Torch Mobile Launches Free Web Browser for Windows Mobile

[Antoine Wright]

It seems like mobile browsers are the new battlefield of choice, and the releases of new and updated ones has been fast and furious. Torch Mobile has entered the fray with its WebKit-based browser Iris.

Currently available for Windows Mobile 6 and Trolltech's Qt embedded 2.3, Qtopia core 4.3, and Qtopia 4.3, Iris aims to bring the full Web experience to mobile phones.

Torch Mobile's Iris browser features include:

• Customizable Interface
• Zoom & Tap Function
• Multiple Windows and Tabs
• Advanced Security Features
• Pop-Up Blockers
• and more

For Consumers and Enterprise Users

As with many browsers, Iris is being marketed as a solution that works well with both end-users and companies who wish to take advantage of its various features. To that end Torch Mobile has created Iris on a modular architecture, which enables it to be custom tailored to specific device needs and applications.

Some of these customization options include:

• SSL and authenticated proxy support
• SVG, XPath and XSLT support
• JavaScript/ECMAScript 1.5
• Netscape plug-in API
• XHTML 1.x mobile profile support
• Bookmark editor, carrier specified list
• Customizable about: pages
• Advanced mobile key navigation

Torch Mobile is positioning Iris as a high-performance, flexible, and Open Source-based alternative to Opera, Firefox Mobile, and others aiming to be the portal to Internet connectivity on mobile devices.

Torch Mobile and Trolltech Partnership

In addition to Iris, Torch Mobile has announced a partnership with Trolltech ASA to distribute Iris as part of Trolltech's Qtopia offering.

According to Torch Mobile, the Iris browser application will build upon components of WebKit which are integrated into Qt, the foundation for Qtopia.

Trolltech and Torch Mobile are currently exhibiting at Mobile World Congress 2008

For more information and to download Iris for Windows Mobile and Trolltech devices, visit the Torch Mobile web site.

Related Articles:

A First Glimpse of Firefox Mobile

Significantly Updated Version of Opera Mobile Browser Announced

Skyfire Mobile Web Browser Review

 

[Ed Hardy]

This browser shows promise, but it feels like an early beta to me.

It renders pages very well. It takes a while for complex pages to come up, but they look great.

However, I'm running into problems some of the functions. For example, if I go into Full Page mode, I can't figure out how to get back out, or even quit the application from this mode.

Torch Mobile doesn't say this, but there has be some kind of strong tie-in with Internet Explorer Mobile, as Iris uses the cookies from IE.

A mode that reformats text to fit on the screen would be a nice addition. As it is now, the only way to read a news article is scroll back and forth with every line.

Like I said, Iris has a lot of potential, and I'm going to keep an eye on this app.
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