Summary
Dolphin, Skyfire, Steel, Opera and the Android Browser are all strong contenders on the mobile web browsing scene. Everyone one of them has its advantages, yet none of them are completely perfect. We’re still waiting anxiously for Fennec (Firefox Mobile) to come out, but we’re not 100% sure what to expect from it. There’s now a new player trying to get attention in the browser world – xScope Browser. It promises easy handling and slick page layout. Can this app live up to all the hype? Let our test be the judge.
Features & Use
The xScope Browser has an amazing selection of features. It acts not only as a browser, but also doubles as a task and file manager. You can download YouTube videos and load websites at ground-breaking speeds.
The most noticeable feature is the tabbed browsing. With its design and tabbed browsing functions, xScope is extremely similar to Google Chrome. In Google-inspired fashion, the tabs are located above the menu bar and can be accessed in full-screen mode, as well. A simple tap is enough to close a tab and make it disappear.
The menu bar is another aspect of the browser’s design that is highly reminiscent of Firefox and Chrome. Using the menu bar you can access virtually every single function that you need:
- Android logo
- Add to favourite list
- Share url
- Share sceenshot (full-version)
- Compact using Google
- Find text
- Copy text
- Save
- Set home
- User Agent
- Refresh
- Home
- Forward
- Tab Preview
- History
- Find
- Mark text
The automatic word wrap feature should be familiar to you from the Android Browser. This feature is well-done in xScope Browser. There’s no need for you to scroll aimlessly around making reading texts a lot easier.
Most YouTube downloaders no longer work as smoothly as before or have stopped working whatsoever because YouTube has blocked several APIs. With the xScope Browser you can still download YouTube videos to your SD card and watch them at your leisure. The downloading process couldn’t have been made any easier. When you select a YouTube video, xScope asks you whether you’d like to watch or download it to your phone! One click – and you’ve got the clip on your Android.
The xScope Browser is breaking new ground in terms of functionality with its integrated file and task manager. You only get full access to the task manager once you’ve bought the full version of xScope Browser. In the lite-version, it isn’t possible to open a file using the file manager. The file manager offers you the following features:
- Open (full-version)
- Send
- Zip
- Rename
- Delete
The task manager is there, first and foremost, to display and close unwanted tasks.
Deleting your private browser data is as easy as pie. Simply select “clear” via the menu button and select what you would like to have wiped:
- Cache
- History
- Cookies
- Form data
- Passwords
- All
There are already dozens of different themes available for the xScope Browser that you can download and install from the Android Market.
Personally, I find it really annoying when I can’t tell how much of a website has loaded when using a slow data connection. xScope displays loading progress with the help of a yellow bar displaying the loading percentage. The search button is set up really intelligently. By pressing it you can either go straight to the URL or type in a search term to be searched by Google.
Bottom Line:
Better, faster, xScope! The page layout is slick from the get-go and the task and files manager works great as an additional feature. What’s missing is Flash! I’ve gotten used to being able to use flash with my Android Browser on my HTC Desire, but this isn’t the case with xScope. The look and feel of the browser is very cool and the handling is a piece of cake.
Screen & Controls
Do you know Google Chrome already? If so, you can consider xScope to be Google Chromes little brother in terms of looks. The standard design is slick, simple and easy-to-use. With the right themes you can adjust the colors and looks of the browser and of the icons to match your taste. My first impression from the browser’s controls was “well thought-out!” By sliding you can enjoy the full functionality of the menu bar. The same goes for tabs. By simply sliding the tab bar down, the menu bar is displayed. The reverse movement on the screen directs you back to the standard Android status bar.
You switch between tabs either by using the tab bar on the top or sliding horizontally between screens. Ever tried using your volume buttons to scroll? Especially with longer texts, this feature is very comfortable since you don’t need to constantly have a hand on the screen for scrolling. xScope offers you this sweet function. Just select it in your options.
You can zoom by double-tapping or using the pinch-to-zoom multi-touch feature.
Speed & Stability
Super fast! Loading pages using Wi-Fi was super fast! Switching between tabs is simple and efficient! As far as speed is concerned, the xScope definitely outdoes the Android 2.1 Browser.
I didn't experience a single crash or lag.
Price/Performance Ratio
xScope Browser Lite can be downloaded for free from the Android Market.
The full-version of xScope Browser Lite is available for $2.99.
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what Android version do you have? I'm pretty sure it only works on Android 2x
ugly, slower than stock 2.2 browser, why would i want my internet browser to be a task manager/file browser too? fennec with pipelining will be excellent, sticking with stock until then
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Market Comments
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Roodiinii S
I can't find this app in market. I see a bunch of references to it. the link from this review is a dead end. Can someone point me in the right direction?