Honey, I am a bca student. I have to do one project in the last semester. So I decided to create a web that runs on Android OS, but I'm totally for this application. So, can anyone help me on this. I have already installed all the necessary tools like jdk, android sdk 3.0, eclipse. But now I have no idea where I should start browser development from. So please help me ... I only have 2 months for this project. So is it possible in 2 months or not?
It depends on what you mean when developing your browser ...
Developing a browser + rendering engine from scratch is a lot of work, but you can easily build a browser based on Androids WebView using the WebViewClient and create a new UI by changing the way the user interacts with the browser.
Webview has all kinds of interceptors to intercept browser interaction, so you can easily extend it. For example, you can let the user flip through pages (like google fastflip), experiment with 3D, mapping the rendered web page in OpenGL space (like in a sphere browser), etc.
For a starting point, take a look at the blog of Alexander Kmetek and his Mosambro project, which extends the Android browser with microformat support.
Sounds like a really big project and so you can't just start from scratch and record it. You should make a plan for how you want to implement all the parts, write class diagrams, etc. If you are studying computer science, you should have heard about this in previous semesters.
First you have to ask yourself if this project is possible as you can see from the comments, most people agree that you shouldn't underestimate this challenge!
I really suggest you understand the scale of this task, here is the source code of the Androids browser giving you an idea of the complexity.
Building a basic browser could have been done in a day or two for those with Android development experience, just as others have stated that WebView provides pretty much everything you need to display a web page. There are a few tweaks for JavaScript and other functionality to validate and then after marking the main textbox for the url and go button, which is pretty much the main web browser.
The real work comes in all advanced settings. Making a browser that competes with the big guys might be a little tricky for one person in a couple of months, but making your own that works is very possible. Try!
To create a complete web browser in Android, you are using a WebView.
Simple code binding:
WebView wv = (WebView) findViewById (R.id.webview1); wv = (WebView) findViewById (R.id.webView1); wv.loadUrl ("http://www.apsmind.com");
The standard browsers on Android devices often fail to meet the day-to-day needs of discerning users. There are many high-quality and functional Internet browsers on this operating system. We have collected the best browsers for Android in this article.
Firefox rightfully bears the title of one of the best mobile browsers on Android. Over the years of its presence on this operating system, Mozilla development has acquired a mass of functions and received a refined modern interface. Firefox for Android is a balance of functionality, usability and speed of use. Mozilla's mobile browser is inferior in speed to the same Google Chrome, but many of Firefox's features are made much more pleasant and convenient.
The proprietary Gecko engine that Firefox uses supports almost all modern web standards, and there are also extensions for it with additional functionality, just like in the desktop version of the browser. Among the main functions of Fiefox: synchronization of all data between browsers using a special account, safe surfing, a convenient start panel, a lot of extensions, a reading mode.
The most popular browser not only on computers but also on mobile devices is Google Chrome. Not surprisingly, it almost always comes pre-installed on the most popular mobile OS. Chrome has gained its popularity quite deservedly - it is fast, relatively functional, simple and convenient, and it is also well integrated with Google services and the desktop version of the browser (there is a complete synchronization of data and tabs). Integration with Google services can sometimes be useful, for example - translating text on pages using Google Translate or voice search.
Chrome also takes care of user safety - the browser has a built-in special filter for sites that can be dangerous for Android devices. There is some semblance of data compression technology. It is not as perfect as that of Opera, but it still saves data transmitted over Wi-Fi and mobile Internet quite well. There is an incognito mode for anonymous visits to sites. Perhaps the only drawback of Chrome at the moment is the lack of support for extensions. For those looking to try all the new features first, there is Chrome Beta and Dev. These browser versions are updated faster and more often - all innovations are tested in them.
Mobile browsers from the Norwegian company Opera are also one of the most popular, functional and fast-growing ones on the Android platform. These guys, over the years of their work, have definitely been able to derive the formula for an almost ideal Internet browser for smartphones and tablets. Opera has almost everything an ordinary user needs: fast surfing, a convenient classic express panel, data synchronization with the desktop version, anonymous mode, a convenient search with hints from the address bar, and one of the main features - traffic compression.
The guys from Opera ate the dog on technologies to save traffic. Mobile Opera with Turbo mode activated can cut mobile internet costs by half or even three times. For those who are especially important about traffic consumption, there is Opera Mini - it has savings on by default, but sometimes the appearance of sites suffers from this. Also, the mini version is much lighter and faster than regular Opera. Another strong point of the browser of the same name is its beautiful and pleasant appearance. Opera has always been famous for one of the most stylish interfaces in browsers. If you want to compress all traffic on your device, then pay attention to the application.
Dolphin is an alternative browser for Android with tons of extra features and functions out of the box. Among these, it is worth noting support for Adobe Flash, which almost everyone has abandoned, but it is still used in many places, the use of various themes to change the interface, support for unique add-ons and control of convenient and simple gestures. All this is available at once - no additional settings. And Dolphin is fast, secure, free and always up-to-date - the developers release browser updates almost every week.
