Internet experience, the browser

UI

The browser differs in UI from all the other browsers you've grown to know. The URL bar is on the bottom of the screen, instead of the regular top placement. On the right side of the URL bar you have your regular WP menu dots, which you can either pull or tap to open context menus. The refresh and stop button is on the left side of the URL bar.


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In settings you can select if you would like to load the full version, or the mobile version of the website and it will be remembered for you. This feature is missing from the browser on the S II, but you can write about:useragent on the browser URL bar and select Desktop from the list. This setting is valid for only one session.

Speed

The Lumia 800 uses Microsoft's mobile version of the Internet Explorer browser. I was a little disappointed in the speed of the browser, which is greatly slower than that of Android browsers. The browser is on average about twice slower than the browser of the S II. Both phones were hooked to the same Wifi connection and I loaded two very intensive websites. The S II had already finished when the Lumia's progress bar was only at half way done.

The speed isn't a deal breaker though, unless you have to have everything right now and immediately.

Behavior

Internet Explorer is greatly disliked on desktop, but the mobile version definitely deserves a hat lift. Scrolling is super smooth, the smoothest I've ever experienced. Smoother than on the S II. The browser is quick in picking up finger movements, which increases user experience to the next level.

The browser opens instantly followed by some animations, as you tap the tile on your start screen.

Flash content isn't supported, so you'll see blank white areas around some websites. Videos embedded on websites will play on a separate player if they support HTML5, so some videos won't play. YouTube videos can be viewed on the mobile version of the site, but the video performance wasn't very convincing. The video showed stuttering as if there was something else running on the background.

Checkerboard can't bee seen, but as you scroll intensive websites, the content is missing and you'll see blank unrendered areas. I truly hope these will be fixed soon.

Start screen shortcuts

Let's say that you want to add a new website bookmark (or just a link) on your homescreen for quick access.

This is how you'd do it in Android:

Open a website in the browser -> Tap on bookmarks -> Add as bookmark -> Confirm name and address -> Return to home screen -> Tap and hold on a blank area -> Select 'shortcuts' -> Select 'bookmark' -> Select the bookmark you wish to add on homescreen.

And in Windows Phone:

Open a website in the browser -> Tap the three dots -> Select Pin on homescreen.

Simple as that.

Tabs

Tabs can be accessed from the three dots menu, and are shown as cards, which you can close individually. New tabs can be opened by simply tapping on the plus icon on the bottom. Tabs are loaded in the background if you choose to open multiple tabs, so while you're typing in another web address, the other website has loaded in the background.


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All in all, I'm very happy with the browser. The user experience is great and the websites load reasonably quickly.
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NIKO April 1 2012
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