More and more mobile device users are using their gadgets. Now this no longer surprises anyone, since the number of iPad owners is growing at warp speed. The activity of specialists developing software for them, namely browsers, is also intensifying. It cannot be any other way, since the iPad is already based on the function of instant access to various flash information located on web pages. Naturally, any iPad user has his own preferences and interests in this matter. There are plenty to choose from, but it’s still quite difficult to determine for the iPad. Let's try to do this together.
The main browser is Safari, which is the default on all Apple devices. Naturally, he also has competitors. Let's look at some of them.
This browser is a one-page browser. In some way that only he understands, he clears web pages of all advertising junk. As a result, a text appears in front of you, cleared of unnecessary distracting information and spam. The main graphics of the site itself are preserved in full.
Externally, InstaWeb is similar to Google's browser. The interface is so simple that it can be understood without translation, and all necessary operations are performed. In terms of speed, functionality and cost, it is one of the best browsers. It works practically without any brakes, since the built-in flash player is almost flawless in operation.
Google Chrome for iPad
Chrome, like any browser for iPad, takes some time to master. For example, it’s not entirely customary to work without bookmarks. By the way, the quick access panel itself cannot boast of significant versatility. But this is successfully compensated by high performance, which does not always work properly if you quickly increase the screen size. The voice input function could also use improvement; sometimes it’s easier in the search bar.
Dolphin Browser HD
Many iPad users agree that it is better in some ways than others, although it is not perfect. Still, it has all the previously familiar functions. There is a quick access panel, bookmarks, and its own feature. In the upper right corner there is a conventional “Signs” icon. When you click on it, a black board appears, similar to a school board. On it, you can imitate with your finger a conventional gesture installed in the browser or invented by you, which will immediately display the desired page corresponding to it. It must be admitted that, compared to others, this application can deservedly bear the title of “Best browser for iPad tablet.”
The best browsers for iOS
Statistics show that at the end of 2011, more than 50% of all Internet traffic came from devices (iPod touch - 2.32%, iPad - 24.53%, iPhone - 25.24%). Such metrics indicate quite clearly that the web browser on devices with an apple on its back is one of the most used applications.
Safari
First on the list, of course, is Safari. The reason is simple - it is a standard browser installed by default. In addition, it copes well with its main task, that is, displaying web pages.
Its interface is not overloaded with unnecessary options, but is easy to understand. At the top, as is customary, there is an address bar, to the right of it is a field for entering a search query. At the bottom there are keys for navigating through tabs and pages, a button to open the bookmarks bar, and another one to open access to the following additional functions:
Also with the release of iOS 5, Safari added two more exciting features. One of them is the “Reading List”, which allows you to save links to articles of interest for reading later. For convenience when working with navigation, all saved links are divided in the list into “unread” and “all others”. Plus, under each of them there is a brief description of the page to which this or that link leads.
Video about comparing Safari, Chrome, Opera browsers on iPad:
The second option that appeared with the fifth version of iOS is Reader. It is necessary for the most voluminous articles on the screen of electronic gadgets. Web pages are displayed without annoying you with unnecessary advertising and other unnecessary information. The text with pictures is formed in a special way and appears in the form of an easy-to-read page, typed in a font that is pleasing to the eye.
Opera Mini
If there is a question of saving Internet traffic (especially in roaming), then most users, first of all, remember this Norwegian development. The fact is that Opera Mini appeared on mobile phones long before the advent of Android and . At first it was distributed as a Java application, or rather, a MIDlet. The Opera mini interface can be considered old-fashioned, but you can’t deny its ergonomics. For example, it is quite convenient to create bookmarks with one click on the asterisk in the address bar. However, the main advantage of this browser is very fast page loading thanks to the traffic compression option, which allows you to save yourself from large expenses on mobile Internet. Therefore, it is deservedly recognized as the best flash browser for iPad. The disadvantages include not always high-quality drawing and sometimes not very smooth scrolling of web pages.
