Develop Bugs

Chrome Beta vs. Stock ICS Browser?

Just trying to get some feedback on the the launch of the chrome beta and how it compares to the stock ICS browser. Even after the 4.0.4 gapps update Im feeling they're pretty similar in speed. Overall Im not not yet sure which one I prefer. Hopefully your insight will help me out.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

The UI/UX is far superior, but it lacks critical features to make it a replacement - at least for me.
We'll see in a few months when a better developed version comes out.

I heard that Chrome is a good browser. I think i will download it once flash gets support on it. Still may give it a go than delete it afterwards. I have the newest GAPPS though so i do notice a difference in speed as far as the stock browser.

no full screen and hide status bar was a dealbreaker. hopefully it will be added in later.

The UI is good, love how the tabs work, and the speed is okay.
I notice that some pages will automatically zoom in, then zoom out, and then zoom in again while the page is loading, without me ever touching the screen. Very distracting.
Also sometimes the zoom goes too far in.
And I can't render pages in desktop mode.
I probably need to wait for another beta release or two before it's ready for me.

I've noticed it to be a bit more of a battery hog compared to stock browser. Once they add support for extensions and some more features I will switch.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

charlieb620 said:
I heard that Chrome is a good browser. I think i will download it once flash gets support on it. Still may give it a go than delete it afterwards. I have the newest GAPPS though so i do notice a difference in speed as far as the stock browser.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chrome will not be getting flash.
http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8&q=chrome+android+flash

Hoping for improvements in the laggy typing (esp in URL bar) and "request desktop site" to show up then it'll be 100% primary.

I'm sticking with the stock browser, more than enough for me. I tried out chrome, wasn't a big fan but I don't hate it though. I didn't like was the look of it, it was disappointing.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I noticed that too :/ but hopefully that'll be improved
I like it overall, but I think i like the stock browser a little more

comparing a beta with a out of beta software is like comparing a pair of chop stick with toothpick.
as of right now, i set chrome as default because it is faster than the stock browser. chrome offer keyboard prediction, which hands down a win for me.

This
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I still like dolphin hd best. Stock + as a close second. Chrome is nice for a first offering.

I personally can't stand Dolphin HD. I used to use it a lot back in the day, but now it just seems too bloated and laggy. I really like Chrome beta, though I'll stick with stock ICS Browser (especially with the 4.0.4 update) for now.
I did notice that Chrome beta cannot handle proxies. I can use the Wifi at work just fine with ICS Browser (I have the proxy info entered in the System Wifi settings) but Chrome beta cannot seem to use those same settings, so it just fails and gives a generic error message that is actually meant for the desktop version of the browser.

I'm really digging chrome so far. Tab handling is awesome and so much better than stock. Directly syncing open tabs from chrome on the computer is awesome. Syncing all bookmarks from chrome is awesome.
The only thing missing is flash but who cares. It is used little enough these days and I don't usually need to see those pages on my phone anyway.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Kupfel said:
I'm really digging chrome so far. Tab handling is awesome and so much better than stock. Directly syncing open tabs from chrome on the computer is awesome. Syncing all bookmarks from chrome is awesome.
The only thing missing is flash but who cares. It is used little enough these days and I don't usually need to see those pages on my phone anyway.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly.
I haven't run into any bugs yet, and it syncs. I even switched back to Chrome from Firefox on the desktop because I want tab sync (and Firefox Mobile just doesn't seem usable to me).

I really like Chrome but if I want flash I have to use stock browser. I think stock browser is excellent too though..
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Adaptive zoom on double tap is a huge advantage of Chrome over stock in my opinion
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

Here i can find the historic log in Chrome?
And about native browser 4.0.4? Where i can find? Needs root for update it?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

I'm definitely loving chrome . Already am using it as my default browser. Its fast and pinch to zoom is butter. The tabs are fun little add on too, I like the whole 3d effect. The only things I miss from stock browser are the on screen controls and ability to request desktop site easier. Even though it doesn't really bother me to scroll down the page to get the desktop site, and then from what I've noticed , once you click on desktop site for one website , every website after that automatically loads in desktop form , which I think is great. I think for the initial beta release Google has done a great job. Definitely like how it dominates all the HTML 5 tests too
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Stock vs Chrome Browser, your performance impressions

Hi everyone this is just a quick poll in regards to how your stock browser performs compared to Chrome (if you use it)
I'm not sure if this is just me or if everyone is experiencing this. I never really used the stock browser since right when I got my phone I installed Chrome, but lately its performance have been laggy on both my Transformer Prime and Galaxy Nexus..so I did a quick scrolling test.
1. browsed to www.engadget.com full desktop version
2. Wait for page to completely load
3. Scrolled up and down through the page.
I found Chrome even after the page was completely loaded continued to try the render images causing choppy scrolling while the stock was smooth.

