Dolphin Browser Explained

Dolphin Browser
Developer:MoboTap Inc. (subsidiary of Changyou.com Limited)[1] [2]
Ver Layout:stacked
Operating System:Android, iOS
Genre:Mobile browser
License:Proprietary Freeware
Engine:Dual engines with Webkit and Dolphin Jetpack (based on Webkit)

The Dolphin Browser is a web browser for the Android and iOS operating systems developed by MoboTap Inc. It was one of the first alternative browsers for the Android platform[3] that introduced support for multi-touch gestures.[4] Dolphin Browser uses its native platform's default browser engine.

Features

Dolphin Browser supports most web standards. The browser also supports tabbed browsing, voice controls, and touch gestures. It can cache web content for offline use and synchronize data across devices. It supports browser add-ons on Android only.

Versions

Both iOS and Android versions are proprietary software with optional in-app purchases. There was an updated version called Dolphin Browser for Android 2.0 or later.[5] [6] Dolphin Browser Beta was released in May 2012 with the in-house HTML5 engine Jet pack. In December 2013, Dolphin Zero, a version of the app that claims to be private by automatically deleting browser data, was released.[7]

Privacy concerns

In October 2011, privacy concerns were raised about Dolphin browser after it was discovered that all URLs loaded in Dolphin HD were being relayed as plain text to a remote server,[8] a process described by Ars Technica as "an unambiguous breach of privacy".[9] This breach was patched in the next update.[10]

Reception

In 2011, Steve Kovach of Business Insider compared Dolphin Browser favorably to Safari and claimed "Dolphin Browser blows Safari out of the water."[11] In 2011, Dolphin Browser was recognized on PC Magazines list of the best free iPhone and iPad Apps of the year,[12] and received a PC Magazine Editors Choice award in 2012.[13]

However, in the years since its release it has not had enough users to compete with competitor mobile browsers.[14] [15] As of March 2024, the browser holds a rating of 2.7 out of 5 on the Apple App Store.[16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chinese startup behind Dolphin mobile browser sells 51% stake for $91 million . Tech in Asia . 2014-07-17 . 2018-02-24.
  2. Changyou to Invest in MoboTap . Changyou . 2014-07-16 . 2018-02-24.
  3. Web site: Dolphin Browser for Android . Jessica Dolcourt . CNET.
  4. News: Dolphin browser for Android adds multitouch support on Droid . Chris Ziegler . Engadget . AOL Inc. . 2011-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616204737/http://mobile.engadget.com/2009/11/29/dolphin-browser-for-android-adds-multitouch-support-on-droid/ . 2011-06-16 . dead .
  5. Web site: PC World . Dolphin Browser HD Review . Brent W . Hopkins . 2011-05-06 . 2012-08-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120829220316/http://www.pcworld.com/appguide/app.html?id=519000&expand=false . dead .
  6. Web site: 8 Reasons Android Owners Should Try Dolphin Browser . Kevin C . Tofel . Gigaom . 2011-05-06 . 2012-12-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121203165513/http://gigaom.com/mobile/8-reasons-android-owners-should-try-dolphin-browser/ . dead .
  7. Web site: Dolphin Zero Incognito Browser - Apps on Google Play . 2024-03-28 . play.google.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: McCullagh. Declan. Dolphin HD browser snared in security breach. CNET. October 30, 2011.
  9. Web site: Paul. Ryan. Major privacy flaw found in Dolphin HD browser for Android. 28 October 2011 . Ars Technica. October 30, 2011.
  10. Web site: Webzine Does Not Store User Data. Dolphin Browser Blog. November 29, 2011. December 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212153930/http://dolphin.com/webzine-does-not-store-user-data/. dead.
  11. Web site: Kovach . Steve . 12 Sep 2011 . This New iPad Browser From Dolphin Blows Safari Out Of The Water . Business Insider.
  12. Web site: Best free iPhone and iPad apps of 2011. PC World.
  13. Web site: PC Magazine's Editors' Choice. PCMag.
  14. Web site: Mobile Browser Market Share Worldwide . 2024-09-03 . StatCounter Global Stats . en.
  15. Web site: Mobile Browser Market Share Worldwide . 2024-09-03 . StatCounter Global Stats . en.
  16. Web site: 2020-10-17 . Dolphin Mobile Browser . 2024-03-27 . App Store . en-US.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Dolphin Browser".

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