Pixelpipe, after the successful sharing plugin for Symbian smartphones, first launched the Google Apps Browser, now testing the FB Browser by self and with help of beta testers. We got the opportunity to test the app as well, thanks to Pixelpipe. Continue reading to find more about it.
About FB Browser
Like Google Apps Browser, FB Browser is also based on QtWebKit and requires Qt framework/libraries on your Symbian^3 device prior to install FB Browser. When it will be available to download from Ovi Store, you will not have to take care about that because Ovi Store will install the required libraries on your Symbian^3 Device if needed.
Interface and Functions
The interface is just same as of Google Apps Browser with a normal sized bottom bar with navigational buttons. However it delivers the web version of Facebook as is delivered to iPhone. Almost the touch interface of Facebook is quite similar on Symbian devices as in iPhone but FB Browser is making you able to use Facebook “Places” and “Check in” feature
Comparison
Interface of Facebook Web, as already said, is similar on on all touch devices but using QtWebKit on FB Browser made it really smooth and light in feel. As compared to Symbian default browser FB Browser also gives the Facebook Places/Check in feature.
* Symbian default browser is yet to be updated in next firmware releases. We hope that will have Geo Location support.
Following are the screenshots taken from Symbian^3 Browser (on left), the FB Browser on Symbian^3 device (center) and then iPhone Safari Browser (on right).
Symbian Browser (Left) FB Browser (Center) iPhone Safari (Right)
“Check in” button is only available on browsers with Geo Location feature enabled. You can see the button in FB Browser and iPhone Safari browser only and not in Symbian default browser (on left)
Facebook Places Check-In
Following two features e.g. Search “Near By Places” and “Check-In” to a place are not available other than the iPhone versions. But now we get those as well on our Symbian^3 devices. Thanks to FB Browser app by Pixelpipe.
Availability to Users
FB Browser is currently under beta testing phase but above screen shots have been taken from the last beta we received from Pixelpipe which is said to be the final version [see update] according to Pixelpipe and should be available on Ovi Store in about one week.
Also the Beta has been closed to new testers so you have to wait until the application make it to Ovi Store.
UPDATE: The above listed description was about Beta 3 which was said to be the final version as before. But recently Pixelpipe has delivered one more addition to the application and sent to us as Beta 4. Every thing is unchanged in above Beta 3 but the added feature is to automatically open Symbian default web browser when you click a video link in FB Browser. Following is what Pixelpipe informed about the new Beta.
Pixelpipe: We’ve added support for viewing videos from the application. As you may know video playback is not supported on with QtWebKit for Symbian, we accomplish playback by opening the trusty old Symbian browser for the playback & return you to our app after the browser window is closed. It’s not ideal however very convenient when you want to checkout a YouTube video in your Facebook news feed.
Some bug fixes were also delivered in Beta 4. So of course the the latest Beta will be available on Ovi Store in a few days. We’ll let you know about the update.
You feedback will be appreciated.
