One of the most important aspects of mobile connectivity is the simple web browser. Many applications, such as the default Facebook app, rely on the ability to interact with web pages for a more complete experience, so it is vital that the web browser be a stable, feature rich and seamlessly integrated application. Dolphin Browser provides such an experience, with only a few minor quibbles.
When the Nexus One was first released, Dolphin Browser was practically a “must-have”, if simply for the “Pinch-to-Zoom” functionality made famous by the iPhone. The additional features of tabs (a must for anyone uses to a desktop browsing experience) and the ability to use (and custom define) gestures for common tasks made the application my default browser even after Google added “Pinch-to-Zoom” in the default Nexus One browser through the first over-the-air update. Other cool features that are just the icing on the cake for me include Google bookmark syncing, the ability to download YouTube videos, and one click sharing of web pages to the standard social media sites. Dolphin is fast, reliable (I have yet to experience an FC with it), works perfectly with links launched from other applications, and has become the most used application on my Nexus One.
Dolphin Browser allows you to custom define the gestures you want to use for a number of actions.
It isn’t perfect, of course. The “Pinch-to-Zoom” works, but seems a bit imprecise, in particular when compared to the default browser after the update. Dolphin released an update which seemed to improve the feature, but it still doesn’t expand where my fingers touch, and when I shrink, I end up staring at a white screen. In addition, some very basic tasks (like changing your home page or configuring G.bookmark syncing) can be buried in some deeply nested settings menu. These criticisms are quite minor considering the wealth of features this browser provides, and the fact that they have already released an update keeps me optimistic that this browser will only get better in the future.
It should be noted that Dolphin Browser comes in a free, full featured, ad supported version as well as a pay version that removed the ever present ads. I can’t comment on how annoying the ads are, as I purchased the full version within 10 minutes of downloading it…I knew that quickly that it would be my browser until something better came along. I haven’t spent a better $5 since.
