Review: Opera Mobile 9.5

	Opera Mobile
	Version 9.51b2
	Opera Software (Developer Info)
	(4 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

Mobile browsing is a battle for the taking. Windows Phones has understandably utilized the Internet Explorer Mobile for its default browsing. We will however also find the Opera Mobile (OM) on a number of Windows Phones, including the popular Samsung Omnia.

In this battle, keeping up with not only competition but also technology is the key. Demands for more user-friendly, less memory-hogging is certainly present. We, as consumers will always welcome healthy competition, which in this case is the Opera Mobile by Opera Software.

(Device used in review: Samsung Epix i907, which does not have Opera Mobile preinstalled.)

Installation

To install the mobile browser, simply download the .cab file and place it the File Explorer for installation. You are free to install it on either the Device or your Storage. It is notable that the memory required is fairly huge relative to other applications (10754KBs), but that did not cause much trouble during the installation.

Design

With a limited screen size on a mobile device, the readability is a key factor in design. The browser goes full-screen when you click any part of the web page. To get back, there is an arrow where you can bring up options and Address bar.

The interface also Opera branded giving the browser its own identity aside from the conventional Windows Mobile UI. The Settings are well placed with Expanding and Collapsing feature which gives user high visibility of the options without having to go different places or waiting for it to load.

The Control Bar on the bottom clear indicates its functionality as replicating a desktop browser.

Usability

Speed determines the cream of the crop in the world of mobile device. It’s either fast or an expensive paperweight, a little crude, but sometimes true. While loading time between pages varies depending on connection speed, the way the browser handles the target page matters too. Either ways, Opera Mobile does seem to deliver pages faster and in a more crispy manner.

The zoom in feature has come under some critic regarding both its response time and its intuitional double-click which does not always work ideally.

Features

Some of the signifcant features of Opera Mobile 9.5 includes:

• Faster loading speed (OM claims its 2.5 times faster)
• Multitask capability with the control bar
• Easy to use Settings
• Capable of loading pages with AJAX

And many more!

Pros

• The elegance in design does not sacrifice the browser’s loading speed
• Simple to use Settings
• Full-screen browsing with the capability to pan and zoom at ease is always a plus
• Manages your downloads in the Download option

Cons

• Relatively large memory usage
• To zoom you will need to double-click, which may not be intuitional for first-time users

Should I get it?

The Opera Mobile improves web browsing experience to one that’s easy and pleasant. You can be a noble pioneer for this application, which is currently still in Beta testing. Give the freeware a try and share you experiences.

Screenshots

(Click to enlarge image)

Video

[Coming Soon!]

Min Req:	Windows Mobile 6 Professional
Device Tested:	Samsung Omnia (preinstalled) Samsung Epix
Price:	Freeware
Ratings	(4 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Target Audience:	If you are a road warrior with unlimited data plan, or if your preference in web browsing lies with the mobile device, I would highly recommend this application. Opera Mobile may not sound too manly, but it certainly is a powerful device that will improve your mobile browsing experience.

Microsoft Tag for Mobile Download (?)