... but, it has two bad things: 1) it is really annoying to see "Opera Mobile" every single time you open it and 2) doesn't render Google's pages like it should, like gmail or search page. In stock browser it is shown like a web app, but in Opera you see generic mobile pages...
personally, i use both, Opera for default and stock for those things that Opera can't handle well! =oP
I keep trying other browsers and always end up back with the stock. Opera is my backup browser. Its fast, but like all 3rd party browsers, has quirks
Stock & Opera as wingman
Of course Opera...
thiagodark said:
there is only two browsers, Opera and Stock... the others is just the stock with some things changed, but they render pages just like stock, lag in the same pages, freeze to load extacly same things and has almost same bugs...
Opera, in other hand, seems to be hardware accelerated, it is completely different, and for me, it is really better... loads every pages faster and so smooth as it should be in stock one... but, it has two bad things: 1) it is really annoying to see "Opera Mobile" every single time you open it and 2) doesn't render Google's pages like it should, like gmail or search page. In stock browser it is shown like a web app, but in Opera you see generic mobile pages...
personally, i use both, Opera for default and stock for those things that Opera can't handle well! =oP
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I agree. For more examples, anandtech.com is horribly slow in stock, but ESPN's baseball recap pages do not display correctly in Opera. I'm trying out the latest Firefox, which seems like a compromise: not as fast as Opera, but more accurate rendering.
Honestly, when HTC and Samsung branded phones have stock browsers with superior scrolling and pinch-to-zoom, I don't quite understand what's supposed to be so great about the "pure Google" experience. This phone has been out for almost a year and its browser is still terrible. So we get updates direct from Google, but if none of them improve the browser, who cares? It would be great if this improves with ICS, but I still haven't seen any official word on that.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
dwielunski said:
Honestly, when HTC and Samsung branded phones have stock browsers with superior scrolling and pinch-to-zoom, I don't quite understand what's supposed to be so great about the "pure Google" experience. This phone has been out for almost a year and its browser is still terrible. So we get updates direct from Google, but if none of them improve the browser, who cares? It would be great if this improves with ICS, but I still haven't seen any official word on that.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
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that is a thing i REALLY miss in my old HTC devices, browser experience is far far far better. I like Android and all, but ICS is the last chance for Google to me, there is always a tiny thing is not great as it should, in all android handsets i owned! Nexus is amazing, but this browser sucks, i can't understand why google made it that way, just can't. They are mostly a internet company, for god sake, and Chrome is great for Desktop....
For me, Nokia + WP7 or ICS will be a 'watershed'... =o\
The best one I've found is Miren Browser.
I personally enjoy Firefox mobile (it is on market). Though I use the nightly build (https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms/Android#Download_Nightly)
It does not do flash sadly however I love the sync since I also use it as my desktop
I was thinking about this earlier myself; but, seeing as I tried most of them I knew the answer. To me at least.
I currently just use the stock browser. As much as it bugs me. They need a serious overhaul on this thing. I want Chrome FOR phone. I fee like that team could do a better job at building a browser. Not sure why they haven't.
Anyways. I use stock because it's stock; and, if I'm not 100% happy with another browser I don't keep it because I hate having 2 apps installed that do the same thing. Just the way I am.
Dolphin is my favorite UI. Gestures are cool. The tab interface is better, etc. But, like mentioned above it's really just like the stock browser skinned. However, you don't have to type in about:debug to change to desktop rendering for sites without links on the bottom. Button built it.
Skyfire: I wasn't thrilled with the UI but did like how the Desktop/Android rendering button was right there on top. Again, just like the stock browser though.
Firefox is atrocious.
Opera is by far THE best alternative as far as web experience goes. However, I despise how it doesn't render certain websites "correctly". For example Google and Facebook. It has that "old" look to it. Basic if you will. However, it does load desktop pages a lot faster than the stock browser. So it's not bad if you don't mind waiting a LITTLE loger for the desktop site. In comparison it will load a desktop site ALMOST as fast as the stock browser loads a mobile site. Depending on what;s going on - on the site. But it's very fast and snappy. The way the stock browser should be.
So bottom line if your going to chose a browser other than Opera (if your happy the way it renders) the only advantage the other browsers have are features, plug-ins, ui, etc. The web experience will be the same.
Edit: I was messing with Opera again after reading this. I love how when you click on something (we'll use a link here) that's close to another item: it will highlight both to indicate you pressed both of them and it wasn't sure which one your big finger hit, lol. Instead of "guessing" like the other browsers.
What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?
irishrally said:
What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?
