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Opera first to sing on Google Android stage
Browsing the G1

By Jessica Dolcourt

Published: Tuesday 25 November 2008

Opera Mini 4.2 beta, a test version released for Java phones just two weeks ago, yesterday became the first third-party browser available for Google Android.

Opera Mini for Android, which was previewed in April, includes most of the familiar Mini 4.2 features: zooming, saving, bookmarking, and searching for in-line text has stayed intact, as has syncing via Opera Link and swapping skins.

The Android-optimised build boasts fast speeds over T-Mobile's 3G network, a very crisp display, and quality that approaches the iPhone when it comes to viewing a zoomed-out web page, thanks to both screen size and image clarity. The G1's two menu keys also enhance the experience, making Opera Mini's controls easy to access and navigate.

Google Android was low-hanging fruit for Opera. It would have been better, of course, if the browser had been available when the G1 began selling but of all third-party developers, Opera still managed to bring its free browser first to Android's market.