Opera Mini

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I’ve been playing around with Opera Mini. If you haven’t heard yet, Opera Software ASA has released a Java ME (J2ME) version of their browser called Opera-Mini. Opera is the Norwegian company who make the browser of the same name for many platforms. All their browsers have a technology they call small screen rendering™ which reformats full desktop web pages for display on tiny phone screens. The reformatting works remarkably well – although reformatted pages aren’t likely to be as easy to navigate as well designed mobile pages.

The Java ME part means that you don’t need a smartphone to run Opera anymore. Most phones made in the last three years support some version of Java ME (which was called J2ME until Sun renamed it this year). Non-Smartphones generally don’t have the processor power and RAM to do all the manipulation that is required to implement small-screen rendering. Opera Mini gets around this by doing the reformatting as a web service, the Opera server resizes images and optimizes the page for the phones screen size and then compresses the resulting mobile page into some sort of binary code which the Java ME app on the phone can easily render. The result is that pages load quickly even on old slow phones. This also means that Opera can easily start charging and shut the service off for anyone who doesn’t want to pay the price. But for now at least it is completely free.

Opera Mini won’t run on every Java ME phone, there are a lot of incompatibilities between Java Me implementations but I believe it will run on the majority of them.

By now you are probably asking, “how much?” and “how can I get Opera Mini on my phone?” The good news is that for now at least, Opera Mini is free. The bad news is that it is only officially available in Norway. You can read about it on the official Opera Mini page. Fortunately for all of us, who don’t live in Norway, the application has been “liberated” and can be downloaded from a number of sites on the web. The legality of these copies is, of course questionable although a mainstrean Palm site is among the many places you can find the download. If you want to try it yourself, be aware that there are two flavors of Opera Mini, “lo-fi” and “hi-fi”. The differences between the two are that lo-fi is MIDP1.0, essentially the first version of, Java ME and hi-fi is the latest version MIDP 2.0. MIDP 2.0 is backward compatible to MIDP1 so if hi-fi doesn’t work on your phone be sure to try lo-fi. Opera has a list of supported phones by version but I don’t know how accurate it is, as it doesn’t work on my Moto i50sx which is on the supported list. The only apparent difference in features is that hi-fi adds font- smoothing and the fonts do look a little nicer, although the lo-fi fonts aren’t bad at all.

Opera Mini has been confirmed on various web sites to work on SE K750, S710, w800, Nokia 6100, 6320, Motorola V330, Razr V3, Palm Tungsten C, Treo 600, Treo 650, Tungsten T3, Zire 72, Lifedrive, Sony Clie TH55-U, UX-50. Palm OS users need to first install a KVM (Java ME virtual machine) from IBM or Palm.

Here are images of MSN, Yahoo, HowardForums and Flickr’s web sites as they appear in Opera:
MSN imageYahoo imageHowardForums imageFlickr image

Here are some sites with information on downloading and configuring Opera Mini
Opera Mini Help, Opera Watch Thread, Howard Forums Thread, Engadget thread

Opera Mini download links:
These first four are a slightly later version (1.0.1520 v 1.0.1479) then I’ve found anywhere else although I don’t see a difference in functionality between versions. If you phone supports installing Java ME midlets OTA you should just need to point your browser at the JAD file. If you are ‘side-loading’ from your PC via bluetooth or cable you will need both the JAD and it’s matching JAR.
Lo-fi JAD Lo-Fi JAR
Hi-Fi JAD Hi-Fi JAR

An alternate source which has all the files as a .RAR archive and also individually but they are the older version: Bluemonkey.org

Finally, a link to a Treo compatable .PRC file (free registration required to download)
MyTreo.net

222 thoughts on “Opera Mini”

  5. Hey plz help me opera mini is not working in my nokia 7210 supernova.it says fail in connection.hey plz send me the acces point setting for bpl sim card

  6. I hav 7210 supernova nokia set any version of operamini is not working wht to do

  7. Opera Mini 2.6 is a hacked version that doesn’t work very well giving frequent connection errors. The real Opera Mini (latest version is 4.2) is much better. Get it from http://mini.opera.com

    As for 2.6 I don’t know where you can get it from but I’m sure Google does.

  9. hi,
    i have my motorola with me and i can open the application but i cant browse!!!!!! plzzzz help me. tnx

  10. @ ALL smart USERs dont waste ur time trying to connect to the MODED apps. for now UPDATE last JULY 3 2009 & JULY 8 2009 so it means we moders have to mode again new ones. free sites w/c is our servers. for now lets wait and be patience cause SMART are very vigilant. i thenk u just updating everyone here Chow^^

  12. Whenever I tried opening opera mini 4.2 on my phone it wont open and it always says failed to connect to the internet.. Can anyone help me please.. I also need the latest setting for browsing free with my Zain line

  14. Guys pls help me out of this,.,., i have try using OPERA MINI to browse but it not going.,,. pls if any one has some relevant fact please send it to me thro this E-mail : – [email removed]

  15. udy, “Does not work” doesn’t tell me enough to be able to help. Please provide details; what happens when you download and try to run Opera Mini including any error messages.

