Opera 8.5 for Pocket PC (Beta) Now Available

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/products/winmobileppc/' target='_blank'>http://www.opera.com/products/mobil...s/winmobileppc/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Opera Software, world leader in browser technologies, today released the much anticipated Opera Mobile 8.5 Web browser for Windows Mobile Pocket PC (PPC). Opera 8.5 beta runs on Windows Mobile 2003 and 5.0, offering Opera's full and fast Web surfing experience on the full range of Windows Mobile Pocket PC devices. Opera 8.5 for Windows Mobile Pocket PC supports all major Web standards, including CSS2, DOM 2 and JavaScript, and offers a fast, secure and user-friendly Internet experience unlike any other on these devices. Based on Opera's latest core code, Opera 8.5 for Windows Mobile Pocket PC includes Opera's rendering technology that dynamically reformats Web pages to fit the width of any screen size."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060118-Opera.gif" /><br /><br />Well, here it is: <a href="http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/products/winmobileppc/">Opera for Pocket PC</a>. First bundled with the Sharp-Willcom W-ZERO3, it is now available for all Pocket PCs running Windows Mobile 2003 and Windows Mobile 5.0. I've just spent a couple of hours playing with it and I'm liking it so far. From a pop-up blocker and download manager to JavaScript support and smart-rendering technology, rest assured, Opera's packed with goodies.<br /><br />Note that the beta version of Opera for Pocket PC has a 45-day trial period.

[Muntasser]

Opera > PIE. nuff said.



actually...

Opera >>>>>>>>>>> PIE.

[WillyG]

Love the zoom function!! (combined with buildt in rotation and fullscreen). Almost like surfing on my PC.
Took me less than 30 seconds to like this more than Pocket Internet Explorer (Reason: Opera has more features)

[WillyG]

Forgot to mention: Bye-Bye quad/doble pixeling of images on VGA devices :D

[Darius Wey]

Several nice features I've noticed so far:

• It's crazy fast. For once, it's nice browsing non-mobile friendly sites. 8)

• The drop-down address box has a nice scrolling function to it. Highlight a long URL and you'll see what I mean.

• The download manager can resume previously-cancelled downloads. Edit: Though it doesn't always work.

&lt;Goes back to playing with his Pocket PC>

[Phillip Dyson]

Just installed it.

A few marks against it versus Netfront. I doesn't import my favorites. There also aren't very many settings options. I can't seem to actually change the zoom setting.

Opera renders everything smaller than Netfront does.

I like the progress bar though.

[Menneisyys]

You can find a review (with a lot of screenshots and bug reports) at http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=457&amp;more=1

In a few words: this version is much worse than I expected. It's not only pretty featureless but also VERY buggy.

[Pinnacle]

Does anyone know how to get this browser to NOT go to mobile-friendly sites automatically? Using Opera browser for mobile phones in the past (Series60), if you typed in www.espn.com, you were taken to ESPN's full site, not the wireless proxy edition.

If I go to PPC Thoughts, it automatically takes me to the mobile edition. To be honest, I'll stick with PIE if there is no way of changing this. Anyone see a workaround; I see nothing in the settings to change this.

[yildi]

Thanks for this information. Opera is terrribly quicker than IE on my HX4700. Very impressive. The rendering of the pages is quite good too. In GMail (not the pocket version) the left hand menu is strangely puched to the end of the page. But the surfing is really very quick.

Murat

[Lost Cause]

I'm very impressed that it can run the features on the UK's best weather website i.e. www.metoffice.com.

However, I'm irked that the 'Back' button is buried a couple of layers deep in the menus. Is there a quicker way of getting to it ???

[Darius Wey]

However, I'm irked that the 'Back' button is buried a couple of layers deep in the menus. Is there a quicker way of getting to it ???

There's a back button situated in the toolbar in the top-left corner of the screen.

[yildi]

If you click on the screen, you will get "Back" as a possibility in the contextual menu.

MY

[yildi]

There's a back button situated in the toolbar in the top-left corner of the screen.

I have missed this one :-) Nice find Darius ;-)

[Lost Cause]

However, I'm irked that the 'Back' button is buried a couple of layers deep in the menus. Is there a quicker way of getting to it ???

There's a back button situated in the toolbar in the top-left corner of the screen.

I completely missed that, so thanks very much.

[Ward]

Its rendering is on par with desktop clients! 8O

[surur]

Netfront is 10 times better from a usability POV. Opera handles multiple windows very very poorly, and lost the scroll bars twice on the google maps page. Its also very stark and unattractive on a VGA screen.

