Opera Mini for iPhone fails Acid3 test
Opera's new browser for iPhone offers an edge in speed in exchange for less than accurate page rendering. However, the free new browser isn't just taking shortcuts; its weak performance in the Acid3 test demonstrates that it doesn't correctly support web standards.
In the first look review of the new Opera Mini browser, AppleInsider noted that the browser did a poor job of rendering basic layouts of text and tables on the NYTimes.com website (as shown below).
Opera Mini's weak rendering leaves many page elements unreadable. This is a rather stark contrast to Opera's desktop browser, which has consistently maintained high web standards compliance competitive with Apple's Safari browser. Each uses a different rendering engine: Safari uses WebKit, while Opera uses its own Presto.
Opera Mini scales back rendering quality by stripping a variety of features from web pages as they pass through Opera's proxy server. Fonts appear to all be replaced with Helvetica, graphics can be heavily compressed, and the entire structure of the page is translated from HTML into a markup language called OBML (Opera Binary Markup Language).
This breaks much of the functionally of JavaScript and erases the benefits of using SSL encryption. However, it can result in a big boost in page delivery and rendering times, particularly on a slow mobile connection, if rendering accuracy and security aren't important considerations for that web browsing session.
The Acid Test
The Acid3 test, developed by a team of W3C experts lead by Ian Hickson, includes a battery of subtests that probe the browser's ability to handle everything from basic HTTP, HTML tables, DOM transversal, CSS selectors, JavaScript and Unicode to more esoteric features including SVG and SMIL. It provides a score out of 100 possible points.
Browsers can score 100/100 and still fail the test if they do not correctly render the final page of graphics to a pixel-level precision. Additionally, there is also a performance component to the text, although this is not usually taken into consideration on mobile browsers.
When benchmarked by the site iSmashPhone, the new Opera Mini failed with a score of 74/100, while Safari Mobile received a score of 100/100.
iPhone's Safari browser tough to beat in Acid3 standards compliance
The site didn't note that the current iPhone OS Mobile Safari, despite its score, does not actually pass the Acid3 test due to rendering details (noted by arrows, below). However, it does do much better on the test than any other mobile browser (even browsers that use the same WebKit rendering engine that Safari uses), and better than many other desktop browsers as well.
In the first look review of the new Opera Mini browser, AppleInsider noted that the browser did a poor job of rendering basic layouts of text and tables on the NYTimes.com website (as shown below).
Opera Mini's weak rendering leaves many page elements unreadable. This is a rather stark contrast to Opera's desktop browser, which has consistently maintained high web standards compliance competitive with Apple's Safari browser. Each uses a different rendering engine: Safari uses WebKit, while Opera uses its own Presto.
Opera Mini scales back rendering quality by stripping a variety of features from web pages as they pass through Opera's proxy server. Fonts appear to all be replaced with Helvetica, graphics can be heavily compressed, and the entire structure of the page is translated from HTML into a markup language called OBML (Opera Binary Markup Language).
This breaks much of the functionally of JavaScript and erases the benefits of using SSL encryption. However, it can result in a big boost in page delivery and rendering times, particularly on a slow mobile connection, if rendering accuracy and security aren't important considerations for that web browsing session.
The Acid Test
The Acid3 test, developed by a team of W3C experts lead by Ian Hickson, includes a battery of subtests that probe the browser's ability to handle everything from basic HTTP, HTML tables, DOM transversal, CSS selectors, JavaScript and Unicode to more esoteric features including SVG and SMIL. It provides a score out of 100 possible points.
Browsers can score 100/100 and still fail the test if they do not correctly render the final page of graphics to a pixel-level precision. Additionally, there is also a performance component to the text, although this is not usually taken into consideration on mobile browsers.
When benchmarked by the site iSmashPhone, the new Opera Mini failed with a score of 74/100, while Safari Mobile received a score of 100/100.
iPhone's Safari browser tough to beat in Acid3 standards compliance
The site didn't note that the current iPhone OS Mobile Safari, despite its score, does not actually pass the Acid3 test due to rendering details (noted by arrows, below). However, it does do much better on the test than any other mobile browser (even browsers that use the same WebKit rendering engine that Safari uses), and better than many other desktop browsers as well.
Comments
Does anyone else find the theme for the iPad Safari version to be more aesthetically pleasing than the desktop safari or mobile safari?
Is Firefox, Chrome and IE going to offer apps???
