ACCESS Announces NetFront 3.3 for Pocket PC

[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><i>"NetFront supports Flash(R) and JavaTM, and provides unique functions, such as the Multi-Window, for viewing Web contents. Thus it enables you to enjoy a PC-like Web browsing experience on the Pocket PC."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20060519-NF33.gif" /><br /><br />The <a href="http://nfppc.access.co.jp/english/about_v33.html">trial version of NetFront 3.3 for Pocket PC</a> is now available for download, with the full version set to be released at the end of May for $29.80.<br /><br />New features in this powerful browser include support for VGA, smart frame functionality, a pop-up blocker, a data and password manager, RSS and Atom support, page translation functionality, virtual rendering functionality, a SMIL player, and a SVG viewer.

[piperpilot]

I've been using the beta for several months and most recently the trial version. It's far superior to PIE, which takes forever to load pages on my Dell Axim X51v. I will gladly shell out $30 when the full version becomes available.

[sixsixty]

it is superior to PIE, but i will not be glad to shell out $30 for it. too much $$.

[MikeB]

How is the speed of loading pages compared to the Opera beta?

[FallN]

I sure as heck won't shell out $30 for a browser but good luck to those that do. :mrgreen:

[Menneisyys]

How is the speed of loading pages compared to the Opera beta?

Definitely slower, but significantly faster than PIE/IEM, which is good news given that NF 3.2 was slower than PIE.

I've posted a lot of numeric results of the trial version also here on PPCT about two weeks ago when the trial version was finally made available. See this article (http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/index.php?blog=3&amp;p=772&amp;more=1&amp;c=1&amp;tb=1&amp;pb=1) for a complete comparison and review.

[gavinfabl]

well, i found Opera sluggish and with a large footprint on my Xda Mini S. I am posting using the trial, and so far its amazing. I will be spending the dosh.

[mv]

I purchased NF 3.2 not long time ago. Do i get a free uograde? or at least a special upgrade price? or nothing at all?

[Menneisyys]

well, i found Opera sluggish and with a large footprint on my Xda Mini S. I am posting using the trial, and so far its amazing. I will be spending the dosh.

Did you try beta2? It's strange you find it more sluggish than NetFront - I've been testing all browser versions on all of my Pocket PC's (several of them) and have always found )and benchmarked) Opera Mobile the fastest browser for the Pocket PC.

[Darius Wey]

I purchased NF 3.2 not long time ago. Do i get a free uograde? or at least a special upgrade price? or nothing at all?

I'm not aware of any upgrade offers at this stage. On that note, it's probably best that we wait until ACCESS makes the application available for purchase, since that's when they'll most likely reveal their pricing plans and offers (if any).

[christak]

Well, I own NF 3.1 and 3.2... I was pleased with the 3.1 version and when the 3.2 version came out I jumped on it (before I realized that the enhancements really weren't worth the extra money). I have been somewhat disappointed with 3.2 and will definitely wait a while for some reviews of the 3.3 full version before even considering a purchase. Access has poor customer support at best and has been slow to enhance its product in my opinion. FYI, Access does typically cut the price of its upgrade for previous owners, but it's not usually more than 30% off the full price... (i.e. I'd guess the upgrade will be around $20)...
8)

[gavinfabl]

well, i found Opera sluggish and with a large footprint on my Xda Mini S. I am posting using the trial, and so far its amazing. I will be spending the dosh.

Did you try beta2? It's strange you find it more sluggish than NetFront - I've been testing all browser versions on all of my Pocket PC's (several of them) and have always found )and benchmarked) Opera Mobile the fastest browser for the Pocket PC.

I have just been trying Beta 2, and wow its blistering fast. I'll take back what I said.

However, Netfront seems to have more features. Like an RSS reader, flash plugin (with full version) , cruise facilty etc.

Can you change the user agent with Opera to make it appear your using IE6? This doesnt seem possible, only with Netfront. I am not going to buy both, but definitely one of them.

[Menneisyys]

Can you change the user agent with Opera to make it appear your using IE6? This doesnt seem possible, only with Netfront. I am not going to buy both, but definitely one of them.