After all the anticipation I am quite disappointed.

Surur

[SteveHoward999]

Very fast.
Like the screen rotation and teh zoom.

Shame some links won't work

Looks very promising. If we have to buy it, they got my money.

[jerry1013]

Someone please explain how to install Opera on my Pocket PC.
I downloaded a zip file full of onthing that is executible.
Sorry, Im a little slow.

J

[rzanology]

Netfront is 10 times better from a usability POV. Opera handles multiple windows very very poorly, and lost the scroll bars twice on the google maps page. Its also very stark and unattractive on a VGA screen.

After all the anticipation I am quite disappointed.

Surur


yea well keep that to yaself....this thing is nothing short of amazing on my 6515. I've been btching and moaning for moooonths!!!! now here it is....edge+a really good browser???? WOOOOW!!!!!!!

[Darius Wey]

Someone please explain how to install Opera on my Pocket PC.
I downloaded a zip file full of onthing that is executible.
Sorry, Im a little slow.

It's actually a CAB file. Have you downloaded it on your Pocket PC or on your computer? If the latter, transfer it to your Pocket PC. As soon as the CAB file is on your Pocket PC, open File Explorer, then tap on it to install it.

Note, there are also instructions at the bottom of the Opera page here: http://www.opera.com/products/mobile/products/winmobileppc/

[signothefish]

Opera seems kind of slow. Also, ever since I installed it, I can't get to any web pages in Netfront, but I can get to them in PIE just fine. :?: So I may have to run a restore from backup. Upon startup, Opera connects to the first web page just fine, but when I try to go to any subsequent pages, I get a connection time out. Pretty buggy software right now, IMO.

On a positive note, it renders the Fox News home page pretty well:
http://home.nc.rr.com/signothefish/images/opera.jpg

[pocketpcadmirer]

One word..very fast !! :D

Yes, I agree to Darius that it renders non-mobile friendly web-pages with nice speed.

And that progress function is worth it

Sunny

[signothefish]

The reason mine could be so slow is because I'm browsing through AS with my USB connection.

[yildi]

Netfront is 10 times better from a usability POV. Opera handles multiple windows very very poorly, and lost the scroll bars twice on the google maps page. Its also very stark and unattractive on a VGA screen.

After all the anticipation I am quite disappointed.

Surur

Hi Surur,

If you have both, could you compare the speeds of these browsers? Is NF as quick as Opera?

Regards,

Murat

[Bruanor_]

I just gave Opera a 5 min trial, and the rendering is Very fast, very desktop-like when compared to a regular computer browser. BUT, it gimped out on the form display for my online banking, so it still has a way to go before its quite ready to replace PIE.

As for the various Netfront arguments, I've tried it several times now, thinking I was missing something for not liking it... but just the way it renders fonts with not way to change was enough reason for me to stay away.. just can't look at Courier that much. As well, I find it dead slow rendering pages. I've just never found it to be that much of an improvement over PIE.... but thats' my 2c..

Bru...

[Ward]

Very fast.
Like the screen rotation and teh zoom.

Shame some links won't work

Looks very promising. If we have to buy it, they got my money.

All links work fine, but some links are impossible to activate through the touchscreen. I navigate the caret over those and press the D-Pad button. The multiple windows system does need work - I'd much prefer if they implement the tabbing system on the desktop counterpart.

[JakubW]

In a few words: this version is much worse than I expected. It's not only pretty featureless but also VERY buggy.
That's the nature of betas. They are supposed to be buggy. That's why they are called betas, after all :)

You should probably reserve judgement until it is out of beta.

Anyway, does anyone have screenshots of the transfer manager?

[Darius Wey]

Anyway, does anyone have screenshots of the transfer manager?

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Opera-TM.jpg

There's a progress bar at the bottom.

The softkeys allow you to: open, close, delete, stop, resume. In short, it's basic.

[danwanna]

As for the various Netfront arguments, I've tried it several times now, thinking I was missing something for not liking it... but just the way it renders fonts with not way to change was enough reason for me to stay away.. just can't look at Courier that much. As well, I find it dead slow rendering pages. I've just never found it to be that much of an improvement over PIE.... but thats' my 2c..

Bru...

Slightly off topic, but you can change the font that NetFront by default from Courier New to Frutiger Linotype but going to Tools - Browser Settings - View - Advanced Settings and selecting "proportional font".

Back on topic. I started using Opera on my KJam a couple of weeks ago when it was released just for the Sharp. I initially liked how it browsed, but I had many stability problems on my PPC after using it. I started missing notifications and eventually ended up doing a hard reset to get rid of it completely. I would be careful using this on a WM5 device until the next release.

[surur]

Netfront and Opera are about equally fast, but its true that Opera renders MUCH more true to the desktop layout. However, unless I need to get to a javascript heavy page I would still use Netfront.

Surur

[doughboy]

Can anyone please comment whether Opera provides an advancement in Javascript handling over Netfront? Are there ANY sites you have visited that it is unable to handle the Javascript correctly? I was frustrated to discover that Netfront would not handle the JS on my electronic bill payment site and am a bit hesitant to install and try Opera considering the post that it renders Netfront useless.

Thanks much,

[surur]

Good up to date review of Opera 8.5 by Menneisyss

Pros:

very fast page loading (if it works with the page you'd like to see, that is)
working load progress meter (unique with pre-WM5 browsers)
working pop-up blocker (only NF 3.3 supports the same, as far as alternative PPC browsers are concerned)
zooming
download manager (it's unique! See for example this article (alternatives: PPCT, AximSite, PPC Magazine, FirstLoox, BrightHand) on the importance of this feature.)
working Fit to Screen; table rendering-wise, much better than the Pocket Internet Explorer (PIE) One Column mode; equally good than that of NetFront (NF).
Cons:

really buggy and unreliable! For example, can't swicth between test pages in DPReview digicam reviews (using the drop-down list or the arrows around it); crashes at Yahoo Mail (upon clicking the Inbox link) etc. – its fully usable alternatives (Minimo 0.012, NF 3.3 TP1.03) are much better in this respect
non-proportional Courier New on many pages (see for example the Betfair page or DPReview)
horizontal scrollbar (if you don't like the 'fit to screen' mode) is often hidden by the progress bar; then, you can only use the D-pad to scroll to the left/right or click the Stop icon
no subtleties like 'Copy link' or Save image in the link/image context menus (unlike with all PIE plug-ins / NF 3.3); no in-page text search (unlike in NetFront/Minimo)
no real Full Screen (scrollbars can't be hidden) unlike in PIEPlus/MultiIE; no dragging mode, unlike in NetFront/ MultiIE
no page saving capabilities unlike in all PIE plug-ins and NF
no configurable keys unlike, say, in MultiIE/ftxPBrowser.
doesn't support clipboard operations (cut/paste) in text input fields
very few things to set/fine-tune in the settings. Its settings dialogs are as weak as those of PIE: this and this.
http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=457&amp;more=1

I agree with him. Promising, but not good enough yet.

Surur

[Menneisyys]

Netfront and Opera are about equally fast, but its true that Opera renders MUCH more true to the desktop layout. However, unless I need to get to a javascript heavy page I would still use Netfront.

Surur

NetFront 3.3 TP 1.03 has excellent JS support - as good as that of Minimo.

[Menneisyys]

Can anyone please comment whether Opera provides an advancement in Javascript handling over Netfront? Are there ANY sites you have visited that it is unable to handle the Javascript correctly? I was frustrated to discover that Netfront would not handle the JS on my electronic bill payment site and am a bit hesitant to install and try Opera considering the post that it renders Netfront useless.

Thanks much,

Starting with TP 1.03, NF 3.3 (but NOT previous versions!) has really excellent JS support - see for example my standardized JS compliance tests. Opera has failed several of these tests - not because of its JS support but because its generic, unrelated-to-JS bugs.

BTW, installing Opera on my PL720 didn't touch my existing NF 3.3 TP 1.03 installation there - the latter is still running flawlessly, even with Opera installed on the same device. Opera doesn't seem to mess up the system.

[Menneisyys]

Opera seems kind of slow. Also, ever since I installed it, I can't get to any web pages in Netfront, but I can get to them in PIE just fine. :?:

Strange: installing Opera on my PL720 didn't touch my existing NF 3.3 TP 1.03 installation there - the latter is still running flawlessly, even with Opera installed on the same device. Opera doesn't seem to mess up the system.

What does NF complain about? Page not found? Did you check its proxy settings?

[Menneisyys]

The reason mine could be so slow is because I'm browsing through AS with my USB connection.

Don't think so - much mor eprobably because of a bug, of which there're many in the current version of Opera. For example, before it crashes, it likes to pause for 1-2 minutes on Yahoo Mail.

The speed of the USB Internet is very fast - around 200 kbytes a second at most. Therefore, it can't be the bottleneck.

[Menneisyys]

As for the various Netfront arguments, I've tried it several times now, thinking I was missing something for not liking it... but just the way it renders fonts with not way to change was enough reason for me to stay away.. just can't look at Courier that much.

This is a very common problem but can be very easily fixed. Tools/Browser Setting/View/Advanced Setting/Font/Change/check in Use proportional font in NF 3.3 TP 1.03; in NF 3.2 (which I don't recommend), it's a bit different. Let me know if you need to know the 3.2 setting.

[rlobrecht]

I downloaded the 2003 version on my Jam. I couldn't get it to work. It launched just fine, automatically opened my GPRS connection, but wouldn't connect to any sites. I checked the same sites with PIE, and they all worked fine.

Waiting on the next beta.

[powder2000]

I downloaded the 2003 version on my Jam. I couldn't get it to work. It launched just fine, automatically opened my GPRS connection, but wouldn't connect to any sites. I checked the same sites with PIE, and they all worked fine.

Waiting on the next beta.

I installed to my built in storage on my axim and get the same thing. I type in the url then wait.........I have wm2003se still. Minimo still doesn't work on my axim either. What gives?!

[powder2000]

OK, I just docked my ppc and opera works with pass through. Maybe it doesn't like the proxy server. Doesn't have a setting for it. Hmmmm.

[signothefish]

The reason mine could be so slow is because I'm browsing through AS with my USB connection.

Don't think so - much mor eprobably because of a bug, of which there're many in the current version of Opera. For example, before it crashes, it likes to pause for 1-2 minutes on Yahoo Mail.

The speed of the USB Internet is very fast - around 200 kbytes a second at most. Therefore, it can't be the bottleneck.

After trying it using my WiFi connection (instead of the AS USB connection), the speed is vastly improved... right up there with Netfront now. I don't know what was wrong before to cause it so slow. And now all pages load, both in NF and Opera (of the sample I've checked). Below are some snapshots of CNN.com on Netfront (top) vs Opera (bottom).

http://home.nc.rr.com/signothefish/images/netfront.jpg

http://home.nc.rr.com/signothefish/images/opera2.jpg

[Dermot81]

On the official Opera forums, the developer seems very responsive:

He posted this:

All,

I've read through all you're feedback and put everything together in a loong list of things to fix, add, consider etc.
Keep on browsing :smile:

Remember that if you find bugs, (which you can inform us how to reproduce step by step), the best is to
use our bug database and report it.

Thanks for your feedback!

Anne-Hilde


Seems like Opera Mobile could soon be the TCPMP of web browsers :)

[doughboy]

Thanks, Menneisyys, for pointing out that NetFront v3.3 TP supports JS well. I have NetFront 3.1 and have just emailed NF Support asking if installing v3.3TP along with v3.1 will cause conflicts. I am hoping v3.3 or Opera will support my e-bill pay site.

[Menneisyys]

Thanks, Menneisyys, for pointing out that NetFront v3.3 TP supports JS well. I have NetFront 3.1 and have just emailed NF Support asking if installing v3.3TP along with v3.1 will cause conflicts.

Nope, it won't - they use entirely different Registry/file system areas; even the starting icon is different. The two versions can safely co-exist.

[ahv]

On the official Opera forums, the developer seems very responsive:

He posted this:

All,

I've read through all you're feedback and put everything together in a loong list of things to fix, add, consider etc.
Keep on browsing :smile:

Remember that if you find bugs, (which you can inform us how to reproduce step by step), the best is to
use our bug database and report it.

Thanks for your feedback!

Anne-Hilde


Seems like Opera Mobile could soon be the TCPMP of web browsers :)

Hi!

I'm actually a girl and not a developer. I'm the Product Manager for
Windows Mobile at Opera. :wink:

Thanks again for the feedback you provide us with. We are all (both development and marketing) very interested in hearing your thoughts on how we can improve our beta product.

Anne-Hilde

[Scarpad]

Are you guys installing into Ram or onto a memory card?

[Darius Wey]

Are you guys installing into Ram or onto a memory card?

I have mine on ROM (i.e. primary storage memory a la Windows Mobile 5.0).

[signothefish]

Mine is installed on a storage card. No problems at all.

[JakubW]

However, unless I need to get to a javascript heavy page I would still use Netfront.
Even if Opera turns out to be better when finished? 8O

[Jonathon Watkins]

I'm the Product Manager for Windows Mobile at Opera. :wink:

Welcome Anne-Hilde. Good to have you onboard. :)

Thanks again for the feedback you provide us with. We are all (both development and marketing) very interested in hearing your thoughts on how we can improve our beta product.

I'm sure the PPCT crew will not be shy of giving Thoughtfull feedback. :wink:

[pierro78]

apparently opera can't start gmail in the standard full javascript mode but only in the mobile or html degraded mode ...
(see also my post here : http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=120589 )
it would be very nice to have it start in the standard javascript mode as it has very useful features like address auto-completion, etc ...

any tip to have it start in javascript mode would be greatly appreciated, thanks !!

[Constant Caffeine]

Anything to thin out the MS crap I’m interested in. :D Thanks!

[Typhoon]

Has anyone had any problems installing Opera on WM5.0 on the X50v?

[Darius Wey]

Has anyone had any problems installing Opera on WM5.0 on the X50v?

I've tested it and it works fine under that exact setup. What problems are you experiencing?

[Typhoon]

Well, I downloaded the setup which is actually a CAB file (for WM5). I put it onto my SD card. But when I clicked on the CAB file, it shows the message:

Installation of
opera_wmppc5_85b.cab was
unsuccessful.

I tried it on my CF card but I got the same problem.

[Darius Wey]

But when I clicked on the CAB file, it shows the message:

Installation of
opera_wmppc5_85b.cab was
unsuccessful.

Try soft-resetting. That usually solves that annoying bug.

[Typhoon]

Thanks for trying to help, but I am still getting the same message. Odd.

[hoffman]

I tried Opera 8.5 for Pocket PC and after using it for 2 hours I deleted it. The browser is far too buggy to compete with Netfront 3.3, Minimo, Internet Explorer or Thunderhawk. I would compare Opera with Minimo in its early development stage. I will try it again when it is a complete product
Regards Brian
:oops:

[Typhoon]

What kind of bugs? I'm curious whether I should forget about trying to get Opera installed...

[Gerard]

I found it fairly enjoyable for a couple of days. Several things led to my uninstalling it today:

- Zooming in or out, or changing the font scaling, caused bizarre formatting of pages, making for HUGE amounts of side-scrolling - the default zoom/text size were adequate, in landscape VGA

- No mechanism for importing Favorites URL files... sorry, but without that it's a deal-breaker, even if Opera is freeware. I just use my 700+ collection of links far too often to have to start all over, manually writing in addresses or searching, adding... Firefox has a link importing function, why wouldn't Opera?

- As reported by others, links sometimes don't respond to tapping, forcing a scroll down/right approach to highlight then Enter to launch. This is annoying enough, but also means one cannot access a context menu for opening in a new page.

Other minor complaints, but those were the worst. I loved the speed of pages loading. Sometimes eBay and a couple of other sites were locking up the browser, not allowing it to be closed or used, but that was infrequent. Didn't try any 'fancy' pages, no Flash or other media-heavy stuff. Ran out of patience with the other problems.

[l_emmerdeur]

I installed the cab on my hx4700, but I get a permanent hourglass when I try to launch. I assume it is conflicting with an existing application.

[zohaer21]

please please implement flash enabled websites (examples www.bmw.com or www.nissan-usa.com) in the next beta or the final product

this is a major short cumming in the current browsers out there for wm5

and its not simply fixed (as many naievely point out to) by installing macromedia flash player plugin (this alows only swf content)

and whats the ballpark figure for release of the next beta or the final product???
thanks

[miterb]

Not ready for primetime in my opinion. It installed in main memory instead of Built in Memory. Have to reset the zoom every time I start it up. It is coming off my X50v right now.

I'll stick with IE and Skweezer which really makes my favorite websites render well.

[PhilH]

I've just had to hard reset my normally impeccably well-behaved SPV M500 after installing Opera.

It was hanging whenever a program accessed the Internet. Uninstalling Opera didn't fix it.

[Menneisyys]

In the meantime, I've started scrutinizing the WM5 version, which seems to be in an entirely different class, compared to the WM2003(SE) version, stability and compatibility-wise. I'm still doing tests with the help of my newly acquired Dell Axim x51v; the results, so far, are excellent. Will post the whole story and updates tomorrow to my review ( http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=457&amp;more=1 ).

[ahv]

In the meantime, I've started scrutinizing the WM5 version, which seems to be in an entirely different class, compared to the WM2003(SE) version, stability and compatibility-wise. I'm still doing tests with the help of my newly acquired Dell Axim x51v; the results, so far, are excellent. Will post the whole story and updates tomorrow to my review ( http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=457&amp;more=1 ).

Hm, this was great to hear. I'm really looking forward to see the updated review :). Opera runs very well on my WM 2003 device and on the WM5 device I have. (they are both HTC). It may seem like we have some issues with some devices, while others work very well. We will make sure to test on the devices reported to be problematic and find out what's causing the problems.

Again, looking forward to see a more positive update. :) As I mentioned earlier, I was surprised to hear your first reactions on our beta version.
Anyway, there are of course many things we need to work on, this *is* a beta, but I can promise you that we are listening to the feedback we get and that we do everything we can to make a perfect golden :wink:

Anne-Hilde

[Menneisyys]

Hm, this was great to hear. I'm really looking forward to see the updated review :). Opera runs very well on my WM 2003 device and on the WM5 device I have. (they are both HTC). It may seem like we have some issues with some devices, while others work very well. We will make sure to test on the devices reported to be problematic and find out what's causing the problems.


Yup, it seems it absolutely hates the iPAQ 2210, one of the two PPC's I've initially tested it on; even a freshly hard reset one (no additional apps installed). Will test it on a iPAQ 1940 too today, along with my other PPC's.

[Menneisyys]

Guys and gals, I've just published my review of Opera 8.5beta running on WM5 at http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=478&amp;more=1

It (that is, strictly the WM5 version – NOT the WM2003(SE) one!) just rocks. The two versions are indeed different – just give a try to the "problematic" URL's I've provided and/or browse the screenshots I've taken. (I've listed a several URL's in the new review where you can also check that the pre-WM5 version indeed likes to stall/freeze, unlike the WM5 one.)

[ahv]

It (that is, strictly the WM5 version – NOT the WM2003(SE) one!) just rocks.

Thanks :D - nice words!

Anne-Hilde

[ahv]

Yup, it seems it absolutely hates the iPAQ 2210, one of the two PPC's I've initially tested it on; even a freshly hard reset one (no additional apps installed). Will test it on a iPAQ 1940 too today, along with my other PPC's.

What was the other device you had already tested one in addition to IPAQ 2210? Was it a Dell Axim x50V?

Anne-Hilde

[Menneisyys]

Yup, it seems it absolutely hates the iPAQ 2210, one of the two PPC's I've initially tested it on; even a freshly hard reset one (no additional apps installed). Will test it on a iPAQ 1940 too today, along with my other PPC's.

What was the other device you had already tested one in addition to IPAQ 2210? Was it a Dell Axim x50V?

Anne-Hilde


I've written the first review after testing on a pockept Loox 720 (WM2003SE) and the iPAQ 2210 (WM2003). After some additional, serious testing on my Axim x51v (WM5) too, I've published the second review.

Will try to loan a 1940 today so that I can find out it's because of Opera's being, in a way, incompatible with these two Pocket PC models that it has stalling/transmision stopping problems or, is it a generic WM2003(SE)-related bug

I'm still testing the non-native text areas/text input fields (haven't elaborated on them in the WM5 review, except for mentioning the lack of keyboard-based copy/paste/cut operations); will definitely say a few words about them too. (Native text input components should be the way to go - not just because of external keyboard/thumbboard-based copy/paste/cut but also Ctrl/Shift/Alt-based fast cursor movement, text highlighting (these don't work currently, unlike with native components), a more pretty and usable text formatting (now, for example, I'm writing this using Opera, on my Axim, with a StowAway BT keyboard and the starting characters of lines are just not visible) and the annoying slowdowns of text input with several sites.

[Menneisyys]

Managed to get a iPAQ 1940. Exactly the same problems as with the 2210 - see for example http://www.redhotpawn.com/, which is totally useless with WM2003 devices and, using exactly the same (GPRS &amp; 100 Mbit) Internet connections, working flawlessly under WM5.

[ahv]

Managed to get a iPAQ 1940. Exactly the same problems as with the 2210 - see for example http://www.redhotpawn.com/, which is totally useless with WM2003 devices and, using exactly the same (GPRS &amp; 100 Mbit) Internet connections, working flawlessly under WM5.

OK, thanks a lot for the info Menneisyys!

Anne-Hilde