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Opera for Windows Mobile passes Acid2 test; on pace to become first WM browser to pass test

14 Comments
 Published April 23rd, 2007 12:38 PM EDT By Daniel Goldman

Opera 9 for Windows Mobile now passes the Acid2 test in internal builds of the browser (see screenshot below). Opera Mobile is on pace to become the first Windows Mobile browser to pass the Acid2 test, unless Pocket IE or Access speed things up.

The Acid2 test has been written to help browser vendors make sure their products correctly support features that are part of web standards.

Safari and Konqueror were the first major browsers to pass the Acid2 test. Opera quickly followed with the release of Opera 9. Alpha builds of Firefox 3 also passed the test. Where’s Internet Explorer (IE) though?

The upcoming Opera Mobile edition will include the latest PC browsing features such as Widgets and Intelligent Zoom (made popular by the Wii Opera-powered browser).

Opera 9 on mobile phones will add completely new dimensions to navigation. You will be able to seamlessly alternate between viewing modes to get a birds-eye perspective or dive into the page’s content. Read more about it here.

Also making their debut with Opera Mobile are Opera Widgets. Opera Widgets are small web applications that run outside of the browser and are instantly accessible on the phone without having to launch the Web browser.

Opera Widgets are based on the same technologies used to create webpages – HTML, CSS, JavaScript (and AJAX) – so you could easily create a weather, traffic, news or email widget that gets its data by using AJAX, for example. No longer do you need to program your mobile applications in J2ME, etc – now, it’s as simple as developing webpage.

Opera Mobile is currently shipped on more than 50 million phones from major manufacturers such as Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

This browser is not only popular with phone manufacturers; users have also shown great interest by manually downloading it to their phones. Last month Opera announced that downloads of the Opera Mobile browser for Windows Mobile Smartphones and Pocket PCs have increased by more than 50% over the same time period last year.

The most recent version of Opera for Windows Mobile is in public beta with 8.65. The browser is available for Smartphones and Pocket PCs: Windows Mobile (WM) 2003, WM 5, and WM 6.

(Download Opera for your Pocket PC or Smartphone)

acid-2.jpg
Screenshot of an internal build of Opera 9 for
Windows Mobile passing the Acid 2 test

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  1. 1 GT500 Apr 23rd, 2007 at 2:14 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Sweet…

    It’s nice to see Opera making some history. I look forward to seeing this version of Opera on that Windows mobile device I hope to own in the future. ;)

  2. 2 WildEnte Apr 23rd, 2007 at 5:50 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    I wonder what happens if pocket IE passes Acid2 but desktop IE doesn’t…

  3. 3 GT500 Apr 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows Vista

    Originally posted by WildEnte:

    I wonder what happens if pocket IE passes Acid2 but desktop IE doesn’t…

    Then web developers will have another version of IE with different oddities that they will have to account for when coding.

    I imagine that whatever rendering engines are designed for Microsoft’s mobile browsers will handle code similarly to IE7, so that web developers won’t have to completely redesign their sites for it.

  4. 4 IceArdor Apr 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Someone should update the wikipedia pages. This is great news!

  5. 5 ResearchWizard Apr 24th, 2007 at 12:03 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Is there some at least unspecific information about the time of a public release?

  6. 6 CableGuy Apr 24th, 2007 at 7:38 am
    using Mozilla Mozilla 1.9a3 on Linux Linux

    I still prefer the mobile browser of nokia. Maybe Opera 9 will also
    come for symbian and then change to my favorite browser.

  7. 7 Daniel Goldman Apr 24th, 2007 at 10:02 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    ResearchWizard, I don’t have a specific time line. But I can say that Opera 9 for WM will first be available to handset manufacturers before it will be available for download on opera.com.

  8. 8 Daniel Goldman Apr 24th, 2007 at 10:03 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    CableGuy, Opera already has a mobile browser for the symbian. More info.

  9. 9 SovGVD Apr 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    in opera we trust!

  10. 10 ResearchWizard Apr 24th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    SovGVD, I like your trust :-)

    may the O be with you
    it’s too strong to tell the full name

  11. 11 pierre Apr 27th, 2007 at 11:55 am
    using Opera Opera 9.10 on Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii

    hi,

    any idea about the small artefact under big smiley ?

  12. 12 Daniel Goldman Apr 27th, 2007 at 11:58 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    pierre, it’s probably the mouse pointer.

  13. 13 Pierre Apr 28th, 2007 at 4:11 am
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Windows Mobile support mouse pointer ?
    Perhaps on WM2005 but never see any “pointer” on Win Mobile 2003 :-/

  14. 14 Daniel Goldman Apr 28th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.20 on Windows Windows XP

    Pierre, I haven’t seen the new browser yet, so don’t go out an quote me on the pointer thing.

    But is sure looks like one. :)

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Opera Watch, an Opera browser blog, is run by Daniel Goldman, who used to work for Opera Software as a Technical Evangelist.

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About Opera


Q: What is Opera?
A: Opera is one of the most powerful Web browsers around. A Web browser is the program that allows you to view Web pages. Opera is well known for innovation for PC browsers and bringing the full web to mobile phones and devices.

Q: Is Opera free?
A: Absolutely free.

Q: Why should I download a browser? Doesn't my computer already come with one for free?
A: It's about getting more out of the time you spend on the internet. Opera is designed to be much faster than these browsers and gives you powerful features that the default browser lacks. Default browsers like Internet Explorer are also more likely to be subjected to dangerous software such as viruses and spyware.

Q: Will Opera keep me safe from fraudulent websites and malicious hackers?
A: According to Secunia, a respected firm that tracks security in browsers, Opera has the best reputation and track record when it comes to browser security. Keeping our users safe from security vulnerabilities, fraudulent websites, and malicious hackers is a top priority for Opera. Opera is maintained by hundreds of engineers, developers and security experts who are constantly looking to make the browser even safer.

Q: Doesn't Opera copy all of their features from other browsers?
A: Absolutely not. In fact, many of the features that are popular in other browsers today were invented and pioneered by Opera a long time ago. Opera invented the precursor to tabs (in 1994), Page Zoom (1994), was the first browser to block pop-up ads (2000), first to add a Search field in the browser toolbar (2000), Sessions (1996), deleting private data (2000), Mouse Gestures (2000), User JavaScript (2005), BitTorrent support (2005), Widgets (2006), Speed Dial (2007), and much more.

Q: Does Opera support extensions, such as those found in Firefox?
A: Much of the functionality provided through Firefox extensions is already built directly into Opera, so you don't have to download additional extensions in Opera. In addition, Opera is highly customizable and supports all standard plug-ins.

Q: Can I also use Opera on my mobile phone?
A: Yes. And your Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS or almost any connected device and mobile phones. Opera Mobile oftens comes preinstalled from the manufacturers, but if it doesn't you can install Opera Mini which runs on nearly all phones.

Q: This all sounds great, so how do I download Opera?
A: -- Opera on your computer
-- Opera Mini on your phone
-- Opera Mobile on your phone
-- or learn more about Opera at www.opera.com