Cover of the 8.0 update
All Androids come with a default browser, which is very basic, without too many features, and falls short of what many users need in their daily lives. But when it comes to browsers, we have no shortage of options to choose from. Between the whole range of different applications and alternatives to chrome, we found one that stands out from the rest, Dolphin Browser HD, which for many is the best browser for Android. Now, it has been updated to the latest version, the 8.0, which brings us a small redesign and some usability improvements.
Something main for the development team of Dolphin Browser HD 8.0 has been to focus on better integrating the add-ons that have been introduced in recent months, which are gesture recognition and voice control of the application, a system called Dolphin Sonar.
Screenshot of the classic interface
Gesture recognition allows us to manage the browser through drawings on screen, which we can associate with different actions. For example, one of the most classic is that when drawing a "G" it automatically directs us to Google. And we can do the same with other pages, so that we save time when it comes to going to the sites we visit regularly. From Dolphin Sonar something similar can be said, which tries to approach the functions that Siri has on Apple devices, interpreting what we are saying and acting based on what is acoustically detected. Now, the interface is much better adapted so that we can get the most out of these two add-ons.
Regarding the redesign, you can also highlight what they have done with the bottom menu, which is displayed when you press the menu button. It has been reorganized and added some new functions, and some very specific changes have been made to the appearance. Nor can we forget the right side menu, where we find all the complements and add-ons that we have installed and that are compatible with our browser. Before, we only saw the icon, so if we have installed something that we do not use practically, it is easy that we do not remember what its function is. Now when we display that menu, we observe the icon and also the name of the extension, so that we get an idea of ​​what we had installed. The latter was something very necessary.
Obviously, as in every update, some small compatibility bugs with certain models have also been fixed. Dolphin Browser HD is available for automatic update in those devices that had it activated and for free download and installation from Google Play.
Better integrated sound and gestures: one-touch access
Quick access to Sonar and gestures
The Dolphin team has redesigned the gesture bar and prioritized the use of FishFinder. A translucent button now appears on the lower left corner to activate voice search with one tap, and from the bottom we can quickly toggle to the gesturesPreviously, you had to shake your phone to invoke voice control; the change is being implemented because most users preferred voice access compared to pure gestures, thus reducing friction when executing common commands.
Swipe menus and long-press options
The browser adopts lateral gestures to access key functions: a swipe left to right at the bottom of the page opens Bookmarks, while sliding from right to left shows the Add-ons bar. In addition, by making a long press On a page, a context menu is displayed with three shortcuts: Select text (to copy, search, share or translate the selection), Search on page y Close tabThis reorganization speeds up everyday tasks and eliminates the need to navigate through deep menus.
Better sharing and syncing: One-tap Share and Dolphin Connect
Dolphin incorporates One-tap Share, a simplified way to share URLs without leaving your browser. With one tap you can post on social media like Twitter or Facebook, save content to Evernote or Box, send the address to another device. For continuity between screens, Dolphin connect allows synchronization tabs, bookmarks, history, and passwords, and even send pages to our phone or computer through official extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Safari. It is also offered Wifi Broadcast, available as an add-on, to share a page with multiple friends connected to the same WiFi network.
Performance, privacy, and key settings
The browser maintains advanced features that make the difference: AdBlock to block ads and pop-ups, incognito navigation for private sessions, fast downloads with integrated manager, custom search to alternate engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.) and Topics to customize the appearance. Adjustments that typically arrive in subsequent revisions include improvements to stability, troubleshooting in video playback, improvement of the ad interception, corrections in the account synchronization and in the saving of Passwords, as well as fixes to incidents such as unexpected closures or errors with YouTubeSpecific problems such as forced installations of add-ons have also been resolved and the end of the partnership with Fillr for autocomplete, keeping the focus on performance and security.
Add-on ecosystem: power on demand
Dolphin has always been committed to a store of add-ons that extend the browser. Among the most popular are: Dolphin Video Player (Flash Player), Screen Cut for captures, Web to PDF, Dolphin jetpack, Speed ​​booster, Dolphin Translate, QR & Barcode Scanners, Dolphin Reader, Battery Saver, Bookmarks Widget, Brightness, Tab Reload, Show IP, Ultimate Flag, integration with Pocket, Dropbox y Box, and utilities such as Alexa RankThis offering allows you to adapt the browser to reading, productivity or development workflows without sacrificing the lightness.
Availability on other platforms and dedicated incognito mode
In addition to Android, there is an edition for iOS in which FishFinder It has even been offered as a paid add-on in certain iterations. For those who prioritize privacy, the family includes Dolphin zero, an ultra-light incognito app that does not store history, form data, text input, passwords, cache, favicons, cookies, or location; your permissions are limited to features such as network access y storage for downloads, or location when a site requests it. It is an alternative focused on minimizing footprint and maximizing the tranquility of user.
With the solid foundation of Dolphin Browser HD 8.0, the redesign of access to FishFinder y gestures, swipe menus, Dolphin Connect synchronization and the power of its add-onsThis browser is establishing itself as an agile, customizable option for those who value productivity without sacrificing privacy or convenience when sharing content.