Opera Web Browser 11

Fifteen years and eleven iterations strong, the Opera Web browser has endured the rise and fall of Netscape, flight from Firebird to Firefox, and gradual ebb of IE hegemony. In spite of its niche desktop presence, the Oslo-based software company has found warmer reception in the mobile market, where Opera Mobile 11 (Free) for Android performs for an audience of tens of millions. The browser's appeal is not unlike that of opera itself: refinement. The browser, at least, also happens to be quick and capable. Opera patrons will appreciate be able to take their bookmarks, Speed Dials, and search engines to go, with Opera Link. Everyone will applaud the browser's silky smooth scrolling. When it comes to customization, Opera doesn't match Add-on-ready alternatives Dolphin Browser HD 5.0 (Free, 4 stars) or Firefox 4 Mobile (Free, 2.5 stars); however, users seeking a svelte web browser with full-throated multimedia support will want to take a seat with Opera Mobile 11.

Unobstructed Views
Opera Mobile 11 hits the right notes for mobile browsing. It lacks the swagger of Firefox's swipeable trays, but the clean bottom-fitted navigation bar, defined by the Opera "O," looks and performs well. The tab-sorting tray, which reveals miniaturized page-views, is a visual treat. On the other hand, minimalists will appreciate how Opera provides a Full Screen Mode as well as the option to individually disable both the navigation and status bars. There's even a Mobile View that compresses full-size webpages for the mobile screen (albeit, with mixed success).