Chrome for Android
When I read it on Engadget earlier today I was tempted to upgrade my S2 to ICS- Think I will stick it out until both become stable but its good news- the stock browser in Android is crap.
Hopefully Chrome will add that well known speed and simplicity from the desktop version that's lacking in the other android alternatives. Even Dolphin Browser (best I have used) is a bit fussy to use.
Hopefully Chrome will add that well known speed and simplicity from the desktop version that's lacking in the other android alternatives. Even Dolphin Browser (best I have used) is a bit fussy to use.
Originally Posted by late8:
“When I read it on Engadget earlier today I was tempted to upgrade my S2 to ICS- Think I will stick it out until both become stable but its good news- the stock browser in Android is crap.”
“When I read it on Engadget earlier today I was tempted to upgrade my S2 to ICS- Think I will stick it out until both become stable but its good news- the stock browser in Android is crap.”
Crap is an overstatement, but I agree the default browser for Gingerbread is not great. The stock browser in ICS is pretty great, though - I don't know that that many people will feel the need to trade it for Chrome, as much as I love Chrome on the desktop...
Originally Posted by pi r squared:
“Crap is an overstatement, but I agree the default browser for Gingerbread is not great. The stock browser in ICS is pretty great, though - I don't know that that many people will feel the need to trade it for Chrome, as much as I love Chrome on the desktop...”
“Crap is an overstatement, but I agree the default browser for Gingerbread is not great. The stock browser in ICS is pretty great, though - I don't know that that many people will feel the need to trade it for Chrome, as much as I love Chrome on the desktop...”
we'll just have to see. Its Google making something for Google after all so hopefully it should work well.
The Interface looks good for mobile with easy tab access and flicking via a swipe. + Eventually bookmarks sync thats integrated.
I do wonder why chrome has taken so long to get to Android
.
Why only ICS when so few devices come with it, what a shame. This is where Android loses out to IOS, 1 person can have something, but another on a different device can't.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“Why only ICS when so few devices come with it, what a shame. This is where Android loses out to IOS, 1 person can have something, but another on a different device can't.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
“Why only ICS when so few devices come with it, what a shame. This is where Android loses out to IOS, 1 person can have something, but another on a different device can't.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
I don't think people with a 3G iPhone would entirely agree with your thoughts....
Originally Posted by call100:
“I don't think people with a 3G iPhone would entirely agree with your thoughts....”
“I don't think people with a 3G iPhone would entirely agree with your thoughts....”
In fairness the 3G is very old, we had the 3Gs the year after, then the 4 the year after, then the 4s the year after and will have the 5 this year.
However Honeycomb devices are still the norm, very few devices have ICS and many won't be getting ICS or will have to wait a long time despite the devices being capable and modern.
So I don't think that point is very valid really.
I have an Adndroid phone and just bought an Android tablet. I could have waited for the next ipad due probably next month and in some ways I wish I had, this is a big down side of being on the Android platform.
I suspect Chrome will filter down to Gingerbread. Remember this is only a Beta on ICS and this year sees a plethora of new ICS phones as well as ones like GalaxyS2 getting the ICS update.
I mainly use Opera unless I need iPlayer.
Obviously new features firstt have to be marketed. Tablets did not initially get the market by default in order to garner the support of network sellers.
The public interest, even with open source, can't always come first.
Obviously new features firstt have to be marketed. Tablets did not initially get the market by default in order to garner the support of network sellers.
The public interest, even with open source, can't always come first.
I thought the built-in Android browser was Google Chrome unbranded.
Android is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, is it not? Google do own the 'Internet' app pre-loaded on all Android devices? If that's the case, why create a second, inferior browser? I call it inferior because it doesn't support flash and is still in the beta stage.
Apple and Microsoft use the desktop name for their built-in mobile browsers. The built-in Android browser is pretty darn good and I prefer it to Opera Mini.
Android is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, is it not? Google do own the 'Internet' app pre-loaded on all Android devices? If that's the case, why create a second, inferior browser? I call it inferior because it doesn't support flash and is still in the beta stage.
Apple and Microsoft use the desktop name for their built-in mobile browsers. The built-in Android browser is pretty darn good and I prefer it to Opera Mini.
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“In fairness the 3G is very old, we had the 3Gs the year after, then the 4 the year after, then the 4s the year after and will have the 5 this year.
However Honeycomb devices are still the norm, very few devices have ICS and many won't be getting ICS or will have to wait a long time despite the devices being capable and modern.
So I don't think that point is very valid really.
I have an Adndroid phone and just bought an Android tablet. I could have waited for the next ipad due probably next month and in some ways I wish I had, this is a big down side of being on the Android platform.”
“In fairness the 3G is very old, we had the 3Gs the year after, then the 4 the year after, then the 4s the year after and will have the 5 this year.
However Honeycomb devices are still the norm, very few devices have ICS and many won't be getting ICS or will have to wait a long time despite the devices being capable and modern.