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I always go for the "bigger one" mini is always a lighter app. Smaller. Missing features from the "Regular" one. Correct me if I'm wrong; but, doesn't Opera mini not support flash where the regular one does?
irishrally said:
What's your preference between Opera and Opera Mini?
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If you check "Turbo" in Opera Mobile it will use the server compression stuff just like Opera mini. Then if something doesn't look right you can long press on it to "load image in full quality" or something like that. Basically Mobile gives you all the capabilities of Mini + more, since space is not really an issue with this phone you should just use Mobile.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
i would recommend for opera..
but one thing i dont like is while you using opera, and switch to another app or just back to home sceen, the internet connection then lost.. so you must loading or refresh it again..
how about soon to be Google Chrome
http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/google-chrome-is-finally-coming-to-an-android-device-near-you/
wait for chrome. it's coming in october
Drzfr3shboialex said:
how about soon to be Google Chrome
http://androidandme.com/2011/10/news/google-chrome-is-finally-coming-to-an-android-device-near-you/
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Wow, that is a great great news...
Cant wait for it..
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Careful using Dolphin or other browsers that may have a user string that looks like a desktop.
If you have grandfathered unlimited data on AT&T, this string will flag you for tethering and you will get a nasty text warning that you need to change your plan (thus losing unlimited data). I personally just use the stock Android browser 100% of the time due to concern that I'll lose my grandfathered data. Especially since AT&T will yank your data even though you aren't really tethering...and it's gone forever.
Just a thought.
Thanks all for that healthy, fruitful discussion.
I have tried both Stock and Miren.
Initially Stock was acting good but then it started hanging. Miren also left unimpressed.
Now I am on Dolphin, it seems to be good. Let us see!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
How is the web browsing after the last update?
I know the stock browser I hear is poop.
Dolphin/Chrome, etc., just how is the browsing is it smooth?
For some reason, anything based on stock (ICS browser+, dolphin, maxthon) all start to heat up my tablet like crazy. Chrome is deliciously smooth but you can't fast scroll like you can on the stock. Firefox is crazy great too except due to the crap fancy motion blur animations, the browser stutters when you scroll too fast. Opera mobile isn't optimized for both our resolution and our processor so it lags and stutters like crazy. The browser scene is generally a clusterf*ck. I can't even install scriptish on firefox ;_;.
It is pretty smooth, but +1 on scrolling, different windowsmgr.max_events_per_sec in build.prop doesn't seem to change this one.
I'm using Chrome mostly and it's ok, apart from scrolling(!), it's just too slow. But apart from the aforementioned, try Boat Browser.
I'm using the stock browser, chrome and dolphin and just change whatever browser I'm using based on how well it's handling a given website. Some sites like chrome, some dolphin and some stock. I think this approach works best as there's no one perfect browser for all sites (for now).
Just be aware or be prepared with Dolphin: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1319529
d14b0ll0s said:
Just be aware or be prepared with Dolphin: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1319529
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He, I have a fellow crusader.
I'm using Opera Mobile, mostly. It does do fancy things with especially the font size -- it's tiny. I do like Boat, but it has a limited number of speed dials (i.e., insufficient to me ) whereas Opera allows an unlimited number. I guess I should try Chrome, but doesn't that lack Flash support? (I know Flash is meant to die anyway, but lots of sites still use it extensively.)
[OT]
MartyHulskemper said:
He, I have a fellow crusader.
I'm using Opera Mobile, mostly. It does do fancy things with especially the font size -- it's tiny. I do like Boat, but it has a limited number of speed dials (i.e., insufficient to me ) whereas Opera allows an unlimited number. I guess I should try Chrome, but doesn't that lack Flash support? (I know Flash is meant to die anyway, but lots of sites still use it extensively.)
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Does it make us the Templars?
I like Chrome and I find myself needing flash quite rarely these days, especially for the websites I'm visiting on the tablet. Hopefully it can stay this way, but I'd really like the scrolling bar from the stock browser! Scrolling in Chrome is just painfully slow, I can't seem to find a way to solve this.
And, talking of privacy issues, I actually do hope Google in fact doesn't store our passwords to the sync of bookmarks etc. Probably NSA doesn't need them to, as a simple brute force attack would suffice? Wonder what encryption they're using.
I've tested and adopted Maxthon HD... Even though it sometimes bugs a bit, I really like it : it's almost as good as a desktop browser :good:
It supports flash, uses Webkit as well as Chrome but scrolling is ok.
Regarding the firmware update, i get less ANR but no other changes, it's not more fluid than it used to be...
