davidconrad10

I was interested in trying Opera Mini on my TX, but discovered that it requires the IBM Websphere-micro-etc.-Java-environment. I also discovered that Palm no longer provides a free download for that Java environment. But then I discovered that PocketGear sells it for $6.

Here's the question: does anyone have enough experience to say whether Opera on a TX is enough better than Blazer to justify both $6 (a nominal sum) AND the additional time and software clutter that installing both the Java environment and Opera would require?

joemun

Try netfront 3.1...Opera mini sucks! at least for me...

phreakonaleash

Hi,

Imo, while it does a pretty good job, Opera is flawed in many ways.

1) It's not a native browser so can't take advantage of system features such as registering for link types, notificitations, etc
2) it runs in the, imo, extremely flawed IBM vm
3) It consistantly hangs on my T|X, even with UDMH, warpseed, etc

So, stick with blazer or netfront, in my opinion. It does its job as a mobile browser.

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kari

1) Memory parameters for Opera must be defined using "J9 launcher" preferences app, then it's possible to set following parameters: "-Xms1600k -Xmx1600k -Xss32k -Xiss32k -noverify", which makes browser more robust (i.e. helps with OOME which resets TX). You may try to combine this with UDMH and try higher amount of memory. However, with my experience heap must be over 1MB but below 2MB, otherwise it becomes unstable.

2) Opera mini is able to render very big pages, while Netfront runs very quickly into "page too large to display" -problem. Also Netfront has problems in rendering "äåö". etc. This had made Netfront rather unusable for me (so suckingness factor of various browsers varies). In overall OM renders pages more much more nicely.

3) When Fontsmoother or Fonts4os5 is used with some 8 point font for Opera mini, then rendering is very nice, otherwise it sucks due to too big font.

4) OM has good "back/forward" caching of already visited pages; i.e. "back/forward" is instant.

5) OM has big problem in native OS clipboard support. Copy/paste of text in input fields in opera is simply impossible. In my case, I found work around for this issue from the feature of MessagEase DIA what I'm using; it has "popup keyboard", from where copy/paste into input fields of OM work. Still, however, copying any text from the webpages itself is impossible, except by making screen capture.

6) Server side rendering of pages causes occasional lengthly delays before page becomes visible. This seems to vary from time to time, thus it is propably due to overloading of servers in Opera's server room.

7) Opera mini is not able to access few sites, which are restricted into "region" based into IP or such filtering, since Opera's servers reside in Norway, and thus regional pages may refuse to show up. Same thing is naturally with any private intranet or such pages.

davidconrad10

The comments don't make installing it (OM) sound encouraging. One comment mentioned NetFront. I've certainly heard about Netfront, but didn't know it was available as a TX add-on. Is it? From where?

cms

If im correct the netfront installer by dmitry is located at his website:
www.Palmpowerups.com

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I have bought an Asus EEE 1000he. My palm TX is no longer needed. See my Replacer
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EBSkater

If anyone wants the installer for the Opera browser and the Java files, just let me know. I was scowering the net a few months ago, and managed to locate both of them, so I can e-mail them if necessary.

Edit: Oh yeah, as long as I'm not using any bad hacks for my T|X (stuff that cause my Palm to hard reset itself anyways), it works just fine, and I enjoy that I can sync it along with my phone and my online bookmarks. I'm happy with it, and it runs well for me. Works with both WiFi and bluetooth connections.

joemun

How do I do this...I am going to give it a chance again...maybe I am wrong...

phreakonaleash

See my sig.

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kari

Via Preferences. Normal "IBM Java VM" allows only coarse tuning of parameters, but "J9 Java Options" allows detailed adjusting of java startup parameters. I recall you need to install "j9pref.prc" (comes with IBM Java 5.7.2 package) into Palm to have this preferences option available.

EBSkater

Why is that breaking the law? I know they don't support it anymore, but I thought this kinda' fell into the ROM video game laws where it's okay to download it since it's not supported anymore?

joemun

ok! thanks I am going to give it a try... thanks for your reply

phreakonaleash

well, well:

Strictly speaking, ROM files are only legal downloads if youown the original games. They are offered merely as backups (and that's the only reason those sites are still up).

Now if we want to go into IBM websphere, this is still being sold by IBM, it's just that palm doesn't have a license/isn't choosing to use their license to redistribute it. By downloading it without agreeing to the EULA that it's bound by your technically breaking copyright laws. This has been discussed in at least two threads now (hence I"ve added it to my sig) so just a bit of searching on it should pull up more precise info (i'm not too concious/sane at the moment to explain it again....)

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phreakonaleash

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140982 <-- F.E.

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