Android App Review: Making The Most Out Of Dolphin Browser HD

26.12.11 The Reporter 0 Comments

Though we've already given an overview of the Dolphin Browser HD a few posts back we wanted to give you an in-depth view of how to maximize its use, show you the ways to understand why it's among the top browsers for Android, not to mention re-emphasize why you should get it for your device.

1. Even if you already have an Opera Mini, chances are, you also have a Facebook app, a Google+ app, a Twitter app, and a Plurk app (Plurka rocks, btw). However, all of those apps will take up so much space on your Android, you’ll only get annoyed. Having Dolphin Browser HD will allow you to enjoy these social networking services at the quality that these apps can give. So chuck all of that and just keep Dolphin Browser HD.
2. Can’t view Vimeo or Yahoo videos on  your Opera Mini? Does YouTube get boring at times? Dolphin Browser HD will let you view those Vimeo videos you’ve wanted to watch.
3. Do you need to check a website on Desktop view instead of Mobile view? Dolphin Browser HD renders it with less errors.

In general, Dolphin Browser HD gives you a richer online surfing experience with its interface. It’s a great app to add to your Android, and a great app to replace a whole slew of social networking apps to save space.

There is one major flaw to the Dolphin Browser HD, however: it also “bloats” with data. Though, not as bad as the Facebook app does, and it definitely won’t take up as much space as when you’d keep all the social networking apps you could hoard.

Here is how to manage Dolphin Browser HD’s Data:

• When you fire up the app for the first time, choose Cache to SD Card as the option for Data Storage.
• If you’ve already fired up your Dolphin Browser HD and forgot how you set this option, press the Menu button or the button on your phone that calls up the Settings of apps. Click More, then scroll down to the bottom and find Settings.
• Go to Setup Wizard and click through till you get to the Data Storage option, and then choose Cache to SD Card.
• Whenever you want to exit out of Dolphin Browser HD, always use the Back/Clear/Exit button, instead of the Home button. That way, you would get to the Exit screen. Never click the “Do not ask me again” option. Instead, whenever you exit, click “Clear Cache” and “Clear History.”
• If you like keeping the History of the websites you visit, use the bookmarks instead. Download Bookmarks to SD if you’re going to use Dolphin Browser HD as your primary surfing app. If you use Opera Mini alongside Dolphin Browser HD, use that and use Opera Link instead.

Optimizing Dolphin Browser HD:

• Choose to run it on the Android profile. If you want to view websites in Desktop mode, just go to Settings > Dolphin Settings > User Agent and then choose the viewing mode from there.
• Do you hate that Gestures icon on the left side? Sometimes, when you surf, you end up bumping into the hand-shaped Gestures icon, where you’re invited to set a touch Gesture for certain actions. You can choose to remove that. Go to Setup Wizard and chose “Hide the entry” in Gesture Settings.
• Choose “Always On” for Flash Plugin Support. You will see this when you fire up the browser, but as mentioned for the other options, you can always access this through Setup Wizard. This way, you won’t be dumbfounded why there’s a “missing plugin” icon whenever you attempt to play flash.

Dolphin Browser HD isn’t perfect, but neither is Opera Mini. Both in your phone, however, would be the perfect combination. You can then chuck your Facebook, Plurka, Twitter and Google + apps and save space. But then again, sometimes, your favorite social networking app is really just awesome to keep. But for viewing videos of most forms, and for viewing websites in desktop format, Dolphin Browser HD is possibly the very best around.

Enjoy!