Chrome belongs on the desktop, imo. Eye candy aside, it doesn't (imo) bring anything to the table, and is slower/fatter than stock.

I love stock not only cuz its smoother but it will open flawlessly any flash site lol..
Chrome looks good still need some work tho.. No flash support but hey keep in mind its still a beta..
So might get way better than stock or become a "safari like in apple" in the upcoming android versions
Galaxy Nexus AOKP m5 Franco kernel m3

Stock ftw.
...of the people, by the people, for the people...

I have noticed that the Chrome browser does seem to lag on the "heavy media" type sites...
Keep in mind though that it's based on the Google Chrome for Desktop code base, which in theory should be updated more frequently then the codebase for the stock browser...
Also, I believe it's been stated that it will never get Flash support (Officially...?)

Seems about the same to me. Admittedly I'm not a very heavy browser on my phone though. Few pages a day at most.

Chrome starts a bit slower but I find it's slightly faster going from one website to another. Stock browser remains the default as I want to keep Flash and full screen browsing.
ZachPatterson said:
Also, I believe it's been stated that it will never get Flash support (Officially...?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
From Google: https://developers.google.com/chrome/mobile/docs/faq
From Adobe: http://blogs.adobe.com/flashplayer/2012/02/flash-chrome-for-android-beta.html

Chrome has lagged for me from day 1 since it released, while stock was always smooth. I've never understood all the people who see opposite. I just thought I lived in the twilight zone.
So your results are normal to me. Plus chrome runs a huge service that never closes and skews multitasking.
Plus stock has invert color option for all black web pages. And the quick controls on side of the screen. To me the stock browser pretty much destroys chrome in every way. I think chrome gets better html5 scores though.

I used to use the stock browser, but I recently switched over to Firefox Beta. Now, before you all say that Firefox is slow as hell, the current beta has a new UI that is actually pretty fast. Not as fast as stock is, but the fact that Firefox has addons more than makes up for that. Adblock Plus, and other addons are a must for me. Although I have AdAway to block ads globally, it does not get rid of the empty spaces inside webpages. Adblock Plus does this. I'm currently using FF as my main browser and stock as my backup browser.

I'm a big fan of Opera Mobile since WM6.1.
I like the start page with the thumbs/shortcuts. Stock doesn't have it.
I like that all the controls are at the bottom of the screen. Stock tab control is on the top which is not convenient to switch between tabs (and I'm using tabs a lot).
Go for Opera mobile!!
PS: I have no idea how slow/fast is Opera. Because I didn't compare it.

I have tried most of the browsers,they have beautiful features but they are not as fast as stock so i always return to stock after trying
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA

Chrome has potential but it is a resource hog just like on the PC and double-tap zoom bugs out a lot, and doesn't even work at all on images.
Stock still wins, unless you need to download a large file... Opera handles that much better.
-Sent via XDA Premium-

Chrome will never get flash because all new browsers are going to be using HTML5
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using XDA

I think they both have similar performance (minus one not having flash). But I think chrome does some things better than the stock browser.
It handles tabs much better vs stock without quick controls. It will also zoom in with a little popup window if you press on two links which are close together so you can select the right one. Also, when pinch zooming the browser doesn't wait until you lift your fingers to render the rest of the page.
Some people may also prefer the fact that the nav bar is persistent in chrome.
Sent via Galaxy Nexus

bullka said:
I'm a big fan of Opera Mobile since WM6.1.
I like the start page with the thumbs/shortcuts. Stock doesn't have it.
I like that all the controls are at the bottom of the screen. Stock tab control is on the top which is not convenient to switch between tabs (and I'm using tabs a lot).
Go for Opera mobile!!
PS: I have no idea how slow/fast is Opera. Because I didn't compare it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not use the quick control on stock browser? It has a real great tab control, just slide and hold. And the quick control appears on any part of the screen you want.

4,2, Is chrome browser now superior?

I keep switching between chrome, dolphin and the stock from 4.1......is it my imagination or is chrome still 3rd choice? It just seems so unintuitive to use. Are you guys switching to chrome or staying with one of the other browsers?

I think chrome is better than the default browser... but android beam still does not work with this app!

I love some of the Chrome features life the lateral-swipe to switch tabs and the zoom bubble that appears if you click in a small link, but I hate how it handles the bookmarks. We can't have everything, I guess :\

I use Chrome because it syncs with my desktop browser, but the Android browser is a lot smoother. Chrome stutters all the time when I scroll and often ignores input while it stutters, but I have a hard time getting the Android browser to stutter at all.
If you don't need the synchronization with your desktop, Android browser is still the better choice.

is it possible to have ALWAYS desktop version of a site without requesting it every time???