C-
It's fast, but it looks awful. You can't read almost anything on nytimes.com unless you zoom in.
Agreed. Nice effort, but rather poor overall usability IMHO.
The latest beta of Pesto (the layout engine used by Opera Mini) scores 98/100 so they aren't that far behind Safari.
I just don't see this as a "real" browser. To me it is just sending an image of the site, not the site itself. And not a very nice image at that.
agreed, it's far from perfect.
and yet, it does a great job of displaying some websites which take far too long to load on safari. especially when on a slow connection. eg uk.eurosport.yahoo.com.
it's good to receive the news quickly, even if the paragraphs aren't all aligned etc
best
-d
its weak performance in the Acid3 test demonstrates that it doesn't correctly support web standards
You are kidding, right?
You are comparing a mini-browser with the engine on a server to full browsers with the engine locally?
If this isn't a joke, this site really needs to start laying off staff...
Of course Opera Mini isn't going to pass Acid3. The way it works prevents it from doing that. Rendering on a server, remember?
What's funny is that Safari doesn't pass either, so apparently "the Acid3 test demonstrates that Safari doesn't correctly support web standards" too.
LOL.
What's the point of this browser? Really.
As Opera put it, it complements Safari and gives you faster browsing on slow connections. It doesn't replace Safari.
I just don't see this as a "real" browser. To me it is just sending an image of the site, not the site itself. And not a very nice image at that.
Uh, yeah. That's kind of the point. Compression and server-side rendering, remember? To compress pages up to 90% and speed up browsing on slow connections?
Fail?
It does exactly what it was designed to do. And it isn't supposed to replace full browsers like Opera Mobile or Safari.
I can't believe some of you are saying nice effort. It's a poor effort if you want a usable browser. Sure, it can be faster than Safari under some circumstances, but the fact that it doesn't display pages correctly (I found worse problems with NYT when I tried it) and the scrolling is horrible kills it.
What problems with NYT?
Safari displays pages incorrectly too, so...
You are kidding, right?
You are comparing a mini-browser with the engine on a server to full browsers with the engine locally?
If this isn't a joke, this site really needs to start laying off staff...
Of course Opera Mini isn't going to pass Acid3. The way it works prevents it from doing that. Rendering on a server, remember?
What's funny is that Safari doesn't pass either, so apparently "the Acid3 test demonstrates that Safari doesn't correctly support web standards" too.
LOL.
This from a slashdot article's comments a few weeks ago:
If Steve Jobs said all Apple users should throw themselves off a cliff, Roughly Drafted would provide a semi-spirited defense of suicide.
Then you look at the author of this article and everything slips into place.
This from a slashdot article's comments a few weeks ago:
If Steve Jobs said all Apple users should throw themselves off a cliff, Roughly Drafted would provide a semi-spirited defense of suicide.
Then you look at the author of this article and everything slips into place.
Have you used Opera on the iPhone? its freaking terrible.
You are kidding, right?
You are comparing a mini-browser with the engine on a server to full browsers with the engine locally?
If this isn't a joke, this site really needs to start laying off staff...
Of course Opera Mini isn't going to pass Acid3. The way it works prevents it from doing that. Rendering on a server, remember?
What's funny is that Safari doesn't pass either, so apparently "the Acid3 test demonstrates that Safari doesn't correctly support web standards" too.
LOL.
Ummm... I just ran Acid3 on my iPod Touch (2nd gen 16GB) and I got a 100/100, also ran it on my MacBook Pro and also got a 100/100 how is that a "Safari doesn't pass"?
Have you used Opera on the iPhone? its freaking terrible.
Not terrible, just different, and serves a different purpose than Safari.
Ummm... I just ran Acid3 on my iPod Touch (2nd gen 16GB) and I got a 100/100, also ran it on my MacBook Pro and also got a 100/100 how is that a "Safari doesn't pass"?
Read the article, perhaps? It doesn't match the reference rendering. That's a fail even if it gets 100/100.
What's the point of this browser? Really.
Based on my personal use, I'd say speed is its forte.
As the article mentions, it poorly renders many websites. It ends up being a waste of time because you'll end up at a site that is atrociously rendered and have to switch back to Safari. I deleted it from my iPod touch after a couple of days.
I do hope the Opera folks will continue to improve their browsers (both desktop as well as mobile).
A shame, really.
Not terrible, just different, and serves a different purpose than Safari.
I see, then I will probably stick to safari, the experience is that much better than Opera so far.