The version of Chrome just released stopped me from either throwing this thing at a wall or (more likely) unlocking and flashing. Up until today, every browser, including Chrome, would load to 90%, then hang for ten seconds or so. If I tried to interact with the page in any way before it finished loading, I'd get the dreaded "xxxx isn't responding, Would you like to close it?.... Wait - OK".
This version (25.0.1364.169), will let me scroll around freely and start reading text while it continues loading pictures and ads. Amazing!
Of course, I will probably unlock and flash a rom eventually, I just wanted to use it for a few months with warranty and maybe wait for 4.2.2 to be released first. I have had very few complaints with the device besides that hanging/error message issue.
I still prefer the stock browser with the Labs 'swipe from edge' hidden address bar feature, but maybe something like that will come to Chrome eventually. Does anyone know how to auto-hide the address bar and tabs in this version of Chrome? Meantime I will use Chrome for all sites where full screen viewing is not vital.
Bob Graham
rvgraham said:
The version of Chrome just released stopped me from either throwing this thing at a wall or (more likely) unlocking and flashing. Up until today, every browser, including Chrome, would load to 90%, then hang for ten seconds or so. If I tried to interact with the page in any way before it finished loading, I'd get the dreaded "xxxx isn't responding, Would you like to close it?.... Wait - OK".
This version (25.0.1364.169), will let me scroll around freely and start reading text while it continues loading pictures and ads. Amazing!
Of course, I will probably unlock and flash a rom eventually, I just wanted to use it for a few months with warranty and maybe wait for 4.2.2 to be released first. I have had very few complaints with the device besides that hanging/error message issue.
I still prefer the stock browser with the Labs 'swipe from edge' hidden address bar feature, but maybe something like that will come to Chrome eventually. Does anyone know how to auto-hide the address bar and tabs in this version of Chrome? Meantime I will use Chrome for all sites where full screen viewing is not vital.
Bob Graham
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Hmm it's still very laggy compared to CROMI and stock browser I'm afraid.
I agree with sbdags cromi and stock browser combo is smoother and more responsive, even compared to latest chrome release . Actually I've found that to be the case for any other browser as well.
Seconded.
I too have a huge performance increase with the new chrome. I'm on CM10.1 so the improvements must not be specific to stock. Glad you posted this :good:; I'd given up on chrome because of laginess. Now I can have my "other devices tab" and good performance at the same time. Biggest noticeable change for me is (as you found) scrolling while pages load.
Noticed the Chrome update this a.m.
Tried it on the usual sluggish java heavy websites still not as snappy as stock under CROMi + B2Ram.
Chrome is slightly better with this update...it's just not a preference with me over stock or BOAT ad free.
For the people using chrome on stock its the Brest version so far. A lot of things got better. Page loading is a lot better when compared to the older version. And the scrolling is great too.
I thought that browser2ram worked with Chrome as well, or was that a specially tweaked version?
@sbdags: I thought I'd seen a Chrome-capable version in CROMI before?
If this is the case, well, then Chrome is just still slower than stock anyway. I love speed dials, but I hate them being so limited in number. The sync capabilities were nice, but ever since the stock browser started supporting sync too I haven't looked back. I traditionally hated stock browser -- be it on Android or on Windows -- but the current one on Android is pretty good with browser2ram attached.
Just thought id chime in on this. Unfrtunately cannot report the same decreased lag with the new Chrome update. In fact, id say it is worse. Unusable actually, which is no loss for me as i use stock...... which is a lag-machine as well, just slightly less so. Ironically, of all the websites i visit regularily, XDA seems to be the most taxing and almost always will produce a FC if i dont let it fully load before attempting to scroll. When i test a browser update i come here to see how fast the page loads!!!
At any rate, i deal with it and still love this tab....
Thats OK said:
Noticed the Chrome update this a.m.
Tried it on the usual sluggish java heavy websites still not as snappy as stock under CROMi + B2Ram.
Chrome is slightly better with this update...it's just not a preference with me over stock or BOAT ad free.
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Same here
sbdags said:
Hmm it's still very laggy compared to CROMI and stock browser I'm afraid.
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Agreed, google chrome is slow, and it wont allow flash, fck google chrome, a browser is useless without flash bc you can barely access any content that isnt text or pics, accessing content is the whole point of the internet. Browsing was a headache until i started using stock browser with B2RAM. browser2RAM more than doubles browsing speed, responsiveness, and smoothness. Stop dicking around with stock ASUS tf700, it is a waste of your time. All the time you spend waiting to browse the web can be spent on ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING.
lucius.zen said:
a browser is useless without flash bc you can barely access any content that isnt text or pics, accessing content is the whole point of the internet.
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Web content is in HTML and images - Flash is a proprietary disease and must die as soon as possible.