Update: Oops, I forgot to mention that Opera Mini requires IBM Java to be installed first.
My Palm Centro is a nice little phone with the simple yet useful Palm OS. When it comes to things like making phone calls, managing my contacts, calendar and tasks, and updating my checkbook register or playing a game, my Centro performs nicely. Sending text and multimedia messages is also easy and the Centro handles it fine, but surfing the web leaves much to be desired. Lacking WiFi and 3G, my Centro's internet capabilities limp along sluggishly on AT&T's EDGE network.
With devices out there like the iPhone and Windows Mobile devices with WiFi and 3G, it's easy to get left in the dust when using my Palm for internet browsing. My Centro's Blazer internet browser may use EDGE, but it's certainly not cutting-edge. Anything to help my little Centro along to try and keep up with the pack is much appreciated, and Opera Mini is definitely a step in the right direction.
Opera Mini is FREE. It's absolutely sweet that we live in a day and age when companies can stay in business while delivering unto us free stuff. What's more, not only is it free stuff, it's USEFUL free stuff. Opera Mini breathes some life into the tired lungs of the Palm OS platform and makes my Centro more of a delight to use. Opera Mini is updated on a regular basis as well. It is also a small file, weighing in at only 319KB.
A full web experience is available on your Palm OS device with Opera Mini. You can stay in touch with your Facebook friends, search Google, check your web email, and more. It helps you overcome some of the limitations of your device, like speed - Opera Mini compresses data before it is sent to your phone and utilizes a server park in the U.S. for faster page downloads for users in the Americas and Asia-Pacific region. Users around the world can benefit from faster downloading speeds because Opera has reduced the load on their other servers.
Other features include syncing bookmarks with your desktop Opera browser and syncing notes as well. Create notes on your desktop Opera browser and sync them via Opera Mini on your handheld device. Opera Mini provides a better browsing experience and more features than the vanilla Blazer browser on your Palm OS Centro or Treo. Get it for free right here and see if your mobile browsing experience improves!
If you are a developer with some helpful and/or fun software or if you have a tip that you wish to pass on to the rest of the community, just email me at: brian.hart@treocentral.com.