Read the article: 5 212
Although Flash technology has been persecuted for its insecurity and has been replaced by more modern developments, it is still popular on the Internet for watching videos and playing games. Flash is not officially supported on Android and iOS, so you'll need to do it yourself to access the games you want. We have already written about, now it’s time to consider the iOS operating system for iPad tablets and iPhone smartphones. Among the browsers there are both free and paid options with Flash support.
Key Features: Fast loading, Adobe Flash support via cloud, Theater mode, Flash quality settings, Virtual trackpad, Mobile and desktop modes, Incognito tab.
Puffin Web Browser is a fast, Flash-enabled browser for iPhone and iPad. Using servers on the Internet, it brings an analogue of the desktop to smartphones and tablets. The browser quickly and reliably displays full versions of web pages, including those with Flash. Puffin Free Flash does not support. The browser also supports HTML5 videos and games.
If desired, you can work with a mouse and keyboard, there are page bookmarks, search, pop-up blocker and popular sites. The browser has a rich design and is available in free and paid versions.
Photon Flash Player
Key Features: Support for Facebook games with Flash and video, Remote Cloud Browsing, Flash Music Streaming, iPhone Mouse Pointer Mode, Touch and Drag Mode, Flash Zoom, Private Browsing, AirPrint Printing.
Photon Browser is a great Flash-enabled application for extending the functionality of your iPad. It is a powerful alternative to the Safari browser, which does not have Flash. Flash content can be seen by clicking on the Lightning Bolt button.
The browser allows you to change the bandwidth to get a sharper image, higher frame rates or when the Internet access is slow. You can play free games on Facebook and others with Flash support, listen to music and watch videos. The latest version of Adobe Flash is used.
You need to click on the Lightning Bolt button and enter broadcast mode to view sites. Otherwise, you will receive standard Adobe messages telling you to install or update Flash. Go to Settings > Bandwidth to get the most out of this mode.
You won't be able to access some sites because they block traffic from certain IP addresses. If you have a slow 3G internet, features like dial-up may also be slow. Flash mode works best over Wi-Fi. The browser has free and paid versions.
Virtual Browser for Firefox
Key features: support for Flash and Java sites, applications, games and videos, login via Mozilla ID, synchronization with Firefox, support for Firefox extensions, full screen mode, mouse mode.
This is a Firefox browser with additional support for games and videos in Flash and Java. Judging by the application description, Flash and Java run in a virtual cloud. You can synchronize data with your Firefox account, install extensions, plugins, and toolbars.
iSwifter Games Browser
Download
This browser will also allow you to watch Flash content, websites, videos, and interactive games on your iPad. It requires access to Wi-Fi networks to operate. The browser is free for the first 7 days, but after that you will need to install a paid version using an in-app purchase. This will give you access to all functionality and improve productivity.
Skyfire Web Browser
Download
For iPad you don't like it at all? Although Apple requires all web apps on iPad to use the WebKit framework, there are many options that can be used as alternatives to Safari.
One of the most common competitors to the default application is Chrome. It's a fast, tabbed browser for iPad that can sync with a similar app on your desktop or laptop. One of its useful features is the ability to open web pages on your tablet that are already open on one of your other devices. Moreover, it is completely free.
Another browser for iPad - ICAB - is designed for those who want to get more productivity while surfing the web. An important feature is the ability to download files - a feature that is missing from Safari and most other web applications for the tablet. This means you can easily upload photos to Facebook or similar sites without having to install additional software. ICAB can also be useful for bloggers for the same reason. We can say that this is the best browser for iPad, since it has the ability to save and restore forms, as well as support for Dropbox.
Photon is the best solution for people who want to watch flash videos or play games on iPad. Although not all such applications will be supported by the mentioned browser, this feature is useful. In addition, it is endowed with all the characteristics necessary for full-fledged work on the Internet.
Another good browser for the iPad, Mercury, has a number of interesting features that make it unique. For example, the ability to disguise yourself as Firefox. This is great if you're visiting a site that loads on mobile by default when you need the full web page. This browser can sync with Firefox, supports Dropbox and private browsing, and has performance options (like image blocking).