Thanks for the replies.....I keep expecting chrome to be the beez kneez but it always seems lackluster/less friendly than the android version. I dont know why, but after sandy when signals were extremely weak or non existent in my area, dolphin performed the best on a gnex (vzw) 4.1.2 and on an old droid 3

stock 4.2 browser is the best.

qandrav said:
is it possible to have ALWAYS desktop version of a site without requesting it every time???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you can do this in the stock browser under settings->advanced->user agent->desktop. No equivalent option in chrome that I know of.

thegtfusion said:
stock 4.2 browser is the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
glad you like it. the goog powers that be are probably glad too
Ive been trying to use it all day but its not working for me....a shame because i feel like im cheating on google when i use the other browsers haha

I think as long as they dont add the "quick controls" to chrome, the android browser will always have the lead. those controls are incredibly useful for one hand operation, and really anything involving the search bar at the top. no need to move the thumb up there(which is annoying on big screens), just press the side and swype to the url control and bam! and now with "swype" on the keyboard, its actually getting pretty nice having a big screen but only using one hand

thegtfusion said:
stock 4.2 browser is the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think there's a bug when refreshing the page if you are using quick control. there'll be a black block on top.

JoeSyr said:
I believe you can do this in the stock browser under settings->advanced->user agent->desktop. No equivalent option in chrome that I know of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the stock or opera or dolphin it's possible but it's very annoing click on "desktop version" every time....

qandrav said:
On the stock or opera or dolphin it's possible but it's very annoing click on "desktop version" every time....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't seem to find the option (user agent) on stock browser... Do you know where I can find it?

There are 2 things keeping mé away from chrome and that is:
-Quick controls
-full screen mode
Stock browser is also smoother IMO...

Torbennmadsen said:
There are 2 things keeping mé away from chrome and that is:
-Quick controls
-full screen mode
Stock browser is also smoother IMO...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It most definitely IS more smooth...

I use Google Chrome on PC, and it gets synced up very conveniently with Google Chrome on my Gnex, so I tend to stick with Chrome.

gideonMorrison said:
I can't seem to find the option (user agent) on stock browser... Do you know where I can find it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could not find the user agent on stock browser either. Yakju version. Just updated to 4.2.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app

i use to like Dolphin browser but Chrome kinda feels solid. I have Dolphin browser with Jetpack on N7 and it indeed loads pages faster then chrome. They've recently added magnifier like in chrome it's still needs a little bit of optimization.

The stock 4.2 browser is faster and more fluid than chrome. Chrome is better in handling all kind of online forms.

I love stock browser but I want to give chrome browser a whirl. However, how do you guys adjust the font for chrome where it is readable? There are some fonts on the page which are perfect for viewing and at the same time , other parts of the page, the fonts are so small. Why can't all the fonts be near or equal on the same page like stock browser.

Stock browser vs Chrome

So as the title says : do you prefer using Stock Browser or Chrome , and why ?
Thanks folx

Stock, why pop-up

I like the stock one so far

I really like lots of things about Chrome and much prefer the way it handles tabs over the stock browser - it's so slow changing between tabs on the built in one - but the performance of the stock is just so much better that I can't use Chrome. Is it the same for everyone? Scrolling in Chrome is just so stutter and choppy, especially noticeable when going slowly.

Stock- Of course. Always, browsing heavy sites, reading and all.
Chrome- Never (other than when I want to show off that pesky tab sliding view, but I don't show off)
Opera- For downloading.
Period.

Don't forget that flash works with the stock browser but not Chrome, also now I have adjusted Framework, the stock browser defaults to desktop view instead of having to tick that damn box everytime you open a new tab!

Well, like most others, I've obviously noticed the better speed in the stock browser, so it's always a temptation.
However, apparently unlike most of the others who've replied, I spend 90% of my browsing time in Chrome, due to the exceptionally useful (for me) integration between Chrome on my (two) Android devices (Nexus 7 tablet, Galaxy Note 2 smartphone) and my two laptops. The fact that my bookmarks are kept in perfect, almost instant synchronization between these devices, as well as the extremely useful feature to open any tab on one device instantly on another one, are just too useful to pass up. If I run into a web page that is just too unresponsive to use in Chrome, I will sometimes go ahead an open in in the stock browser. I wish there was an add-in or something in Chrome to allow you to choose another browser to open the current page in.
Anyway, now that Google is shipping Chrome as the default browser on JB, I'm hopeful that they will continue to improve its rendering speed and responsiveness.

Only thing i hate about stock browser is slow tab management.. and im a heavy tab user.. thats the only thing that irritates me with stock browser...
Handwritten from my Note 2

Chrome here because I can sync with all my desktop bookmarks.

stock, used to it and flash support
I prefer chromes interface but rarely use

My favorite browser is the stock AOSP browser. I really wish we could have that browser on stock firmware.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

Prefer stock on my phone, but only use crome on pc.
Because stock support flash.