  16. i download opera mini v 4.2 into my nokia 7210 supernova mobile phone, but it does not work. please help me out. thanks.

    uduak

  18. how opera mini work in N5300? wat version is apprporiate to use .. can sombody teach me .. or email me in . . heres my mail [email removed] .. thankz in advance

  22. I have been using opera mini version 4.2 but doesnt work free how do i get the free settings plz help me.

  24. how can i install opera mini into my mobile nokia 7610. please give me a urgent reply

  27. pls i need manual configuration for window mobile phones. up till now the opera mini code for setting in mobile is still charging money. pls if u have the new code send it to [email removed]

  28. some one should send me the new code for browsing mtn wap on my nokia phone……..[email removed]

  29. Hi dennis,
    I cant stop thanking you for your helpful advice on configuring my nokia phone to browse with opera mini. Thanks alot pal, you rock.

  30. anybody with free opera mini 2.0 browsing should pls send it to my mail……..[email removed]

  31. pls i need setting for opera mini 2.0 mod and 3.1 send to my nokia 2600c ………this is my no [number removed]

  32. i want the latest zain free browsing you people are posting rubbish because of money and after collecting it you dont spend it resonably please just post the zain free settings for me foolish people’s just kidding

  33. been,

    Settings vary based on your country, network and data plan. I am unable to supply settings for specific networks. Please check the following sites which list settings for many networks:

    http://www.opera.com/mini/help/connect/
    http://www.taniwha.org.uk/gprs.html
    http://mannuforall.blogspot.com/2008/04/free-gprs-settings-for-any-operator.html
    http://www.unlocks.co.uk/gprs_settings.php

    Or Google [your country] [Tour Mobile Network] [ Name of Your Data Plan] GPRS settings

    Once you have the settings here is the procedure to configure your 3110

    1. Go to Menu > Settings > Configuration
    2. Choose Personal configuration settings
    3. Press Options
    4. Select Add new and Access point
    5. Fill in a Account name
    6. Select Access point settings
    7. Set Data bearer to GPRS
    8. Select Bearer settings
    9. Enter GPRS access point (APN)
    10. Set Authentication type to Normal
    11. Enter User name and Password if requested
    12. Back 3 screens
    13. Choose Options and Activate
    14. Go Back
    15. Set Preferred access point to the access point you just made.
    16. Set Default configuration settings to Personal config.
    17. Select Activate default in all applications and Yes

  35. pls i need the settings for operamini 2.06mod, 3.1, 4.2 and 2.00mod on nokia 6270. i want a manual configuration sent to my mail.

  36. Although,I can brawos without any charge by MTN,using Operamini 2(mod) on my Nokia 7610.However,my problem is that MTN charges me when ever I download from the internet via Opera.Is there anything I can do for that not to happen.

  37. peace,

    Try entrering the settings manually. Starting in the main menu of your phone:

    * Go into Settings.
    * Go into Configuration.
    * Go into Personal Configuration Settings.
    * Now, press Add New (visible if you don’t have a previous Personal Setting created) or press the Options button. When you have pressed the Options button, choose Add new.
    * When you have pressed Add New, you will get a new menu, which will give several options to choose from.
    * Now, scroll down and choose the Access Point and press Select. (Please note that this option is not available on the some models, you can instead use the Services option instead of the Access Point option.) Do not choose the Web option, since this will not work with Opera mini.
    * Now go into Access Point Settings.
    * Go into Bearer Settings.
    * Go into Packet Data Access Point.
    * Now, enter the following values:
    # Account Name = MTN GPRS
    # IP Address = 10.199.212.2
    # Port = 8080
    # Username = web
    # Password = web
    # Access Point Name (APN) = web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net
    * Then press OK.
    * Go back to the Personal Configurations Settings menu, where you now should be able to see an Access Point selected.
    * Now press the Options button, and then choose to activate this Access Point.
    * Now you should be able to start Opera Mini, and try to load a link on your phone.

  38. i can’t acess the GPRS in my NOKIA 3230 Phone. so i text SETTINGS to 3888 but they said that they cannot automatically configured my phone. so please i need assistance so that i can send and receive mails through my phone. thanks

  39. I have nokia6070.
    I m installed operamini but my net not supported for operamini plz help me

  44. I want MTN to activate my GPRS. I visited your website you said i should write setting as SMS and send it to 3888. please help. my phone number is [number removed] and the phone type is (space S400)

  45. Plz bros,i hv om2 and om4 but non of them works in my nokia 3110c,i need d seetings send 2me,bt i browse direct thru google.i cant send MMS too.i need to get OM MMS free workin.HELP ME! Phone no [removed]

  46. I have operamini on phone nokia 3110c but is not working. Can anybody help me or nokia.com to send the settings to me.

  49. Pls i downloaded opera 4 on my phone (nokia 6030)but it was sayin cnct 2 ur savice prvida and also i want to b able to browse for free on zain and mtn line for free pls hlp d my mail is(email removed)i no u guys can hlp.thanks

  50. Pls my nokia 6810 can not received connection settings and page not found

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