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Android's new browser makes our Safari look dated
- Thread starter BearerOBadNews
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Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 4.0.2; en-gb; Galaxy Nexus Build/ICL53F) AppleWebKit/535.7 (KHTML, like Gecko) CrMo/16.0.912.75 Mobile Safari/535.7)
Another disadvantage to Google porting Chrome to iOS it the fact it would never be able to open links as the default browser on iOS powered devices.
I have Chrome on my Galaxy Nexus now set as the default browser and even tho the stock Android browser still exists, all links clicked on in emails/applications and other sources now use Chrome for browsing.
It would be nice if Apple could enable users to set a third party browser as the default in an updated version.
Another disadvantage to Google porting Chrome to iOS it the fact it would never be able to open links as the default browser on iOS powered devices.
I have Chrome on my Galaxy Nexus now set as the default browser and even tho the stock Android browser still exists, all links clicked on in emails/applications and other sources now use Chrome for browsing.
It would be nice if Apple could enable users to set a third party browser as the default in an updated version.
that sucks. It does seem pointless to stick the Chrome UI on top of Safari.
I have to admit I could enjoy the security of "closed" system but Apple needs to loosen up some the rules.
One thing that the chrome browser lacks is the quick controls that the stock android browser has. It is so handy and intuitive that it changes the way you browse on a phone forever. Switching between tabs for example is so fast now. Mere gestures.
Pic for those that don't know what it is: http://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...d browser quick controls&sa=N&biw=320&bih=508
Just another feature that iOS could benefit from adding. Using safari feels awfully clunky now.
Pic for those that don't know what it is: http://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...d browser quick controls&sa=N&biw=320&bih=508
Just another feature that iOS could benefit from adding. Using safari feels awfully clunky now.
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Chrome for Android does look cool, but surely I'm not the only one here who would hate tab syncing?
Seems like a dreadful feature. I'm sure you can turn it off, so it doesn't bother me that they're including it, but I'm actually surprised that there are people excited by it.
Seems like a dreadful feature. I'm sure you can turn it off, so it doesn't bother me that they're including it, but I'm actually surprised that there are people excited by it.
You're right. The two separate bars have been an irritation to me for a while. I never did understand why they didn't just combine it, IMO that would be much more "intuitive".
I think you have a better chance of seeing Apple do an update than seeing Chrome on iOS. If Google did port Chrome over it wouldn't have the same features due device limitations (http://parislemon.com/post/17215781807/chrome-for-android-the-browser-for-the-1). Also, I just don't believe Google would want to put a version of Chrome that is equal to the one on Android because they'd want to keep that as an advantage of android (like Maps, GMail, Youtube, etc).
I'm not entirely sure, but is Opera for iPhone just a skin on top of Safari? Because I have always though it was a 'proper' web browser.
It doesn't have the quick controls but it does have gestures for changing tabs. If you swipe from the edge of the screen you will change tabs on the fly. Changing tabs is even easier than the quick controls in the ICS browser. Google really knocked it out the park with this one.
It's neither of those things.
Opera mini renders the pages on their servers, compresses them, and then transmits them to your phone as a rendered-out visual to display.
So it's not a skinned-Safari, but it's also not running browser code on your phone.
How would being able to bring up tabs from your computer be "dreadful". I take it you've never had a page on your computer and needed to bring it up on your phone. If you don't have a use for it that's cool, but that doesn't make it "dreadful". For me there have been many times where I've been surfing and had to leave the computer for whatever reason and needed to keep the page I was on. In the past I used Google Chrome to Phone, but now I won't need to install anything, I can just use the browser like normal and it will all be there....definitely not "dreadful" at all, and quite useful.
Indeed.
This works, but it's not ideal and has many problems:
-VERY Slow in comparison to the way Chrome works
-Loss of interactivity
-Hard for the web page to use device features (e.g. location)
-All data has to go through the Opera proxy: potential security risk, causes issues with some sites
I don't see anything wrong with Safari on the iPhone, I mean yeah it would be great to have the ability to switch to desktop mode, (would be very good tbh) but apart from that the update to iOS 5 made substantial rendering engine improvements which I find meet more or less every web browsing requirement. I have no complaints whatsoever.
Edit: Ability to hold more than 8 tabs would be good too and the ability to store the reading list pages offline.
Edit: Ability to hold more than 8 tabs would be good too and the ability to store the reading list pages offline.
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Agreed. I never used Opera for a long period of time, due to its speed and lack of polish and responsiveness that Safari has.
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A405 Safari/7534.48.3)
I guess you guys haven't tried icab mobile that offers an awsome experience!
I guess you guys haven't tried icab mobile that offers an awsome experience!
I know I for one would turn it off. I keep and open way to many tabs on my computer. I would like it to have an improved version of chrome to phone and a way to select the device it goes to which is something the current chrome to phone does not do.
Have it in a two way push system that the user controls and it would be great. Apple needs to make something like safari to phone but for that to be good they really need to improve safari for the desktop because let's face it it kind of sucks compared to the others.
It doesn't matter how many tabs you keep open on the computer, on the phone it only opens what you want it to. I keep lots of tabs open, but I'm able to open only tab I want it to on the phone. Also, it's nice because it shows your different computers and the tabs open on them also (organized by device). Long story short, the number of tabs you keep open on your computer doesn't matter.
I agree that I would like two way pushing also. I've been waiting for this for a while. I've been using Chrome to Phone since its inception and have had to use 3rd party solutions to push from the phone to the computer. Truth be told though, with the tab syncing in Chrome for android I don't see much reason for me to continue using Chrome to Phone now.
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...for now...sure..because it's for ICS. It's no different than when gingerbread launched, as time progresses more and more devices will have ICS. In the meantime it's still the best browser out.
Safari reader does that. Or even bookmark syncing.
That's syncing the ability to open pages. What they're talking about here is actually syncing what's open in the browser.
I look at totally different things on my phone than my desktop. I don't want directions to restaurants and reviews for pizza places opening up on my desktop just because I'm looking at them on my phone.
Likewise, I don't want the technical instructional lessons I have on my computer popping up on my phone when I'm trying to get back to those restaurant directions.
What I view on each device is just SO different I really hate the idea of mixing all that stuff up.
Like I said, I don't care since I don't have to use it. I just find it interesting that other people seem to have more crossover in the usage of their devices.
I'm probably in the minority with my opinion. But on a mobile format, I do NOT want to see a browser. I don't have the real estate to have tabs, glossy buttons, spinning wheels, or whatever.
I want it to be hidden in the background and give me minimal objects. Forward, back, URL field, options/setting. Thats about it.
Again, I'm talking about a mobile platform. I don't want to have to get a 5inch LCD just so they can fit all the pretty buttons. I want to use my browser to go to a website and see it, not the browser.
Yes, I am in the minority.
I want it to be hidden in the background and give me minimal objects. Forward, back, URL field, options/setting. Thats about it.
Again, I'm talking about a mobile platform. I don't want to have to get a 5inch LCD just so they can fit all the pretty buttons. I want to use my browser to go to a website and see it, not the browser.
Yes, I am in the minority.
Arrrgh, they had to go and use the "And boom ... they're right there" line in the promo vid didn't they? Jesus.
Not quite the same thing. Bookmark syncing is an incredibly clunky way to achieve the same thing. So every time I want a page on my phone I'd have to bookmark it? That means that I'd either have to make sure I delete the bookmark later otherwise eventually I'd have a very large amount of useless bookmarks. Not exactly the most "intuitive" and efficient way of syncing tabs....not to mention. You may use your computer for different browsing than you do on your phone but many of us that have more capable browsers and good screen real estate use our phones for browsing as often times it's more convenient to use the phone than the computer. That being said, I HARDLY EVER browse using the iphone because I don't find it to be a very good browsing experience. The screen is way too small, the browser is lacking, and it's just overall not a very good browsing experience for me. On the other hand on My GNex the browsing experience is very pleasant due to the screen real estate and browser robustness, so I don't mind browsing on it (and often times choose it to do quick browsing over the computer).
Here's another real world use of tab syncing. There have been times in the past where I've had a page up on my computer that I needed some information from and forgot to put it on my phone (this happened to me just a week ago when I left an attorney's site up and forgot to push it to my phone). With tab syncing all I'd have to do is open the browser and select the tab I want and just like that, it's there on my phone.
This is why I was a big fan of the quick controls in the ICS browser. I would turn that and full screen on and there was nothing on the screen (other than the soft buttons). That made for a great browsing experience. Unfortunately on the iphone none of that is possible, and on such a small screen that really is a shame. I think it's laughable that they still don't have full screen browsing on a device with such a small screen.
Yet another thread where people have talked themselves into the fact that they don't need anything that Apple hasn't already implemented. I literally have nothing else to say.
As mysterioustko is pointing out, the stock Android ICS browser is pretty much as minimal as they come with quick controls.
I hope they come to Chrome (which is already quite minimal in itself).
Screenshots are:
(Stock, stock, Safari, Chrome for Android)
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