The main selling point of Bolt is it’s speed: it downloads pages quickly and without fuss: the ESPN.com homepage downloaded in about 15 seconds. Most of that (about 10 seconds) was staring at a blank screen, but once the first bit loaded the rest really seemed to zip along. Other than the snappy performance, and the fact that its free, the rest of the browser doesn’t offer a very enjoyable experience.

The UI is missing some of the key features we see on new apps these days: big buttons, easily selectable lists, etc. You can see from the bookmarks page below – it isn’t terribly finger-friendly.

That said, Bolt 1.5 is a quick and reliable web browser. I hope version 2.0 address the UI issues, including improved navigation, and then Bolt could be a real threat to Opera and Skyfire.

You can download Bolt 1.5 for free from the Bolt website.

I just found this video of a new web browser called uZard for Windows Mobile. It has a few nice features, like a touch-and-hold trick to help screen out ads and stuff. The LogicPlant website lists off the browser’s features:

• shows same screen as you see in your PC’s.
• is the fastest mobile web browser.
• supports cross platform.
• works independently of chipset and technologies.
• doesn’t require high processing power.
• takes smallest data traffic.
• is a small size application.
• is easy to customize and converge.

It looks like it is only available in a few European countries, so if anyone out there has it please let me know how it works!!

At long, long last, Adobe is bringing Flash to Windows Mobile, and the other smartphone platforms, of course. Arriving in early 2010, Flash on the mobile platforms will bring native flash rendering on your device, reducing the need for some of the server-side proxy rendering we see in browsers like Skyfire and Bolt.

From Adobe:

The browser-based runtime leverages the power of the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) for accelerated video and graphics while conserving battery life and minimizing resource utilization. New mobile-ready features that take advantage of native device capabilities include support for multi-touch, gestures, mobile input models, accelerometer and screen orientation bringing unprecedented creative control and expressiveness to the mobile browsing experience. Flash Player 10.1 will also take advantage of media delivery with HTTP streaming, including integration of content protection powered by Adobe® Flash® Access 2.0. This effort, code-named Zeri, will be an open format based on industry standards and will provide content publishers, distributors and partners the tools they need to utilize HTTP infrastructures for high-quality media delivery in Flash Player 10.1 and Adobe® AIR® 2.0 software.

For the full press release, visit the Adobe website.

Among the more interesting things, some of which we knew before:

• no competing app stores (i.e. Mobihand can’t distribute a WinMo app client through the Marketplace)
• no VOIP over carriers’ networks, although no mention of WiFi
• nothing that changes the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface (interesting…)
• no changing the default browser, search client, or media player “on the device” (does this mean beloved apps like CorePlayer or PocketMusic? New browsers like Skyfire and Opera? I can’t imagine…)

This list really begs more questions than it answers and will surely be followed up by a more comprehensive distributor’s agreement of some kind. See the full list of faux-pas after the jump.

Straight from Microsoft’s site:

1. Applications that are or distribute alternate marketplaces for content types (applications, games, themes etc.) that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.

2. Applications that link to, incent users to download, or otherwise promote alternate marketplaces for content types that are sold or otherwise distributed through Windows Marketplace for Mobile.

3. Applications that promote or link users to a website, or contain functionality within the application itself, which encourages or requires the user to purchase or pay to upgrade the application outside of Windows® Marketplace for Mobile.

4. Applications that enable VoIP (Voice over IP) services over a mobile operator network.

5. Applications that sell, link to, or otherwise promote mobile voice plans.

6. Applications that display advertising that does not meet the Microsoft Advertising Creative Acceptance Policy Guide http://advertising.microsoft.com/creative-specs.

7. Applications that replace, remove or modify the default dialer, SMS, or MMS interface.

8. Applications that change the default browser, search client, or media player on the device.

9. Applications with an OTA (over the air) download >10 MB.

10. Applications that run code outside Microsoft runtimes (native, managed, and widgets)

11. Applications that publish a user’s location information to any other person without first having received the user’s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a means of opting out of having their location information published.

12. Applications that publish a user’s data from their mobile device to any other person without first having received the user’s express permission (opt-in) to do so, and that do not provide the user a means of opting out of having their data published. A “user’s data” includes, without limit, contacts, photos, SMS or other text communication, browsing history, location information, and other data either stored on the mobile device or stored in the “cloud” but accessible from the
mobile device

Opera has just dropped a beta version of their popular Opera Mini browser, and it looks like they’ve hit the nail on the head. Adding tabbed browsing, a much-improved “quick dial” for your bookmarked pages, plus a few other additions and improvements could put Opera back on top.

Opera has put up a nice video showing off the new features, you can view the Opera Mini Beta 5 Video here.

The only thing it is lacking that the reigning champ, Skyfire, has over Opera Mini now is Skyfire’s incredible support for media, including Flash and Silverlight.

Interested in giving the new Opera a try? Head over to Opera’s website and download it! Please leave some comments with your thoughts after you’ve tried it out!

Major talking points of this new update are:

• Improved page load times: updated algorithm to bring you the content much quicker.
• Improved scrolling and zooming on Symbian: a much faster and smoother experience now.
• Improved reconnect: Skyfire will show clearly when you can start interacting with the web page
• Improved mobile website support, WML support
• Navigation via short-key: You can use now ‘2’ and ‘8’ to easily navigate the page
• Updated Plug-ins for Flash, Silverlight and QuickTime

If you hadn’t tried Skyfire before, you should go check out the Skyfire site and download a copy.

Today Skyfire announced the latest beta build (0.9) of their popular mobile browser for Windows Mobile and S60 platforms.

This beta build includes a lot of new social aspects including the native integration of both Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Users with Facebook and Twitter accounts can import their news feeds and Twitter streams into Skyfire and easily publish their status to these networks. Users can also share and publish any web page to their Facebook and Twitter streams by simply going to the share menu in the Skyfire browser.

I’ve been playing with this latest build for the past few days and I have to say, I’m really impressed! I’m a huge fan of both Facebook and Twitter and Skyfire 0.9’s “real-time activity wall” (feed aggregator) is awesome. I’m also impressed by many other improvements as well, such as less required scrolling, better text rendering, and of course Skyfire remains my top mobile browser pick for its ability to support Flash Web pages, video, and its speedy load time.

Head on over to Skyfire’s site to download the newest build for FREE and check it out for yourself! Skyfire suggests that users uninstall any previous versions of Skyfire that they may be running on their phones before installing the 0.9 beta.

Awesome, awesome image courtesy of WMPowerUser

Curious about Windows Mobile browsers? Well everything you could possibly want to know and more about Opera 9.5, Skyfire, Opera Mini, Iris, Pocket IE 6, Pre-6 IE and NetFront. And the benchmark? None other than iPhone’s Safari browser.

How do you think these browsers did when put to the test? You’ll have to check out the comparison chart to find out for yourself (Werner Ruotsalainen’s full story is available here)!

[via and Smartphonemag]

Did you know that thanks to Skyfire and its Flash capabilities, you can now watch SNL, hulu.com, YouTube.com, Dig Your Own Grave, and Video Fantastica on your Windows Mobile phone?

And I’ll let you in on a little secret too — Outside of the USA and tired of seeing that awful message: “This content is not viewable outside of the USA”? Well it appears that you won’t get that message if you’re on your Windows Mobile phone!

Trust me, this Canadian girl can’t get enough of Hulu.com now!
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