NetFront v3.5 “Concept Version” Available for Download

By WC Staff
last updated

Things are heating up right quick in the Windows Mobile Browser space, aren't they. We had our socks knocked off by SkyFire, only to wake up the next morning and wonder if maybe a complete server-side browser isn't necessarily such a good idea. Then Opera, our current fave, teased us with video of their upcoming 9.5 version. We loved it. Well, not to be outdone, Access has revealed that they're still working on their NetFront browser and that they are beating the others to the punch by letting you download a

WC Staff
WC Staff
6 Comments
  • Experience faster and smoother browsing with NetFront Browser v3.5 for Windows Mobile Concept Version. Leveraging the latest NetFront Browser core available for the Windows Mobile platform, NetFront Browser v3.5 for Windows Mobile Concept Version features improved key operation, stylus pen functionality and overall usability. The browser also features improvements in speed including first draw time, zooming speed and rendering mode selection.
    ACCESS encourages you to download NetFront Browser v3.5 for Windows Mobile Concept Version and submit your feedback using the form listed at the bottom of this page.http://www.access-company.com/vid/prod/nfm/nf35/movie04_s.wmv
    As Modaco says, you wait all day for a bus, then suddenly 3 comes along.
    The free preview version will be available for download on Monday 11/2/08 from this page.http://www.access-company.com/products/netfrontmobile/browser/35_wm_tp.html
    Surur
  • [COLOR="Navy">That's 2/11/08 for the US people, :D
    Sometimes I get confused looking at UK form dates, LOL![/COLOR]
  • NetFront might be the most over-rated app in the entire WM universe. I found previous (equally hyped) versions to be slow, unstable, bloated, and generally a very poor overall experience after about a week of using it. Let's hope 3.5 adds something of value.
  • NetFront might be the most over-rated app in the entire WM universe. I found previous (equally hyped) versions to be slow, unstable, bloated, and generally a very poor overall experience after about a week of using it. Let's hope 3.5 adds something of value.
    Ive always preferred netfront over for example Opera 8.5. I felt it did reflowing better than opera, and had more options, and also handled tabs better.
    Lets just say I have paid for Netfront before, but could never get myself to spend any money on Opera.
    Having said all that, while Netfront would seem to offer better page navigation, Opera seems to offer better AJAX support in their next version, so its going to be a toss-up to see which one I will prefer in the future. What is true however is that Netfront 3.5 is going to here well before Opera 9.5
    Surur
  • I've been trying it out for a few hours now. While the scrolling is certainly smooth, and the pages well presented, and the on-screen mini-map useful, and zooming in and out very easy, it lacks polish in a way which would prevent it from being a serious safari competitor.
    Some of the problems are inherent in the WM platform - most devices have small screens with low resolutions, so as zoomed-out page has very poor legibility in any case. However Netfront could have made is much easier to zoom in to intermediate levels of zoom, such as 75%, 25% etc, instead of hiding these options in a sub-menu.
    Secondly the full page zoom should be the default on page loading, to reduce the disorientation of not knowing where you are on the page when it loads. Zooming out is pretty easy, (just a double tap on the screen), but its seems needed on every page load.
    Lastly, the back button should not be hidden under a sub menu. This is one thing PIE has got right.
    Also, javascript, while improved, is still not as good as it could be.
    So, in short, a flawed diamond, but with a bit more polishing it could shine.
    Surur
  • I agree with Surur's take. I'll add that another problem is that they need to either cut down the 3 or 4 different view types to just two or better explain what they are.