Comments for Will Apple Crack? Opera Unveils Plans for iPhone Browser

Will Apple Crack? Opera Unveils Plans for iPhone Browser

2010-02-10T08:40:07Z

Opera just announced that it plans to bring its mobile browser, Opera Mini, to the iPhone. The Norwegian company will give the press and its partners a sneak peek of the application during next week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Opera Mini on the iPhone will include all of Opera's default features like Speed Dial, tabs and a password manager. Opera Mini for the iPhone will also feature Opera's compression technology, which compresses text and images on Opera's servers before they get sent to the phone. The question, however, is whether Apple will allow the application into the App Store.

]]> For now, this announcement is a great PR move by Opera. It certainly looks like Opera wants to put some pressure on Apple to allow the app - and maybe other browsers too - into the store.

Opera Mini is already available on a large number of platforms, including Symbian and Android. The iPhone, however, has remained off-limits for any browser besides Apple's own Safari. There are a few apps that use Safari's rendering engine to create new browser experiences, but we haven't seen any browsers that use alternative rendering engines on the iPhone yet.

While Mozilla is moving forward with its mobile projects for Windows Mobile, Android and Maemo, there are no current plans to port Firefox to the iPhone yet.

This will be an interesting test case. Opera, of course, can show any demo it wants to - but until the company submits the app to Apple, we won't know how Apple will react. Or perhaps this is just a publicity stunt by Opera.

Comment from Creat iPhone App on 2010-12-23

2010-12-23T08:56:39Z

BTW i love opera on iphone opera graphics works great for iphone :)

Comment from Al Garcia  on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T22:24:35Z

I consider myself an Opera fan, use it on Nintendo Wii and DS, my Nokia device (Opera mini and mobile) and on Windows/Mac/Ubuntu, and the twi things that have kept me away from getting an iPhone are the lack of Opera browser and multitasking.

I really hope both of these issues to be solved on the upcoming weeks, maybe 6 months. Apple should crack, otherwise will give away potential users and actual users to Android.

In the other hand I'm sure the browsing experience won't be the same using Opera Mini on iPhone compared to Safari. No fancy animations, many sites won't be as iPhone compatible as they are with Safari, and those are issues that Opera is not going to solve for iPhone and will make Safari still necessary. For this reason is why I think Apple should allow Opera mini, since it will be an alternative for Safari but not a complete replacement.

Comment from Stephen on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T19:08:13Z

I can't understand this, I have iDroid on the iPhone, an official browser that works fine, not as good as safari but fine...

If they allow iDroid then why not Opera Mini, or even full opera?

Maybe they do now allow some and thats why opera are going this route ...

Stephen

Comment from Autom Tagsa on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T16:54:52Z

un autre bon article, Frédéric..j'ai voulu tweeté ça mais j'ai decidé laisser mes 2 sous via FF (been a while since I've actually used this) ciao!

Comment from Karthik Prabhu on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T16:09:36Z

Opera is one among the fastest web browsers.. And now it is being launched on iPhone.. That's really great.. iPhone does need a faster browser.. iPhone users must really be tired of using the Safari browser that's really very slow.. Hope this launch will mobile browsing on iPhone faster..! Firefox being the best and the fastest browser is not yet released on the iPhone.. Firefox has been released for other mobiles.. Check this out for info on firefox release on other mobiles: http://dtechwiz.blogspot.com/2010/02/power-of-firefox-browser-now-in-your.html

Comment from RELATIONSHIP THERAPY on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T14:58:00Z

This may be a good way to start some movement towards an anti-trust suit against Apple should they reject it.

Comment from hello on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T11:27:28Z

"Why was Microsoft sued by the US Authorities and then by the European Authorities for including IE in its OS, and Apple is left free to do what it wishes, forbidding anyone to submit another browser than their Safari?"

Because Microsoft is a convicted monopolist, whereas Apple does not have a monopoly (it has about 10-15% of the smartphone market, and less than 1% or so of the total phone market).

Comment from Chicago liposuction on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T11:17:30Z

You do know Apple won't initially allow this in the App Store, because the iPhone already has Safari that performs the same function. Then Apple WILL get hit with an anti-competitive lawsuit and ultimately lose (it would be more obvious the Microsoft's IE debacle. Apple actually prevents you from installing programs). Then the flood gates will be open and you'll get all kinds of useless and good (and bad) programs, because Apple will no longer get to pick and choose what you can buy.

Comment from Σχολή Χορού on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T10:59:11Z

There is no way in my opinion for Apple to quit on his closed architecture policy but you never know, tims change

Comment from randy on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T10:41:40Z

If somone can please explain this: Why was Microsoft sued by the US Authorities and then by the European Authorities for including IE in its OS, and Apple is left free to do what it wishes, forbidding anyone to submit another browser than their Safari? Why is this favouritism? That's unfair.

Comment from Betix on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T10:33:53Z

oho! interesting: http://bit.ly/9bmFaM what's your bet?

Comment from Paul OFlaherty on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T09:27:29Z

I don't know if apple could deny it, there are plenty of other browsers in the App Store but I could see them trying to deny it because it "replicates the core functionality" of an app included by them ie: Safari.

Comment from Jimmy Vu on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T09:01:41Z

A hopeless move. Apple will definitely refuse the browser or it'll be another Apple we never know

Comment from James Kirk on 2010-02-10

2010-02-10T08:59:55Z

This may be a good way to start some movement towards an anti-trust suit against Apple should they reject it.