Apple approves Opera Mini app for iPhone
Opera has announced Apple's approval of the company's Opera Mini browser in the iPhone App Store.
The new browser should become available in the App Store within the next day, and will be a free download. It will work on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as a classic app that can be pixel doubled.
Opera submitted the app March 23, and observers have waited to see whether Apple would ultimately approve or deny the alternative web browser.
Back in October 2008, Opera co-founder Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner told the New York Times that his company had ported the Mini browser to the iPhone, but had assumed that it would not be approved because of Apple's policies.
Mozilla, the developer of Firefox, had similarly complained that Apple would probably not approve of its alternative web browser on the iPhone, so it simply did not try to submit one.
The Mini in Opera Mini
Opera Mini is unique both in that it does not use the WebKit browser engine, and that it uses a proxy compression scheme to greatly reduce web traffic. All the pages a user browses in Opera Mini are relayed through Opera's servers, which reduce the size of content by as much as 90%.
This design results in speedy browsing, which is specifically useful to mobile users with limited network access. Opera Mini claims page loading speeds up to six times faster than Apple's Mobile Safari when using a mobile 3G network. However, the features also bypasses SSL security, making it undesirable for accessing banking information.
Opera Mini also offers other features Safari doesn't, including the ability to search the contents of web pages. It does not include a pinch to zoom feature, which is something that Apple has insisted on reserving for its own bundled apps.
In a press release, Opera chief executive Lars Boilesen said, "We are delighted to offer iPhone and iPod touch users a great browsing experience with the Opera Mini app. This app is another step toward Opera's goal of bringing the Web to more people in more places."
The new browser should become available in the App Store within the next day, and will be a free download. It will work on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as a classic app that can be pixel doubled.
Opera submitted the app March 23, and observers have waited to see whether Apple would ultimately approve or deny the alternative web browser.
Back in October 2008, Opera co-founder Jon Stephenson von Tetzchner told the New York Times that his company had ported the Mini browser to the iPhone, but had assumed that it would not be approved because of Apple's policies.
Mozilla, the developer of Firefox, had similarly complained that Apple would probably not approve of its alternative web browser on the iPhone, so it simply did not try to submit one.
The Mini in Opera Mini
Opera Mini is unique both in that it does not use the WebKit browser engine, and that it uses a proxy compression scheme to greatly reduce web traffic. All the pages a user browses in Opera Mini are relayed through Opera's servers, which reduce the size of content by as much as 90%.
This design results in speedy browsing, which is specifically useful to mobile users with limited network access. Opera Mini claims page loading speeds up to six times faster than Apple's Mobile Safari when using a mobile 3G network. However, the features also bypasses SSL security, making it undesirable for accessing banking information.
Opera Mini also offers other features Safari doesn't, including the ability to search the contents of web pages. It does not include a pinch to zoom feature, which is something that Apple has insisted on reserving for its own bundled apps.
In a press release, Opera chief executive Lars Boilesen said, "We are delighted to offer iPhone and iPod touch users a great browsing experience with the Opera Mini app. This app is another step toward Opera's goal of bringing the Web to more people in more places."
Comments
I did a search for it but no go.
I went to Opera's website and clicked on their iTunes link but I got a "Your request could not be completed." message from the AppStore.
I guess Steve found out and blew a gasket.
I went to Opera's website and clicked on their iTunes link but I got a "Your request could not be completed." message from the AppStore.:
Dude, give it 24 hours.
Did Apple just remove it? lmao
I did a search for it but no go.
I went to Opera's website and clicked on their iTunes link but I got a "Your request could not be completed." message from the AppStore.
I guess Steve found out and blew a gasket.
They said it should be available in the next day in the main article, there in the second sentence:
Quote:
"The new browser should become available in the App Store within the next day, and will be a free download. It will work on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as a classic app that can be pixel doubled."
Did Apple just remove it? lmao
I did a search for it but no go.
I went to Opera's website and clicked on their iTunes link but I got a "Your request could not be completed." message from the AppStore.
I guess Steve found out and blew a gasket.
The website also says the release is on the 13th and today is the 12th. Apps usually appear within 24 hours after approval. Check tomorrow.
However, the features also bypasses SSL security, making it undesirable for accessing banking information.
And a host of other websites. But I'm sure it's safe for you guys... Be sure to let me know how it works out for you.
If'n I were a bettin' man, and I am, I would bet against Firefox and especially Chrome for the iPhone/IPad.
So, how soon until someone ports Chrome/Android to run on the iPhone hardware?
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/opera...363729560?mt=8
I wonder if the increases or decreases the odds of a FireFox and/or Chrome for iOS?
If'n I were a bettin' man, and I am, I would bet against Firefox and especially Chrome for the iPhone/IPad.
So, how soon until someone ports Chrome/Android to run on the iPhone hardware?
2) Sigh... please don't start a trend of calling it iOS. Cisco has been calling the OS that runs it's hardware IOS for years.. Not to mention it's called iPhone OS. Do you call "Mac OS X" "MOSX"? Almost as bad as people calling the iPod touch the iTouch...
2) if you're going to go through all the trouble it would take to install Android on an iPhone, why not just jailbrake the phone to get around App Store restrictions and keep the superior UX?
It's available in the UK store. I downloaded it a couple of hours ago.
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/opera...363729560?mt=8
Hmm, how did they get away with rating it 4+ when an app simply including a web browsing feature has to be rated 17+?
Installed it.
Opened appleinsider.com.
Cringed.
Tried some more complex sites.
Almost fainted.
Deleted it.
Rated it 1 star.
Rendition is terrible. Pinch to zoom is like sawing a marshmallow. Makes Mobile Safari look like the greatest browser ever.
Downloaded it.
Installed it.
Opened appleinsider.com.
Cringed.
Tried some more complex sites.
Almost fainted.
Deleted it.
Rated it 1 star.
Rendition is terrible. Pinch to zoom is like sawing a marshmallow. Makes Mobile Safari look like the greatest browser ever.
All comments should be written in this format.
If so, smart move on Apple's part (especially if the browser is not worth downloading, see above)
All comments should be written in this format.
Hehe, sorry, but since these Opera guys were creating such a ballyhoo around this junk, including an original blackmail countdown timer... I figured it deserves some space