Another interesting all-in-one offering is Atomic. This browser for iPad has a wide range of features including tabs, privacy mode, full screen with Dropbox and iTunes, features and the ability to save pages to read in. Another useful feature comes in the form of rotation lock, which is very convenient when you are holding the iPad under angle. In addition, you can connect your own search engine to this browser for iPad 4.
Opera Mini can't compete with some of the other browsers on this list in terms of features, but it does allow you to view compressed versions of websites, which will help you get the most out of limited data. Even though there is a short pause before the site loads, it is a very fast application. This is explained by the fact that all resources are loaded as a whole at once, and not in parts. In addition, this browser is completely free.
A person always looks for an alternative when something does not suit him. Is Photoshop expensive? Hello Pixelmator! Not happy with Windows? You need to try OS X and Linux. And, as a rule, there are plenty of alternatives. So, from the very first days of its existence on the iPad, the standard built-in Safari browser had so-called alternatives.
Now I want to make a rather superficial but useful overview on the topic: “Why are alternative browsers needed?”
Safari gets better with every version of iOS. Now this is an excellent mobile browser with many useful features and settings. But there are a number of useful functions that iOS developers, for one reason or another, did not build into it. And the creators of alternative browsers are practically unlimited and therefore their solutions are often more advanced than Safari. The question is, does the user need it? I don’t encourage you to switch to them (I myself am a supporter of standard solutions and use Safari), but you need to know about other programs.
I will give examples of alternative browsers and point out some of their important advantages...
Apple doesn't like Flash, so Flash is not supported in Safari. The most popular and long-running solution is Puffin. Puffin allows you to not only watch videos in this outdated format, but even enjoy Flash games.
You can play with a virtual joystick.
Puffin also boasts loading acceleration technology. Visually, indeed, sites load much faster in it than in Safari.
Red Onion – Tor Browser
Are you paranoid? Got Ros thief surveillance that blocks sites?
Then Tor is coming to you.
Tor (short for The Onion Router) is free and open source software for implementing the second generation of so-called onion routing. This is a proxy server system that allows you to establish an anonymous network connection that is protected from eavesdropping.
The Red Onion Browser allows you to anonymously surf the World Wide Web. And you are not afraid of any blocking. Tor technology makes it easy and painless to bypass all restrictions. The main thing to remember is that Tor works slowly, this browser is only convenient for use for its intended purpose.
Also a nice bonus to Tor technology is the download manager.
Download Red Onion 75 rubles
iCabMobile
The oldest paid browser in the App Store. Huge functionality: from a built-in loader (able to work with archives) to support for a bunch of lazy reading services. No one else has such a huge number of settings...
This is a browser for those who want to control everything and everyone in the program. The developer constantly updates his creation.
Download iCabMobile 149 rubles
In one line mode about other notable browsers:
- Mercury is not bad, but there are inadequate in-app purchases (1,790 rubles full version and subscription). Goodbye!
- Dolphin is annoying with its constant crashes... But overall it was once good. We are waiting for updates. Now it’s bad...
- The Firefox web browser is only for unassuming Fox fans. In terms of functionality, nothing...
- UC Browser – works VERY poorly on iPhone and iPad. I think the developers merged - there were no updates for 2 years. In terms of potential at the time of release, it was among the leaders.
- Chrome - the rating speaks for itself :)
Here's a short review. I hope someone will take away something necessary and useful. What browsers do you use (survey below) and why (in the comments)? Are you satisfied with your choice?
What browsers do you use regularly?
- Safari (47%, 383 goals)
- Google Chrome (18%, 146 goals)
- Yandex.Browser (9%, 75 goals)
- Puffin (8%, 63 goals)
- Opera Coast (4%, 29 goals)
- iCab Mobile (3%, 28 goals)
- Red Onion (3%, 24 goals)
- Firefox (2%, 19 goals)
- UC Browser (2%, 19 goals)
- Mercury (2%, 18 goals)
- Dolphin (1%, 8 goals)
- Maxthon (0%, 4 goals)
- Atomic Web Browser (0%, 0 goals)
At the end of February, we talked about alternative browsers for the Android platform. The publication aroused some interest among the 3DNews readership, so we decided to once again focus on software solutions for mobile web surfing and talk about relevant developments for portable devices running Apple iOS.
