Information AboutMicrobrowser |
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UNDERLYING TECHNOLOGY The microbrowser usually sets up the cellular networks themselves and gets content written in XHTML Mobile Profile (WAP 2.0), or WML (WAP 1.3 which was based on HDML ). WML and HDML are stripped-down formats suitable for transmission across limited bandwidth, and wireless data connection called WAP . In Japan, DoCoMo defined the I-mode service based on i-mode HTML, which is an extension of Compact HTML ( C-HTML ), a simple subset of HTML . WAP 2.0 specifies XHTML Mobile Profile plus WAP CSS, subsets of the W3C's standard XHTML and CSS with minor mobile extensions. Newer microbrowsers are full-featured Web browsers capable of HTML, WML, i-mode HTML, cHTML, plus CSS, ECMAScript, and plug-ins such as Macromedia Flash. PIONEERS The so-called microbrowser technologies such as WAP, NTTDocomo's I-mode platform and Openwave 's HDML platform have fuelled the first wave of interest in wireless data services. A British company, 's ill-fated e-m@iler and e-m@iler+ products used HitchHiker as their operating systems. Mobile Explorer 2.0 was available on the Benefon Q, Sony CMD-Z5, CMD-J5, CMD-MZ5, CMD-Z7, CMD-J7 and CMD-J70. A freeware (although later shareware) browser for the PalmOS was Palmscape , written in 1998 by Kazuho Oku in Japan, who went on to found Ilinx . Still in limited use as late as 2003. Released in 2001, Mobile Explorer 3.0 added iMode compatibility (cHTML) plus numerous proprietary schemes. By imaginatively combining these proprietary schemes with WAP protocols, MME3.0 implemented OTA database synchronisation, push email, push information clients (not unlike a 'Today Screen') and PIM functionality. The cancelled Sony Ericsson CMD-Z700 was to feature heavy integration with MME3.0. Mobile Explorer development had ceased by mid-2002. Opera Software pioneered with its Small Screen Rendering technology. Opera Browser is able to relayout regular web pages for optimal fit on small screens and medium-sized (PDA) screens. It was also first wiedly available mobile browser to support AJAX . SMALL-SCREEN RENDERING LIMITATIONS As mentioned, not only do microbrowsers need to be small in file size, the display screen is also much smaller. Extreme care and meticulous detail must be considered in displaying HTML information onto such a small screen. Bandwidth is also extremely limited and so is the stability. Connections get cut off as with ordinary cell phones and PDAs that are wirelessly connected. POPULAR MICROBROWSERS The following are some of the more popular microbrowsers. Some microbrowsers are really miniaturized Web browsers, so some microbrowser companies also provide browsers for the PC. Default browsers used by major mobile phone and PDA vendors
User-installable microbrowsers
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