Hands-on with the TeaShark mobile browser

By Joseph Hanlon on 02 April 2008

Screenshot of TeaShark in action

Maybe we're being unnecessarily critical, but TeaShark seems like a silly name for a hot drink, let alone a mobile Web browser. Although, to be fair, Google and Firefox aren't much better in the names department.

Ill-fitting monikers aside, the current beta release of TeaShark is definitely worth the free download. TeaShark is a Java-based Web browser offering a pretty complete Web 2.0 experience on your mobile handset. Of course, TeaShark isn't alone in trying to bring the "true" Web to mobiles, but from our initial hands-on it does a great job. Unlike the competition, TeaShark is available on any phone that supports Java MIDP 2.0.

TeaShark also seem to have a good grasp on how cumbersome mobile browsing can be and features a few cool touches to speed up page navigation, particularly for handsets with five-way nav keys. Dialog boxes have an auto-complete function; and the ability to select text in the body of a page and use it in a search, or as a number to dial, is excellent. Like the upcoming mobile Opera and Firefox browsers, TeaShark also features tabbed browsing.

The software is currently in beta and even in the short time we spent using it we stumbled over a few bugs. Being able to zoom out and pan over the page is handy, but the browser isn't rendering pages properly after panning at this stage, leaving pages blank until you zoom back in. Also, TeaShark isn't auto-directing to mobile versions of popular sites the way most mobile browsers do, which is troublesome considering how expensive mobile data can be.

The TeaShark beta can be downloaded for free from its Web site.

Topics: browser, java, mobile phone, web, browse, mobile, page, isn't, pan, firefox

Related Articles

Comments (13)

  • pratik commented on 20/05/2009 23:27 Report abuse

    hey i am having 6300 and am unable to use tea shark what is to be done

  • pariyank commented on 07/03/2009 15:12 Report abuse

    hey i am having 6300 and am unable to use tea shark what is to be done

  • rahul_pranjale commented on 17/02/2009 17:11 Report abuse

    its not working on 6300 if u have latest version which runs on6300 pls send to me

  • eigmas commented on 14/02/2009 23:32 Report abuse

    its a very best softwere for free browsing

  • Prem commented on 20/01/2009 08:18 Report abuse

    its not workin on nokia 3500, 2626 and 3120. Please let me know if any other software or new version of teashark is there which supports nokia 3500 or 2626 or 3120.

  • rahul_pranjale commented on 12/01/2009 19:50 Report abuse

    teashark not running in nokia 6300

  • raju commented on 03/11/2008 20:14 Report abuse

    good performance of mobile soft

  • bigyananada commented on 30/10/2008 17:39 Report abuse

    it is a nice idea!

  • varun commented on 24/09/2008 22:27 Report abuse

    it's very usefull..

  • santoshdahe commented on 19/09/2008 18:21 Report abuse

    no other than best

Post your own comment

Submit

Enter your personal information to the left, or sign in with your Facebook account by clicking the button below.

Connect
Nokia E75 Email made easy. Find out why.
Your iPhone will be happier with Optus.

Must read

  • Nokia N97

    The N97 features class-leading specs matched with outstanding design and...

  • Best iPhone alternatives

    Just because you don't want an Apple iPhone 3G doesn't mean you don't want...

  • Top 5 PDA-phones

    These hybrid devices combine the organisational features of a traditional...

  • Samsung F480

    The F480 looks like an Omnia, works like an iPhone and may be the best...

  • Apple iPhone 3GS (32GB)

    The iPhone 3GS is faster and we appreciate the new features and extended...