There is no particular need to explain why the choice fell on the operating system of the Apple corporation. Firstly, according to Canalys analysts, Apple software is installed on approximately 16% of smartphones worldwide, and the company itself is one of the three leaders in the mobile platform market, second only to Google (32.9%) and Nokia with its solutions based on Symbian OS (30.6%). Secondly, the App Store online store currently offers over 350 thousand applications for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners from 90 countries around the world. Such an impressive figure once again demonstrates that software products for iOS should not be overlooked. And if so, then we will consider the ceremonial part closed and move directly to the review of Internet browsers claiming to be the “best” in various categories.
⇡ The most economical
When it comes to saving network traffic and computing resources on a portable device, the first thing that comes to mind is the free browser Opera Mini, whose client-server architecture easily solves the mentioned problems. According to the developers, the page processing technology used on Opera Software servers makes it possible to compress traffic up to 90% of the original volume before downloading content to a cell phone, which leads to a significant reduction in costs when paying per megabyte for mobile Internet. Subsequently, the experience of the Norwegian company was adopted by many developers of alternative web browsers, which, however, does not prevent the “mini-opera” from remaining the number one player in its market segment.
We have repeatedly talked about the browser itself and the functionality included in it on the pages of the Software section, so we will not repeat it again. Let's just say that soon the Norwegians are going to present the Opera Mini assembly for the iPad tablet, announced at the Mobile World Congress 2011 exhibition. Once the product is approved by Apple and appears on the App Store, tablet owners will be able to enjoy features such as pinch-to-zoom support, page search, and background tabs.
Our emphasis on the market is not accidental. The fact is that every application placed in the catalog undergoes strict testing to ensure compliance with the rules for third-party iOS developers, and being featured in the App Store is not as easy as it seems at first glance. According to what was published on the Internet, consisting of almost two hundred points, Cupertino’s veto covers beta versions of software solutions, products that duplicate the functionality of those already present in the online application store, devoid of practical development value, and so on and so forth. The most important limitation appears in paragraph 2.17, which states that applications with web browser functionality must use the iOS WebKit framework and the Javascript engine built into WebKit. It is for this reason that the App Store, which is loved by many mobile device owners, does not have the Opera Mobile browser, which uses the Presto engine. As for the Opera Mini browser, the page handler involved in it is not installed on the phone, but functions on a remote server. Who would have thought this! - does not contradict Apple policy.
⇡ The most sophisticated
This title rightfully belongs to the German browser iCab Mobile, whose rich functionality is capable of winning the hearts of the most hardened web surfers who conquer the network using iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The program includes: an interface similar to the desktop version of Safari, which provides effective management of open tabs, a built-in download manager, a customizable network content filtering mechanism that allows you to filter out banners and other advertising fluff, integration with the Dropbox cloud data storage, a system for filling out web forms on pages, as well as support for extensions - additional software modules that add particular functionality to the browser. Among the useful little things, we can note the ability of iCab Mobile to save traffic using the Google Mobilizer service and adapt to competitors by modifying the User-Agent variable, the presence of a private browser mode, developed tools for exporting/importing user data and a file caching mechanism that allows viewing previously downloaded pages without Internet connection. Offline mode can also be useful for saving traffic when using expensive and still slow mobile networks. Finally, another feature of the “German” is the Russified interface, which includes help documentation translated into Russian. Agree, an impressive set of distinctive qualities, which you can become the owner of for just two dollars.
⇡ The safest
The favorite in this category is the Smart Surfing browser developed by specialists from the antivirus company Trend Micro, distributed free of charge and adapted for both the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as the iPad. The highlight of the program is a protection module operating in tandem with the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network cloud infrastructure, which uses reputation assessment technologies and “on the fly” blocks access to web pages with malicious content, as well as phishing resources. The latter feature makes the browser an ideal tool for working with online banking systems and other resources that require increased attention to security. For user convenience, Smart Surfing provides settings for the level of protection provided and keys for quickly switching between tabs open in the browser. The Trend Micro product does not offer any frills such as support for add-ons, advanced management tools and advanced web tools - all the efforts of the developers were concentrated exclusively on implementing a system for filtering malicious sites. Safety comes first.