The forum search engine is your friend - I've posted a tutorial on this two weeks ago - see http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48523

[Menneisyys]

However, Netfront seems to have more features. Like an RSS reader, flash plugin (with full version) , cruise facilty etc.

Yup, it indeed does, and, as I've pointed out for example in my Flash article (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48566), it's highly unlikely third=party (non-IE) browsers will be able to use the Flash plug-in.

Nevertheless, the Flash plug-in in Netfront 3.2 isn't the best, compared to that of Macromedia/Adobe.

[gavinfabl]

However, Netfront seems to have more features. Like an RSS reader, flash plugin (with full version) , cruise facilty etc.

Yup, it indeed does, and, as I've pointed out for example in my Flash article (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=48566), it's highly unlikely third=party (non-IE) browsers will be able to use the Flash plug-in.

Nevertheless, the Flash plug-in in Netfront 3.2 isn't the best, compared to that of Macromedia/Adobe.

Good article. I wonder if v3.3 will have a better flash plugin. At moment Netfront is my fav. But Opera is really fast. Need more playtime.

[netboy]

I have just been trying Beta 2, and wow its blistering fast. I'll take back what I said.

However, Netfront seems to have more features. Like an RSS reader, flash plugin (with full version) , cruise facilty etc.




u do know Opera is at beta2, right? i hope Opera Final supports java, frames, flashes, etc..

[Menneisyys]

I have just been trying Beta 2, and wow its blistering fast. I'll take back what I said.

However, Netfront seems to have more features. Like an RSS reader, flash plugin (with full version) , cruise facilty etc.




u do know Opera is at beta2, right? i hope Opera Final supports java, frames, flashes, etc..

Frames are already supported. Java, Flash: highly unlikely they will be supported. I've elaborated on the why's in several posts of mine.

[alese]

I have used NetFront 3.1 on my Himalaya last few years - better than PIE, more features, but slow...

Now I use Opera on my Universal in full VGA and it's just great (considering we are talking about WM), the closest you can get to a "true" browsing experience on WM.

Unfortunatelly it's just close, but still not good enough.
I can understand the limitations of smaller screen (although on VGA that's not such and issue), but I don't understand why so many other features are missing or at least don't work good enough.

[Phillip Dyson]

Is the trial version full featured, or crippled?

[Menneisyys]

Is the trial version full featured, or crippled?

Crippled (no Java, no Flash, 2 tabs, 10 favorites, 2 User Agents at most etc.) - that is, pretty usleess (even for serious testing purposes).

[Edgar_]

I've posted a lot of numeric results of the trial version also here on PPCT about two weeks ago when the trial version was finally made available.

I downloaded that trial two weeks ago too, I think it was 105 not 106 I just noticed its an different build than this one. Is yours the same?

[Menneisyys]

I've posted a lot of numeric results of the trial version also here on PPCT about two weeks ago when the trial version was finally made available.

I downloaded that trial two weeks ago too, I think it was 105 not 106 I just noticed its an different build than this one. Is yours the same?

1.06D2. It was available online long before the official announcement (the folks over at Access are pretty slow :) ) - I've reported it being the final, trial version more than two weeks ago.

[scottb]

It's interesting how different apps perfrom on different devices. I have not seen a browser as slow as PIE on my Samsung i730. NetFont 3.2 and Operat beta 2 are both faster. NetFront 3.3 is the fastest, or it feels that way. What I don't like about Opera is they seem to waste space at the top with the large address bar and the big refresh and stop indicators. Also, NetFront allows me to go back a page with my thumb nail at the bottom of the screen. Opera requires me to tap the back icon with my other hand because it's hard to reach with the thumb of the hand I'm holding the PPC with.

I just wish there was a NetFront for smarpthone...

[gavinfabl]

I am using the latest trial.

When I use Netfront, the view settings default back to justfit rendering and 100% zoom. I keep having to put settings to zoom at 75% and smartfit rendering. Is anyone else having this problem? and is there a way to stop this?

[Underwater Mike]

I wish Alex K., Spb or SBSH would've written NetFront. I don't mind paying for a browser, but I hate doing so and then (1) getting lousy -- or no -- customer service, and (2) getting creamed for nearly the full price every time an upgrade is released.

Can't one of the decent PPC app vendors write something similar? :werenotworthy: