Opera Mini Available for Worldwide Download

http://mini.opera.com/

Opera Mini, a Java-based, not very powerful but free browser, has been officially released by Opera Corp. not just for Norwegian (and, later, Nordic) users, but the entire world. First, one thing must be pointed out. It's questionable whether this browser is worth using on the Pocket PC at all – after all, there're much better alternative browsers, particularly the latest NetFront. Opera Mini has nothing to do with "real", native (non-Java) Pocket PC Opera coming soon to the Pocket PC. It's just a dumbed-down Java-based browser with minimalistic browsing/rendering capabilities. It's working great on Java-enabled mobile phones (even on – the now – low-end, super-cheap ones like the Sony-Ericsson t610) and offers a great browsing experience, though (exactly as with midlet-based IRC clients – see my big roundup on IRC applications for the Pocket PC for more info if interested) – that is, it does have its place under the sun. It's pretty easy to install and use it on the Pocket PC: 1. get the IBM J9 JVM from, say, Handango. Note that it's a pretty large download; you will only need this CAB file out of it. If you only want to give Opera a test ride and don't necessarily need the IBM J9 for other purposes, get and install the later file. IBM J9 is a capable and, more importantly, cheap Java Virtual Machine. 2. start MidLet HQ from Start Menu/Programs and click Install. Enter http://mini.opera.com/builds/releases/operette-1.1.2421/operette-lofi_nordic.jar in the URL: field: click for screenshot and click OK: click for screenshot Click Yes on the next dialog: click for screenshot and then, OK. Opera Mini will be automatically installed in the midlet list of IBM J9: click for screenshot All you need to highlight it (if it isn't highlighted) and click the Launch button in the bottom button bar. Just click Close on the first screen: click for screenshot And click the (by default) highlighted text input field on the next: click for screenshot You'll be taken to a full-screen text input dialog. It's always in dialogs like this that any kind of text input must take place into IBM J9. Just enter the new address (don't press Enter) and click OK in the lower left corner: click for screenshot Now, Opera will ask you whether you allow it to connect to the internet (it'll do the same after every restart): click for screenshot Here, just click OK with the default 'Yes'. (Note that it's this screen that the Hi-Fi version doesn't show; this is why the latter won't work with J9.) This is how the target page is rendered: click for screenshot Note that, on VGA devices, you must switch to real VGA to see everything with VGA (and not just pixel doubled) resolution. Forced VGA mode won't work as the button bars won't be shown. Please note that the previous version of this tutorial available at, say, FirstLoox, only discusses an earlier and, by default, Norwegian version. The new version is English by default and is freely available. Also note that CrEme (another, excellent JVM for the Pocket PC / WindowsCE) also has support for MIDP programs like Opera Mini. I, however, haven't managed to make it work. I've tested CrEme with other midlets otherwise working great with IBM J9 – with no success. The CrEme docs didn't help either. It seems CrEme has flawed midlet support and is useless at present. If you manage to make it work, please let me know. Finally, if you would prefer a version in a Nordic language (Finnish/Norwegian/ Swedish/Danish/ Icelandic), add the two-letter language code of the given language just after operette-lofi_nordic, using a dash, in the URL http://mini.opera.com/builds/releases/operette-1.1.2421/operette-lofi_nordic.jar in step 2. That is, to have a Finnish GUI (and by default Finnish URL's instead of English ones): click for screenshot use the URL http://mini.opera.com/builds/releases/operette-1.1.2421/operette-lofi_nordic-fi.jar when you install the midlet: click for screenshot PS.: as you can see, I've returned from vacation. With a Microsoft MVP Mobile Devices title more. And, unfortunately, with a HP R707 digicamera less, which has been stolen from me on the Helsinki-Vantaa – Iisalmi night bus between 3:00 AM and 5:00 AM EET on 19/Dec while I was sleeping. If you run into a HP R707 digicam with the serial number CN46HE5069, please let me know. Fortunately, my bags of PDA's and other gadgets, worth of some 2000-3000 euros, weren't stolen. An example of how these devices have been used by relatives' children during the vacation: click for shot and click for shot. Nice, eh? :) EDIT (01/25/2006): here, I've elaborated on why you can't run Opera Mini (of which the final international version has been released in the meantime) under Pocket PC 2002.