Opera for Smartphone Runs on WM5 Pocket PCs? [Archive]

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Janak Parekh

09-21-2005, 03:00 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://kny.iki.fi/operawm5/' target='_blank'>http://kny.iki.fi/operawm5/</a> </div>"Tired of waiting for the Pocket PC version of Opera, I downloaded the trial version of Opera 8.00u1 for Windows Mobile Smartphone 2003 and just tried to install it on my brand new i-mate JASJAR. Lo and behold, it worked! I kid you not, I even managed to get VGA support by tweaking the exe..." <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-20050920-operawm5.jpg" /> I've long heard about the improved compatibility between Smartphone and Pocket PC with the advent of WM5, but I didn't know it worked this well. Let's hope Opera releases a version compatible with all Pocket PCs soon. (In the meantime, it's worth pointing out that Opera has decided to <a href="http://www.opera.com/free/">make their desktop version permanently free</a>.)

KTamas

09-21-2005, 03:17 PM

Geez, i completely forgot this to try out on WM5...
Edit: On desktop, Firefox still rocks ;)

ctitanic

09-21-2005, 03:30 PM

I even managed to get VGA support by tweaking the exe.

That's what is called VGA Brute Force in Tweaks2k2 .NET (http://www.tweaks2k2.com) 8)

ricksfiona

09-21-2005, 04:01 PM

I hope this is the case.. I have a client that would like to run TextMaker on his Smartphone. Unfortunately, he has the Mpx220.

KTamas

09-21-2005, 04:02 PM

I hope this is the case.. I have a client that would like to run TextMaker on his Smartphone. Unfortunately, he has the Mpx220.
IIRC, Smartphone apps do run under WM5 (regular), but PPC apps does not run under WM5 for smartphone....

ctitanic

09-21-2005, 04:05 PM

I hope this is the case.. I have a client that would like to run TextMaker on his Smartphone. Unfortunately, he has the Mpx220.

I can't imagen TextMaker running in a mpx220.

DaleReeck

09-21-2005, 05:15 PM

I hope this is the case.. I have a client that would like to run TextMaker on his Smartphone. Unfortunately, he has the Mpx220.

I can't imagen TextMaker running in a mpx220.

Well, to be techical, TextMaker doesn't run under WM5 yet either :) But I know what you mean ;)

ADBrown

09-21-2005, 07:21 PM

I've long heard about the improved compatibility between Smartphone and Pocket PC with the advent of WM5, but I didn't know it worked this well. Let's hope Opera releases a version compatible with all Pocket PCs soon. (In the meantime, it's worth pointing out that Opera has decided to make their desktop version permanently free (http://www.opera.com/free/).)

Regrettably, Opera *doesn't* run on my WM5 X51v. :evil: I assume that it's too tied to the Smartphone-type networking code.

Edit: On desktop, Firefox still rocks ;)

Perhaps, but Opera is better.

KTamas

09-21-2005, 07:24 PM

I've long heard about the improved compatibility between Smartphone and Pocket PC with the advent of WM5, but I didn't know it worked this well. Let's hope Opera releases a version compatible with all Pocket PCs soon. (In the meantime, it's worth pointing out that Opera has decided to make their desktop version permanently free (http://www.opera.com/free/).)

Regrettably, Opera *doesn't* run on my WM5 X51v. :evil: I assume that it's probably tied to the networking code.

Edit: On desktop, Firefox still rocks ;)

Perhaps, but Opera is better.

Opera does run on my Blueangel.

Firefox still rocks :)

pdagal

09-21-2005, 08:27 PM

Won't run on my Dell X51v either *sigh*

whydidnt

09-22-2005, 12:03 AM

I can't get Opera for Smartphone to Run on my JasJar either. For those who have it running on the BA, is it the trial download from Opera's site? If so, was there some sort of special install routine to follow? I'd pay the 29.95 in a second if I could get this to run in TrueVGA mode on the Universal.

Interestingly, I am able to run Opera Mini (the Java mobile phone version) with ease in the JasJar's midlet manager. However, I'm not sure it really provides any benefit compared to something like Skweezer, and soft buttons don't work in most of the application, have to use the stylus.

humayunl

09-22-2005, 08:09 AM

When i try to download opera for smartphone the file is a .msi file.
Dont we need .cab files for WM5? How do you install a .msi in WM5?

Darius Wey

09-22-2005, 09:23 AM

When i try to download opera for smartphone the file is a .msi file.
Dont we need .cab files for WM5? How do you install a .msi in WM5?

The MSI that Opera makes available for download is a desktop installer, so you should execute it on your PC. From there, it will attempt to install Opera on your cradled device through Add/Remove Programs within ActiveSync. Alternatively, you can navigate to the folder of installation (typically, "C:\Program Files\Opera Software\Opera 8 for Windows Mobile Smartphone 2003"), and use the CAB file located in there. The latest revision should bear the filename, "Opera8u1_1560.ARMV4.CAB".

Menneisyys

09-22-2005, 04:18 PM

I've long heard about the improved compatibility between Smartphone and Pocket PC with the advent of WM5, but I didn't know it worked this well. Let's hope Opera releases a version compatible with all Pocket PCs soon. (In the meantime, it's worth pointing out that Opera has decided to make their desktop version permanently free (http://www.opera.com/free/).)

Regrettably, Opera *doesn't* run on my WM5 X51v. :evil: I assume that it's too tied to the Smartphone-type networking code.

The same with Minimo 0.009 on the x50v. Its developer said Dell uses some proprietary API that makes it impossible to run it on x50v's. The case may be similar on x51v's.

Menneisyys

09-22-2005, 04:20 PM

Menneisyys

09-22-2005, 04:22 PM

BTW, http://operawatch.blogspot.com/ has just reported that Opera will release their browser for the PPC - for WM5 only.

Comment: WTF??? Can't they even build a damn WM2003(SE) version??? It, if they don't depend on WM5 much, just setting some checkboxes in VS.NET...

snorbard

09-22-2005, 08:06 PM

Umm.. That's not what I read from the posting.

A Technical Preview of Opera for the Pocket PC is due out very soon.
Pocket PC users have been waiting for this for a long time. This will be the first ever version for the Pocket PC.
It appears to me that this version will require Windows Mobile 5.0.

Says nothing about the application being WM5-only, only that the technical preview appears to require WM5.
There's nothing (at this moment) about this item to be found on the Opera forums/website anyway.

whydidnt

09-23-2005, 04:32 PM

The Opera Mini and the Smartphone version of Opera have - technically - nothing to do with each other. The one is Java (CLDC/MIDP)-based, the other is native code.

I certainly already knew that, just wanted to point out that the Java application runs fine on this device.

However, I thought I'd share what I discovered regarding the Smartphone version. It won't run unless the phone radio is turned on. That is why it would never run for me, and my guess why it work on the X51v. So now it runs - and uses the WiFi connection, not GPRS. However, as others have pointed out, it really isn't ready to replace IE on these devices (though VGA looks Great!). I can't enter any login information, and the rendering options are (surprise!!) made for a narrow screen smart phone device. :wink: In fit to screen mode you get a nice strip of text, etc. taking up about the left 1/4 of the screen - in normal mode the page renders normally, but their isn't an easy way to scroll right, as scrolling is accomplished by jumping to links on the right of the page - no links, no scrolling (at least that I could find). On the plus it seems pages render much faster than on PIE. Oh and one more thing - this would never get a Windows logo - it offers the ability to exit the application! :lol: