Android web browser that doesn't need auto-fit

mrochester · 10 Dec 2011 at 08:01

Hi all

Does anyone know of a web browser on Android that doesn't need an auto-fit option to be switched on to be usable? I find that with auto-fit on, page formatting is broken, and it quite often doesn't work reliably. However, with auto-fit switched off, text then doesn't fit the screen. So far I've tried the Android web browser, Dolphin HD, Opera and Skyfire.

Basically what I think I'm looking for is a browser that works like Safari on the iPhone whereby if fits the web page to the screen as it loads rather than re-juggling it every time you zoom in and out.

Many thanks

M.

Axident · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:06

Just use opera and double tap the area you want to read?

mrochester · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:13

Axident said:
Just use opera and double tap the area you want to read?

I've tried that but any images on the page don't fit the space and require left and right scrolling, which is what I'm trying to get away from.

Axident · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:18

Double tap out then double tap on the image to view it? Quicker than scrolling around

shipinabottle · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:18

Trying Maxthon mobile browser with my Evira rom. Quite enjoying it, might be worth a punt, the full screen mode is nice.

mrochester · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:27

Axident said:
Double tap out then double tap on the image to view it? Quicker than scrolling around

That's not really what I'm after. I want text and images to fit, but without the need to have an auto-fit option turned on or to be zooming in and out all the time. I just want it to do it automatically when the page loads.

Trying Maxthon mobile browser with my Evira rom. Quite enjoying it, might be worth a punt, the full screen mode is nice.

Thanks. I've tried that, but it seems to just work in the same way as the stock browser, Dolphin HD and Skyfire.

If it's not entirely clear what I'm after, here's a screenshot from Safari showing what I want.

As you can see, the page has loaded with all the text and images visible in one vertical line so that when you zoom into the content, there's no left and right scrolling needed, all without the need for an auto-fit option. This is exactly what I'm after, but on Android, if it's possible.

Axident · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:55

That makes more sense

I've just been through all the popular ones recently and I think Miren browser did that - but I'm not 100%

I ended up stopping at Opera, it's just got a much more polished feel to it than the others - and the Opera Link works brilliantly to get your desktop Bookmarks etc on your phone

james.miller · 10 Dec 2011 at 11:59

my stock sgs2 browser does that with auto-fit switched on. its a bit hit and miss with graphics but text is fine. what is auto-fit doing that causes you issues?

mrochester · 10 Dec 2011 at 12:01

Axident said:
That makes more sense

I've just been through all the popular ones recently and I think Miren browser did that - but I'm not 100%

I ended up stopping at Opera, it's just got a much more polished feel to it than the others - and the Opera Link works brilliantly to get your desktop Bookmarks etc on your phone

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to try that one now

Miren works in the same way as the stock browser it seems. Still searching!

Axident · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:14

Opera mobile does it

Select single column view from settings :-)

mrochester · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:18

Axident said:
Opera mobile does it

Select single column view from settings

Just tried that and that's completely broken the GSMArena page! It's also not what I'm after as I don't want the whole page shoe-horned into a single column, just the content I'm looking at.

Axident · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:39

Ah lol

Did you try Boat browser yet or did Miren work?

Axident · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:41

Didn't read your edit on Miren

mrochester · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:46

Axident said:
Ah lol

Did you try Boat browser yet or did Miren work?

Just tried Boat now, and with auto-fit switched off, I have to scroll left and right

. Miren has exactly the same problem. I'm guessing it just isn't possible on Android.

mrochester · 11 Dec 2011 at 11:55

james.miller said:
my stock sgs2 browser does that with auto-fit switched on. its a bit hit and miss with graphics but text is fine. what is auto-fit doing that causes you issues?

Sorry I hadn't realised there was a question here!

The first issue with auto-fit is that it doesn't always zoom where I double tap to go. It also sometimes doesn't work, leaving content going off the edge of the screen. I also don't like the way auto-fit rejigs the contents of a page as you zoom in and out. I would like the page elements to remain static when I'm zooming in and out, but be readable and be in a single column so that there's no left/right scrolling.

It seems that every Android browser relies on auto-fit to make content readable on the screen.