⇡ The most social
In terms of close integration with social services and media resources that are widely in demand today, the American Skyfire is a confident leader, presented in the App Store in two editions, one of which was created with an eye to the widescreen iPad. The browser is characterized by the ability to find a common language with Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, Google Reader and dozens of other popular services among online audiences, as well as close “friendship” with mechanisms for quickly exchanging information and searching for interesting content, taking into account the preferences of the user and the Internet community. The second distinctive feature of the program, which puts it a step above the rest, is the ability to view Flash videos due to the preliminary conversion of multimedia data into a format supported by the iOS operating system (using the computing power of Skyfire servers) and subsequent playback of videos using HTML5. The pleasure of keeping your finger on the pulse of the latest achievements of scientific and technological progress is inexpensive: for an assembly for Apple smartphones, developers ask three dollars, the version for a tablet PC costs a little more - five evergreen currency units.
⇡ The most stylish
Finally, the most stunning in terms of beauty and color is the mobile browser 360 Browser, the color design of which can be varied through plug-in graphic themes. This is the first distinctive attribute of the software solution, there is also a second one - an effective radial menu that allows you to deftly manipulate browser parameters with one swipe of your finger. In fact, the presence of such an unusual control element determines the no less intricate name of the product, behind the bright wrapper of which lies a serious filling, including a convenient tab bar, support for extensions, a file download manager, an ad blocker, a content compression module using Google Mobilizer, as well as the Firefox Sync mechanism , which allows you to synchronize bookmarks, web history, passwords and other information with Firefox browsers on different devices. 360 Browser also has a lot of other interesting functionality, the number of which is almost as good as the aforementioned iCab Mobile. As for the financial side of the issue, the 360-degree observer costs only one dollar. An updated build of the browser is on the way with support for the AirPrint wireless printing function, the Dropbox service and, most importantly, adapted for the iPad. In general, we recommend it.
This is the Top 5 browsers we have compiled for the Apple iOS mobile platform, the review of which, in our opinion, would be logical to complete with some observations made during a brief acquaintance with the software products presented on the shelves of the App Store.
The first point is the commercial component. Unlike Android, the vast majority of alternative browsers for portable devices from the Apple giant are distributed on a paid basis, and the quality and practical value of such products often leaves much to be desired. Vivid examples of this kind of creations are Life Web Browser and Bolt HD. The first one, in our case, charged $3 for registration in the editorial iPad and with enviable consistency crashed when entering a URL in the browser address bar, and Bolt HD, for the two dollars transferred to the developer’s pocket, was able to show off only the ability to adjust the User-Agent field.
The second important aspect is friendliness to the Russian user, who prefers to deal, albeit with overseas, but at least with Russified products. For some reason, there are only one or two such Internet browsers in the vaunted Apple market. Either the harsh and sometimes devoid of sound logic rules of the App Store scare away domestic coding gurus, or Apple itself is of little interest to the Russian audience, or something else is not going well, but the fact remains: out of a good dozen reviewers we tested, only two - Opera Mini and iCab Mobile - were trained in Russian literacy.
And the third factor, which smoothly follows from the second, which few people pay attention to, is support for Cyrillic domains. If the Safari browser that comes standard with the iOS operating system easily recognizes 3dnews.rf and president.rf typed in the address bar, then alternative solutions in the process of processing unusual URLs often fail and refuse to open resources presented in the Cyrillic layout, despite a single code base , which is the basis of every third-party solution (with the exception of Opera Mini).
The listed criteria once again indicate that when choosing mobile browsers you should always keep in mind the folk wisdom “Measure twice, cut once”, the relevance of which is dictated by various factors, the most important of which are ease of use and customizability in accordance with the needs of the user and, of course, information security.