So I don't think that point is very valid really.
I have an Adndroid phone and just bought an Android tablet. I could have waited for the next ipad due probably next month and in some ways I wish I had, this is a big down side of being on the Android platform.”
I still think 3G owners would view it as valid...
Originally Posted by late8:
“The Interface looks good for mobile with easy tab access and flicking via a swipe. + Eventually bookmarks sync thats integrated.”
“The Interface looks good for mobile with easy tab access and flicking via a swipe. + Eventually bookmarks sync thats integrated.”
Again, this is why I say the ICS browser is much better, because it already has easy tab access, swipe actions, and bookmark sync. Chrome > Gingerbread browser; I'm yet to see any evidence Chrome > ICS browser.[/quote]
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
“It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
"Hi Siri, do Apple ever force people to spend top £££ to be on the latest OS in order to use certain software...?"
There are usually numerous ways to get to the latest version of Android. Buy a new phone, yes, but also install a custom ROM (not as tricky as you may think), or indeed simple patience.
There is very little ICS-exclusive stuff, and as others have said it's unlikely Chrome will stay ICS-exclusive for ever, but seems as good a ground as any to test on.
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“Why only ICS when so few devices come with it, what a shame. This is where Android loses out to IOS, 1 person can have something, but another on a different device can't.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
“Why only ICS when so few devices come with it, what a shame. This is where Android loses out to IOS, 1 person can have something, but another on a different device can't.
It makes you feel pissed off that you have to spend top £££ every year to always be on the latest Android OS or you don't get certain software, then when you do upgrade other software doesn't support ICS!
This is where IOS wins sadly, everything more standardised. Most devices getting upgrades, upgrades available for all, standardisation, unity etc.”
I can't install Internet Explorer 9 on my XP machine. Boo flipping hoo. Get the latest version of Firefox running like a charm instead. Oh, I can't run Chrome on my GB driven Desire S? Nevermind, Skyfire will save the day same goes for Dolphin and Xscope and a plethora of others.
Opera Mini has its uses but the fuller Opera Mobile works well too.
I've not installed Firefox as yet. The next edition will no doubt tempt me.
The more the merrier as they say.
I've not installed Firefox as yet. The next edition will no doubt tempt me.
The more the merrier as they say.
Some fair points from people in this thread in response to my post, although the 3G is OLD OLD !!!!
XP is 10 years old and is end of life in the next 2 years.
Siri needs the better hardware as it's slower on the older Apple devices and Apple like to make sure their stuff works really well.
The chrome browser should work fine on Honeycomb devices though and they are on sale now still.
XP is 10 years old and is end of life in the next 2 years.
Siri needs the better hardware as it's slower on the older Apple devices and Apple like to make sure their stuff works really well.
The chrome browser should work fine on Honeycomb devices though and they are on sale now still.
My only gripe is that it doesn't support Flash. They better include it when it comes out of Beta - people say they don't need flash as there are Apps, but what about the people like myself who just want the internet to work, without needing to flick between Apps?
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“Siri needs the better hardware as it's slower on the older Apple devices and Apple like to make sure their stuff works really well.”
“Siri needs the better hardware as it's slower on the older Apple devices and Apple like to make sure their stuff works really well.”
That seems to be the pro Apple angle for something that Woz said actually worked better on the old iPhone 4.
This argument would also mean that Siri kills the battery though I'd instead say it is very much marketing bull.
Corporate life always means financial considerations come first.
It has worked well for 4s sales in a similar way that removing the market from tablets brought Android Smartphone sales to the fore.
Originally Posted by bn11andy:
“no flash player on opera mini but install opera mobile and youve got it. At least for Galaxy S2”
“no flash player on opera mini but install opera mobile and youve got it. At least for Galaxy S2”
S2 supports Flash anyway....
Originally Posted by John Malkovich:
“I thought the built-in Android browser was Google Chrome unbranded.
Android is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, is it not? Google do own the 'Internet' app pre-loaded on all Android devices? If that's the case, why create a second, inferior browser? I call it inferior because it doesn't support flash and is still in the beta stage.
Apple and Microsoft use the desktop name for their built-in mobile browsers. The built-in Android browser is pretty darn good and I prefer it to Opera Mini.”
“I thought the built-in Android browser was Google Chrome unbranded.
Android is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google, is it not? Google do own the 'Internet' app pre-loaded on all Android devices? If that's the case, why create a second, inferior browser? I call it inferior because it doesn't support flash and is still in the beta stage.
Apple and Microsoft use the desktop name for their built-in mobile browsers. The built-in Android browser is pretty darn good and I prefer it to Opera Mini.”
Chome is a proprietary Google product whereas the browser in Android is open source and, I assume, looked after by the Android team. Obviously for reasons unknown to us, Chromium isn't used at the 'open source' browser for stock Android.
Also, many OEMs choose to build their own browsers and bundle them with their versions of Android - so not all of them are the vanilla Android browser.