Just cause i have to be different.....Id pick Dolphin over both. Really good gesture control

I always try Chrome but I always revert back to the stock browser. Because of flash support and the pop-up feature. I hate the fact that flash is not supported in chrome. I think it should be until HTML5 really does replace flash. in the meantime stock broswer for the win.
Although I do prefer the way Chrome handles tabs.

only stock, why?
full screen
flash
a lot of smoother
also can import bookmarks from pc chrome (syncing gmail acc internet bookmarks)
save page for offline view

Boat browser ...shores up the shortcomings of both...

I'm currently on opera mobile due to one feature call the text wrapping. and stock browser, aosp browser doesn't seem to work properly even when enabled. anyone has recommendation of other browsers that has text wrapping working beside opera mobile?

What is that desktop default mod?
padlad said:
Don't forget that flash works with the stock browser but not Chrome, also now I have adjusted Framework, the stock browser defaults to desktop view instead of having to tick that damn box everytime you open a new tab!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I personally use Dolphin Browser. It's the best on the market and gets almost top scores on html5test.com

Stock
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Is there a good browser?

Stock browser: defaults to those useless mobile versions of websites for iphone 3 users or something, no integration with apps, bad flash support
Dolphin: tab functionality completely gone with updates, text doesn't wrap (with it enabled or not)
Firefox: no hyperlink support. Links do not work.
Opera: no text wrap, and it assumes my screen resolution is really small because
it
stacks
text
like
this
on
every
page.

Dolphin still the best choice, and there is no such thing as Textwrap anymore.
Twinsen72 said:
Stock browser: defaults to those useless mobile versions of websites for iphone 3 users or something, no integration with apps, bad flash support
Dolphin: tab functionality completely gone with updates, text doesn't wrap (with it enabled or not)
Firefox: no hyperlink support. Links do not work.
Opera: no text wrap, and it assumes my screen resolution is really small because
it
stacks
text
like
this
on
every
page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly Dolphin is still the best. It does have the tabs. Im not sure if you are using an older version but the newer version does. , Text doesn't wrap on any browser with the Epic 4g Touch since ICS came out. ICS broke the text wrap. Im not sure if it is completely an ICS problem or a Crapple lawsuit problem. It does have flash support, and I have found that downloading Adobe Air from the market helps where it falls through the cracks once in a while. It also has the hyperlink and My personal favorite, a customizable start page. :good:

I'm happy with this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansoft.browserplus

Stock jelly bean seems the best for me

+1 for the stock Chrome browser in Jellybean.
As far as the mobile versions of websites go, that's generally not up to the browser to decide (i.e. it is the website that is determining you are on a phone and pushing you to the mobile version).

I just got this phone yesterday, i am still using stock browser for now.

TY for the info on text wrap.
I've fallen back to Firefox, a new update has links working. The pages load badly though, as if the video processing is messed up. It appears in giant square chunks, not text then images. It is still much faster than the stock browser which waits a minute before it starts loading any site.
But I can't get them to work in Dolphin. If I click on a link, it makes the click noise and nothing happens. If I long-press, it brings up the menu of choices. But if I click an option, the menu just closes. I've reinstalled it a bunch of times, hoping an update has fixed it. It's pretty annoying. The only way I've figured out to get links to work is to long press the link for 5 seconds, then the menu pops up, wait 5-10 seconds or just put the phone down for a while, then long press for 5 seconds. That's 50/50.
My phone is dead stock. I haven't rooted because I moved to Phoenix, AZ and this is the land that Sprint forgot. There was no point in tethering, because there was no 3G or 4G in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Apache Junction, Tempe, or Phoenix. I just complained to Sprint in hopes of getting to break my contract and they had me update my phone's ID, and I now actually get some data. I'm beginning to think the only fix to all the things that break is rooting. The ICS push broke half the functionality of my phone. I used to use this thing constantly.

elrey75 said:
I'm happy with this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansoft.browserplus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give it a try. Thanks.

Ok i used to dolphin but it kept my phone awake or something... So i use aosp web browser... But considering going chrome... Any input?
Sent from an Apple killing JellyBean

Chrome is my goto. Synchs bookmarks seamlessly with my laptop, and is quite fast.
.: :: Sent from USC-GS2~PACman via Tapatalk 2 :: :.

I've been using boat browser and I like it. It's sort of stock browser-ish but has working word-wrap when using pinch to zoom.

If on JB ROM, then Chrome. If on ICS or GB Rom, then ICS Browser+ (loved it and got paid version).
Sent from my Slider SL101 using XDA Premium HD app

Naked browser is so fast, dependable, and smooth.....now it doesn't look like other browsers hint the name naked but that's why is faster and smoother than other browsers :thumbup:
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD