NetFront v3.3 Technical Preview (English) Available

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://nfppc.access.co.jp/english/about_v33.html' target='_blank'>http://nfppc.access.co.jp/english/about_v33.html</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050902-NetFront33TP.jpg" /><br /><br />ACCESS has just released an English version of the NetFront v3.3 Technical Preview, which we <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=42725">posted</a> on earlier this month. It includes VGA support (a feature lacking in v3.2), a pop-up blocker, RSS support, smart frame functionality and much more. The Technical Preview can be downloaded from <a href="http://nfppc.access.co.jp/english/about_v33.html">here</a>. <!><br /><br />Please note the Technical Preview has the following limitations:<br />• The software is available to customers till November 15th, 2005.<br />• The Multi-window function allows you to open only two windows at the same time.<br />• You are not allowed to edit a user agent.<br />• The Auto Cruise function supports only a single layer of links.<br />• Only up to ten registered bookmarks are displayed.<br />• The edition does not support JV-Lite2.<br />• The edition does not support the Macromedia Flash plug-in.<br />• The software's work can be unstable if you turn on or off the power of the Pocket PC while the NetFront is working, in case the software is installed on an external storage.<br />• The Scroll mode does not work within a plug-in screen.<br />• You have to exit from NetFront v3.3 to enable the Auto Cruise to start up at specified time.<br /><br /><span>Extracted from the <a href="http://nfppc.access.co.jp/english/agree_v33.html">Technical Preview download page</a>.</span>

[ctitanic]

Be aware, the JV-Lite2 plug-in is not available in this technical review.

[galt]

Be aware, the JV-Lite2 plug-in is not available in this technical review.What about the Macromedia Flash Plugin, is it installed?

[ctitanic]

I think that the news should be edited addin these limitations which to me are very important.


This Technical Preview Edition has the following limitations with functions available.
* The software is available to customers till November 15th, 2005.
* The Multi-window function allows you to open only two windows at the same time.
* You are not allowed to edit a user agent.
* The Auto Cruise function supports only a single layer of links.
* Only up to ten registered bookmarks are displayed.
* The edition does not support JV-Lite2.
* The edition does not support the Macromedia Flash plug-in.

- The software's work can be unstable if you turn on or off the power of the Pocket PC while the NetFront is working, in case the software is installed on an external storage.

- The Scroll mode does not work within a plug-in screen.

- You have to exit from NetFront v3.3 to enable the Auto Cruise to start up at specified time.

[yankeejeep]

I've got to say, once they add Macromedia and Java support (which is promised in the release version), this is going to be quite an improvement on what is IMO the most proficient browser currently available. These are definitely must-add functionality if NF is going to remain competitive as Minimo and Opera for PPC continue to develop toward release versions.

[Darius Wey]

I think that the news should be edited addin these limitations which to me are very important.

Realistically, any user who downloads the Technical Preview will be made aware of these limitations, but if you think it's worth posting about, I'll be happy to do so. :)

[ctitanic]

I think that the news should be edited addin these limitations which to me are very important.

Realistically, any user who downloads the Technical Preview will be made aware of these limitations, but if you think it's worth posting about, I'll be happy to do so. :)

Beleive me, many users go and click in the download option not reading anything. In this same forum, you can read right now how I have been asked by other limitations. So, yes, I think that it will be good to let know about that there are limitiations in this preview version.

[whydidnt]

Does anyone know if the 3.3 technical preview can be installed alongside version 3.2 on a handheld? I don't want to lose all of the functions of the current version just to test run this. But, if this actually delivers a TrueVGA browser without using OZ or SE then I think it could be a winner.

Still waiting for Opera to release their WM browser, but now sure if it will deliver a VGA experience or not. Until then, I think NetFront is the best browser available, even with the current VGA limitations.

[Menneisyys]

Does anyone know if the 3.3 technical preview can be installed alongside version 3.2 on a handheld? I don't want to lose all of the functions of the current version just to test run this. But, if this actually delivers a TrueVGA browser without using OZ or SE then I think it could be a winner.

3.3 uses entirely different registry entries/a system-level identifier than 3.2; therefore, it can peacefully co-exist with 3.2.

[Menneisyys]

Be aware, the JV-Lite2 plug-in is not available in this technical review.

NF demos have never contained a JVM.

[ctitanic]

Be aware, the JV-Lite2 plug-in is not available in this technical review.

NF demos have never contained a JVM.

neither macromedia ;)

[Dermot81]

Don't care about the java/flash support, but does this browser really deliver "true" VGA without the need for OZ/SEVGA?

[ctitanic]

Don't care about the java/flash support, but does this browser really deliver "true" VGA without the need for OZ/SEVGA?

without java/macromedia and without having the way to edit the UA to change the ID for IE6 it's almost useless.

[Menneisyys]

Don't care about the java/flash support, but does this browser really deliver "true" VGA without the need for OZ/SEVGA?

It does if you mean the lack of double-pixeled (small) images and not-oversized HTML tables. See also http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?topic_id=39544 and http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/index.php?action=expand,42788&amp;/preview_of_netfront_v3.3.htm .

[Menneisyys]

Don't care about the java/flash support, but does this browser really deliver "true" VGA without the need for OZ/SEVGA?

without java/macromedia and without having the way to edit the UA to change the ID for IE6 it's almost useless.

Well, few (mostly commercial/banking) sites require the IE6 user agent. In a lot of cases, it can be even disadvantageous to browse the web pretending to be a IE6 (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=364632).

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

[ctitanic]

I agree 90% but that added to the lack of java and macromedia makes the browser useless. It allows you to open only two taps, that another limitation.

The bottom line. This demo is good to have an idea of how it will work in VGA but not to have it replacing your current version of NetFront or any other browser.

[ctitanic]

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

BTW, how do you use it? And what is the practical use of it? I´m just curious, this is the first time I read about something like that.

[Menneisyys]

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

BTW, how do you use it?


Just start it in a Pocket PC JVM (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41081) and configure your NetFront to use it as a HTPP proxy (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=360414).

And what is the practical use of it?

It catches the outgoing User-Agent HTTP headers and sends its own instead of them. Then, the inability of the demo version of NF3.3 to send out non-NF user agent headers won't be a problem.

[ctitanic]

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

BTW, how do you use it?


Just start it in a Pocket PC JVM (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41081) and configure your NetFront to use it as a HTPP proxy (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=360414).

And what is the practical use of it?

It catches the outgoing User-Agent HTTP headers and sends its own instead of them. Then, the inability of the demo version of NF3.3 to send out non-NF user agent headers won't be a problem.

but all this does not slow down the browsing even more?

[Menneisyys]

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

BTW, how do you use it?


Just start it in a Pocket PC JVM (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41081) and configure your NetFront to use it as a HTPP proxy (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=360414).

And what is the practical use of it?

It catches the outgoing User-Agent HTTP headers and sends its own instead of them. Then, the inability of the demo version of NF3.3 to send out non-NF user agent headers won't be a problem.

but all this does not slow down the browsing even more?

Nope, proxies are pretty fast even on the PPC/even Java proxies - see my remarks on, for example, Toonel.

[ctitanic]

And, you can always use a personal proxy server run on the PDA that rewrites the outgoing user-agent HTTP headers. (I've written several of them in Java - here's an example, in source code (http://winmobiletech.com/sekalaiset/HTTPSnoopProxyAcceptsHeaderRewrite.java).) Anyone wants me to rewrite it in C#/CF? (For free, of course.)

BTW, how do you use it?


Just start it in a Pocket PC JVM (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=41081) and configure your NetFront to use it as a HTPP proxy (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=360414).

And what is the practical use of it?

It catches the outgoing User-Agent HTTP headers and sends its own instead of them. Then, the inability of the demo version of NF3.3 to send out non-NF user agent headers won't be a problem.

but all this does not slow down the browsing even more?

Nope, proxies are pretty fast even on the PPC/even Java proxies - see my remarks on, for example, Toonel.

I'll have to take a look of it. Thanks!

[ctitanic]

Menneisyys could you tell me how I can run the toonel.jar if what I have is the jvlitedemo installed from NetFront 3.2?

[juni]

I once downloaded a preview ages ago. Since then Access has been sending a whole bunch of emails with promotions etc.

The funny thing is that these are in japanese (or some other asian language), so I never could read them :D.

[Menneisyys]

Menneisyys could you tell me how I can run the toonel.jar if what I have is the jvlitedemo installed from NetFront 3.2?

It's not possible, unfortunately. You'll need fully fledged JVM's (Jeode/J9/CrEme).

[beq]

I don't suppose NetFront v3.3 will be the last version for Windows Mobile, and that all future development by ACCESS will only be for Palm OS?

Kidding, just kidding! :)

Though I suppose Ed might be leery about using it now...
(again, just kidding :mrgreen:)

[Darius Wey]

Though I suppose Ed might be leery about using it now...
(again, just kidding :mrgreen:)

I don't think Ed uses NetFront anyway. ;)

[sperhacs]

Has any noticed that many of the fonts seemed to be displaying as courier?

Using the older version or PIE I see them as something else (Tahoma?), but on 3.3 they display as courier...strange>>> :?: :?: :?: 8O

[Menneisyys]

Menneisyys could you tell me how I can run the toonel.jar if what I have is the jvlitedemo installed from NetFront 3.2?

BTW, it's even easier to change [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ACCESS\NetFront33\UAData0\UA] to make the demo send out your choice of User-Agent. Of course, you won't be able to dybnamically switch between the choices - but it'll work if you don't need to change them frequently.

[Menneisyys]

Has any noticed that many of the fonts seemed to be displaying as courier?

Using the older version or PIE I see them as something else (Tahoma?), but on 3.3 they display as courier...strange>>> :?: :?: :?: 8O

It's the default setting in NF (I don't know why - it's really ugly!). Go to Tools/Browser Setting/View/Font/Change and enable Use proportional font:


http://www.winmobiletech.com/kuvat/NF33UseProportionalFont.gif.png

[Menneisyys]

I once downloaded a preview ages ago. Since then Access has been sending a whole bunch of emails with promotions etc.

The funny thing is that these are in japanese (or some other asian language), so I never could read them :D.

Strange, I (a purchaser of NF 3.2) don't get any of these stuff, only English stuff (like the 3.3 English preview mail now) - perhaps they're only sending this stuff out to demo downloaders? Nice to keep this in mind when downloading NF demos to avoid Japanese spam :)

[sperhacs]

It's the default setting in NF (I don't know why - it's really ugly!). Go to Tools/Browser Setting/View/Font/Change and enable Use proportional font:


Thanks!