Note: This blog entry is part of a series of investigations that involve trying to find the right set of tools for the iPad initiative that's been launched in ECISD. There are many apps available for the iPad, but finding the right combination of free and un-free can be challenging. Find out more about the EC3 Initiative online at http://bit.ly/ec3tech
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| Image Source: http://ipadbrowsers.blogspot.com/2012/05/understanding-learning-best-ipad.html |
My number one desired feature in any mobile device app, especially a browser, is a YES to this question--Can I share and/or curate content easily via various social media tools?
If you've used Safari on the iPad, you may have been left feeling a bit underwhelmed. Take a look at the sharing options on Safari:
Hmm...tweet and mail link are the only two options. Kinda unsatisfying, huh? Although one can certainly post to content curation and social media sites via email, who wants to remember them to type them in?
...there is no way to change iOS’s default browser. While you can use any browser you want for your basic browsing needs, you can’t set it as the default browser. That means that home screen bookmarks as well as links in emails, SMS messages, and in other apps will only open in Safari...Most iOS users default to Safari because doing otherwise is too difficult. (Source)
Not bad, right? This pretty much makes iCab Mobile the browser of choice for folks who like to "Share" out to their networks. At least, that's what I thought when I started this blog entry. Read on to find better, no cost solutions!
RECOMMENDATION
If you're looking for a browser that will empower your sharing--including to content curation sites like Pinterest, Evernote--you'll want to take a long hard-look at the no-cost Apollo Browser+Add Ons. After doing the comparison, it dethrones iCab Mobile Browser on my iPad as the best sharing tool. For Diigo users, you'll probably be satisfied with Diigo Browser which has some nice features.
If you're looking for a browser that will empower your sharing--including to content curation sites like Pinterest, Evernote--you'll want to take a long hard-look at the no-cost Apollo Browser+Add Ons. After doing the comparison, it dethrones iCab Mobile Browser on my iPad as the best sharing tool. For Diigo users, you'll probably be satisfied with Diigo Browser which has some nice features.
You'll still need a Flash friendly browser for some web sites--even though Adobe is "dropping Flash" by August 15--and my pick is Puffin browser, although others (like Marguerite Lowak) also prefer the Photo browser, which wasn't available for my review.
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| Apollo browser |
Top 3 iPad Browsers Available for Free:
- Apollo Browser+Addons (without Flash) - Great options for sharing including Evernote, Pinterest, Instapaper, G+, Twitter, Facebook.
- Diigo Browser (without Flash) - offers Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Diigo support in addition to others.
- Rover Browser with Flash support
Top 2 iPad Browsers that Cost Money:
- iCab Mobile Browser ($1.99)
- Puffin Browser ($2.99)
What would I get? If you're a heavy Diigo/Tumblr user, go with Diigo Browser and Puffin. If you're an Evernote, Pinterest, Facebook,Twitter user, then go with Apollo Browser+Addons and Puffin.
Diigo Browser is a hair's edge from taking top spot as THE free Internet browser...it just needs to flesh out the MORE... option on its browser to include content curation tools.
Not a heavy Flash user on iPad? Substitute Puffin with Rover if you would rather not pay for Flash capability.
Comparison Chart - Sharing via Your iPad Browser
| Safari | Chrome | iCab Mobile Browser | Diigo Browser | Apollo Browser+Add ons | Dolphin HD | Skyfire | Puffin | Rover | |
| Best Features vs Price | No | No | Best for cost browser w/o Flash | 2nd best free | Best free browser w/o Flash | No | No | Best cost with Flash Support | 2nd best free with Flash |
| Cost | Free | Free | $1.99 | Free | Free | Free | $4.99 | $2.99 | Free |
| Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Mail the Link | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Flash (FLV) Playback | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Evernote | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| Diigo | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Tumblr | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| Google+ | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Instapaper | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| List.ly | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Scoop.it | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Paper.li | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Pinboard | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Convert to ePub | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Convert to PDF | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
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