Puffin is a mobile web browser similar in concept to Dolphin. Here, too, there is a beautiful and convenient interface, there are many possibilities, and also Puffin is as fast as the "dolphin". Basically, the Puffin browser is suitable for weak devices, since it provides a special technology for "lightweight" web surfing - the pages are first loaded onto the Puffin cloud service, optimized there and already lightweight on the device screen. At the same time, the quality and appearance of the pages practically do not suffer from a broken layout or a decrease in quality.
Also in Puffin it is worth noting a number of additional features:
- full support for Adobe Flash for games (virtual joystick on the screen);
- encryption of traffic through a cloud service;
- mouse emulation;
- the ability to upload files first to the "cloud", and then to the device;
- installing extensions;
- interface themes.
The Russian company Yandex has succeeded in creating its own browser for Android mobile devices. Yandex Browser for this platform is an excellent solution for users from the CIS. This Internet browser is steeped in integration with the services of Yandex itself and other local social networks / portals. For example, the search bar in the browser suggests the necessary sites and understands queries perfectly, and inside the application you can see information about the weather and traffic jams.
When buying a smartphone based on Android, at least one browser will be installed by default. It could be Google Chrome or some other web browser developed by the manufacturer. But, if the already installed browser does not suit you, you can download any other from Play Market. If your device has several similar applications, it becomes necessary to select one of them, which will be used by default. The rest of the article will describe options for how you can accomplish this.
Default browser for Android
Today, there are quite a few web browsers designed for Android devices. They all have their own advantages and disadvantages. But, despite their differences, you can set any of them by default in three different ways. Each of them will be described in detail later in the article.
Method 1: setting OS parameters
The most popular and easiest method to install the default browser is by setting up the OS. To install the main web browser, follow these steps:
- Go to the settings of your smartphone from the home screen or application menu.
- Open the item "Apps and notifications".
- Scroll to the bottom of the list to find the line "Additional settings"... Sometimes, in the list you may not see this section, since it is hidden in the graph "Yet".
- Next, select an option "Default Applications".
- Choose a section "Browser" to set the default web browser. You can also customize settings for messages, phone, voice input and more.
- When a window appears with a list of all installed browsers, check the box next to the one that you want to set as default.
- You can now use your web browser. All links, instant messengers, will continue to open in the installed browser.
This method is really very simple, moreover, you can configure additional settings for your smartphone.
Method 2: configure web browsers
Using the settings, you can set any browser as default, except for the standard Google Chrome. You can complete this procedure in a few simple steps. Further in the article, using the mobile version of Yandex Browser and MozillaFirefox as an example, all the steps that must be performed to install the main web browser will be described in more detail. For other browsers, the procedure will be similar.
- Open the mobile version of the browser, in the upper or lower right corner, click on the three vertical dots to open the menu.
- Find the Count "Settings" or "Options" and tap it to open it.
- In the proposed list, find the item Set as default browser and click on it. If you use Yandex Browser, you can find this section on the home page in the search bar menu.
- Next, a tab will appear on the screen in which you need to click "Settings".
- You will be taken to the settings page "Default Application"... Now follow the same steps as described in paragraphs 5, 6 and 7 of the previous method.
This option is very similar to the method described above. After completing certain actions, you will still go to the "Default Applications" section. But having given preference to this method, you can configure the settings without leaving your web browser.
Method 3: active link
This option has the same advantages as the first method described. You can set any browser as the main one on your smartphone, if it provides such an opportunity.
This method is relevant only when you downloaded a new browser from the Play Store, or the main web browser was not previously installed on your phone.
- Go to the application that has an active link, click on it to go. In case a window pops up with a list of actions, select "Open".
- You will see a tab in which you need to select a web browser in order to open the link. This should be the browser that you want to see as the main one on your smartphone, and then check the button "Is always".
- The selected link will open in the selected browser, which will be installed by default.
Unfortunately, this method is not relevant for applications such as Telegram, VKontakte and the like. It cannot be used in all situations. However, if you have recently installed a web browser, or the defaults have been removed, this option is the perfect solution for you.
Optional web browser installation for following internal links
Certain applications have a built-in link reading system called WebView. For these programs, GoogleChrome is used as the main browser, or the WebView tool already mentioned above. If necessary, you can change this parameter.
All well-known web browsers do not have this function, so you will have to search among the less popular browsers. You can dwell on viewers from different manufacturers already installed in the proprietary shell of the Android OS. Before proceeding with the steps below, make sure your smartphone has an active menu. "For developers".
To replace the WebView viewer, follow these steps:
- Go to the settings and find the item "System" which is at the bottom of the list.
- Next, open the section "For developers"... You can also find it in the main settings menu at the end of the list of actions.
- Now find the graph "WebView Service" and run it.
- If you are offered several options for viewing services, select the one that suits you best by checking the checkbox in the checkbox area.
- All links will now open in the browser of your choice.
Link viewer, very rarely replaced. But you can use this option if your smartphone provides the above option.
This article describes all possible methods of setting the browser as the main one for an Android smartphone. Depending on the situation, you can always find a method that suits you.
