Android app reviews: Dolphin Browser HD

The standard Android browser is pretty effective for casual use. Yet, as you so often see on mobile browsers, heavier use tends to show up its limitations pretty quickly.

Dolphin Browser HD, the latest version of the already popular Android browser – and designed for Android 2.x devices – brings over multiple elemens from the desktop, and offers more power while actually becoming easier to use.

On a simple level the UI enhancements in Dolphin Browser HD make it worth a look on their own. Tabbed browsing, for example, becomes far simpler because your tabs are displayed above the address bar like on a desktop browser, rather than hidden away in a menu.

Bookmarks are also quicker to access, through a dedicated button. There is also a proper ‘Exit’ button that won’t leave the app running in the background when you’re finished with it (although it asks whether you want to clear the history or cache every time you exit, which becomes annoying).

But there’s much more than that. Dolphin supports add-ons, Firefox-style, for things like social networking, and also offers better RSS and YouTube support than the default browser.

Finger gestures (such as swiping in a specific motion) help you access functions or websites instantly, and multi-touch for pinch-to-zoom is also supported. Dolphin can also be set as your default browser, and will use your existing bookmarks.

Price: Free
Rating: 9/10

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