02-04-2004, 08:01 AM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
|
|
Geekzone Reviews Access NetFront v3.1
Lots of times I've lamented the shortcomings of the native Pocket Internet Explorer (PIE), but I've never really learned enough about the other options that are out there. Geekzone has got all the information I need about one of the best PIE alternatives: Access Netfront v3.1.
"When I wrote the Pocket PC Browser Comparison article (March 2003) Access Netfront 3.0 was the best in the class web browser for Pocket PC OS 2002. The most direct competitor to Access Netfront was the Pocket Internet Explorer. With the release of the Windows Mobile 2003 OS Microsoft improved the built-in Pocket Internet Explorer, incorporating lots of features available on Netfront 3.0, including Cascade Style Sheets and better Javascript support (no Java though!).
"To catch up with the competition, Access Netfront 3.1 was just released, with two editions: Windows Mobile 2003 and Toshiba e800..."
This is a very thorough review. I'm what's known as a "visual learner," so I appreciate the 32(!) screenshots that are included. In fact, by the time I was done reading the review, I wanted to go out and grab a copy of Netfront for myself!
See what you think.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 08:41 AM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 51
|
|
NEtFront Browser 3.1 CSS Support?
I'm really interested in the CSS support in this browser. Although the current MS browser supports CSS it's support is poor, but then most of MS browsers are. It does however support the 'handheld' declaration in CSS so you can offer it up a different style sheet, but it handles things badly. Two questions then, how does this new browser hold up to CSS compared to MS PIE and does it support the 'handeld' declaration for style sheets?
My daughters web site should do as a test. Currently the menus on the MS PIE version fall to bits - they get spaced out when menus have sub menus. I just wondered if this works correctly in NetFront.
You can check it out on a PC to see how it is supposed to work and then use the same URL in NEtFront. If NetFront support 'handheld' CSS, you won't see the 'flowery' graphics - they are left out of the handeheld style sheet.
But how do the meus look? Screen shots appreciated to in 'fit to screen' and normal mode. My private email is:
mailto:[email protected]
Web url:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/russell...html/home.html
I would download and test this myself, but my aging XDA1 and SD card are creaking at the seams and I have no space  ops: Time for an XDA II me thinks! :lol:
Many thanks
Russ
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 09:01 AM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 841
|
|
Sent. But it doesn't work well for this site. Is this because of the "handheld" declaration?
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 09:35 AM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 104
|
|
I bought this browser just last week and I have to say that Im very impressed with it. The CSS support is a lot better than PIE thats for sure. A couple of minor glitches Ive noticed though are that for some reason some java script menus dont seem to work, for example the menu on this site - http://www.excolo.cz/# but I dont know if thats because of the coding on the page or the browser. Im assuming the coding as the majority of other javascript sites seem fine.
Also as you may have guessed, some of the pages dont work to well in the different fit to screen modes, but then others work beautifully.
In short I really do recommend this browser over PIE, its a lot better, and works prety much as I expected PIE should have.
One question for any of you out there in the know though, do you know where I can find these browser strings? I would like to add a few into the options, but I cant seem to find a page or pages on the internet detailing the different strings.
TIA
Andrew
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 09:49 AM
|
|
Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 841
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Andrew
One question for any of you out there in the know though, do you know where I can find these browser strings? I would like to add a few into the options, but I cant seem to find a page or pages on the internet detailing the different strings.
|
Open this file from your computer on NOTEPAD and have a look:
C:\WINNT\system32\inetsrv\browscap.ini
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:33 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 184
|
|
I have been very happy with Pie.Plus by Reensoft.com. Works great, and better .support and upgrade policies than Access (NetFront).
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 02:00 PM
|
|
Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,734
|
|
I bought this software recently, and it works very well. However one can see it did not originate on windows or ce, as the menu structure and conventions are odd, e.g not having cut, copy and paste on the tap and hold menu. Also I feel there are some further improvements possible, e.g many java script buttons dont work on web pages, and its not very easy to close new browser windows, requiring at least 3 taps. It should have been possible with one double tap on the browser tab, but clicking on it does nothing.
In any case, its worth the money, but I hope the developers keep working on it.
Surur
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 03:34 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29
|
|
what about Bitstream Thunderhawk?
Surprised that Mauricio didn't mention Bitstream's great Thunderhawk software which relies on a proxy server to reformat the pages and shrink graphics remotely. This results in a big speed boost. Also, Thunderhawk supports LANDSCAPE, a feature that Access really should include. Finally they use a special font which allows them to fit more text on the screen.
Check out the screenshot:
http://www.bitstream.com/wireless/
Only downside is really the annual subscription fee but they do have a free trial.
Ethan
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 04:10 PM
|
|
Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 350
|
|
Overall, I really like NF but I may have found one big drawback... Has anyone been able to get Windows Media Player to work with NF3.1? I could not. For example, I could not get WMP to start for any of the links I tried on www.ppcvidz.com. PIE would open up WMP on the very same ones.
I have the WMP plugin checked on the Plugins settings. I also added WMP as a Helper for the formats WMP supports. As I understand that, Helper is basically like file associations.
Digging around Access's NetFront pages to find a forum, I did find someone who asked the same question. The answer was that this wasn't supported. Ouch!
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 04:25 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 31
|
|
offline browsing-2003
Hi-
I just bought the copy and really like it....the rendering engine is great!
one thing if anyone could help! I do alot of offline reading using whackforce and httptrack. The problem i have is that netfront keeps trying to open up links, it will load the page but gives a bunch of errors all the time...i've set up a network called "Offline" in the connection settings and that will work for IE but not Netfront.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
