Alternatives to Pocket Internet Explorer

Only about two years late, browsing on a Windows Mobile device is finally seeing some improvement… I mean c’mon… the iPhone has been out for over a year!  What took so long!!?

Below are two alternatives to the included Pocket I.E. that I use in tandem, each with its own purpose:

Opera Mobile 9.5 beta 2 – Internet Browser

OVERVIEW: Probably the best way to view the internet on a Windows Mobile device.

PROS: Nicely allows full web pages to be viewed as they would on a desktop with zoom capabilities that respond quickly. The large buttons and icons are easily used with either a stylus or a finger.

CONS: Does not support some of the new media formats found on the internet, such as FLASH (YouTube), out of the box; a FLASH plugin may be available.

[Info]
[Download]

SkyFire – Internet Browser

OVERVIEW: Only good for one thing – viewing FLASH.

PROS: Allows video on the web such as FLASH (YouTube) to finally to be viewed, easily, on a Windows Mobile device.

CONS: Everything else you could think of.

[Download]

Turn off AT&T Data Access

The 8525 is set by default to connect to AT&T’s data service when you try to access the internet, sometimes even if WiFi is turned on and available – enter MoDaCo NoData.

NoData easily toggles AT&T ’s MEdia Net capability on and off.  With MEdia net access disabled the 8525 will not be able to connect to AT&T’s data network and therefore will not incur data charges by accident. Doing so seems to have no effect on text messages but does seem to prevent MMS messages from being recieved.

This application also gives you the option to disable what it calls “My ISP GPRS” which I have had no reason use or to test.

This post links to a .cab file that can be downloaded and installed directly onto the 8525, no computer needed.

Google Maps – Almost As Good As GPS

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Google Maps is the one application on my 8525 that I couldn’t live without, but, doing so would certainly be a bummer.

See your location on the map, with or without GPS. Save time and tedious keystrokes finding where you are, what’s around you, and how to get there…

The My Location feature takes information broadcast from mobile towers near you to approximate your current location on the map – it’s not GPS, but it comes pretty close (approximately 1000m close, on average).

Turn on your 8525’s Wifi or use access AT&T’s data network if there aren’t any free hotspots around and let Google Maps show you how to get to where you need to go next.

This post links to a .cab file that can be downloaded and installed directly onto the 8525, no computer needed.