The Planetarium

Think you need a $martphone to browse the web ?

The intriguing BOLT browser should get you to think again (thanks to arch-blogger Hinkmond for the heads up). With desktop-like features like split-screen browsing, feed support, saving web pages, streaming video and accompanied by excellent reviews of its speed even on the most basic phones, how can it do it when all the client requires is the most basic of Java ME APIs: MIDP 2.0, rather than the fancier MSA 2 shipping on the newer Java ME phones ?

The client part (which Bitstream claims has long passed the millionth download mark) of the BOLT browser is just half the story: the heavy lifting is handled on the server through which renders and compresses the data (23:1, if you believe them) ready to squirt back to the phone.

And BOLT isn't the only of this new breed of browser.