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NetFront

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NetFront Browser
Developer(s)Access Co., Ltd.
Initial release1995 (1995)[1]
EngineNetFront, WebKit (some versions)
Operating systemLinux (Access Linux Platform, Android, Qtopia, GTK+, etc.), Symbian (S60 and UIQ), Garnet OS, REX OS (BREW), VxWorks, Nucleus, ITRON, OS-9, OSE
PlatformWindows CE, Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Kindle, Nintendo Switch, Sega Dreamcast
TypeMobile browser
LicenseProprietary
WebsiteOfficial website

NetFront Browser is a mobile browser developed by Access Company of Japan.[2] The first version shipped in 1995.[1] They currently have several browser variants, both Chromium-based and WebKit-based.[3][4]

Over its lifetime, various versions of NetFront have been deployed on mobile phones, multifunction printers, digital TVs, set-top boxes, PDAs, web phones, game consoles, e-mail terminals, automobile telematics systems, and other device types. This has included Sony PlayStation consoles and several Nintendo consoles.

Platforms

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For Pocket PC devices, the browser converted web page tables to a vertical display, eliminating the need to scroll horizontally. The engine also was used in Japanese and European versions of Dreamcast browser

The Nintendo 3DS Internet browser uses the WebKit-based NetFront Browser NX according to the documentation included with the browser.[5][6] The PlayStation 3 Internet web browser received a major upgrade with firmware version 4.10,[7] upgrading to a custom version of the NetFront browser, adding limited HTML5 support and improved JavaScript speeds.[8][9] The Wii U console is also equipped with NetFront NX,[10] and GPL source code is available.[11] The Amazon Kindle e-reader uses NetFront as its web browser.[12] Nintendo's latest console, the Nintendo Switch, is also using NetFront NX.[13]

Performance

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Netfront 3.5 had an Acid3 score of 11/100 and NetFront Browser NX v1.0 had an Acid3 score of 92/100.

  • Acid3 in NetFront 3.5 (PlayStation Portable)
    Acid3 in NetFront 3.5
    (PlayStation Portable)
  • Nintendo 3DS Acid3 test results
    Nintendo 3DS Acid3 test results

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "ACCESS to Provide Free NetFront v3.0 Evaluation Copy For PocketPC" (Press release). Access Co. February 20, 2002. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  2. ^ NetFront: The Fast GTK+ Browser you Never Knew Existed
  3. ^ NetFront Browser BE (based on Chromium)
  4. ^ NetFront Browser NX DTV Profile (based on WebKit)
  5. ^ Brown, Eric (2011-06-09). "WebKit-based version of NetFront browser aims at IPTVs, STBs". LinuxDevices.com. eWeek. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28.
  6. ^ "NetFront Browser NX for Internet Appliances". Products > Solutions for Internet Appliances. Access. 2013. Archived from the original on 2012-05-02.
  7. ^ Support: System Software Updates
  8. ^ "Webkit - Open Source 2012". Open Source Code Distribution Service. Sony. 2012-10-10. Archived from the original on 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  9. ^ "PS3 System Software Update (v4.11)". Sony. 15 February 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
  10. ^ WiiU Hardware Features Internet Browser Archived 2014-08-18 at the Wayback Machine. Nintendo
  11. ^ Wii U Support GPL Archived 2013-11-29 at the Wayback Machine. Nintendo
  12. ^ "NetFront Browser Gives Amazon Kindle Customers On-Device Access to Information-Rich Websites like Wikipedia.org". Archived from the original on 2014-07-18. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  13. ^ "NetFront Browser NX by ACCESS - Powering the Switch 'WebKit' Online Services". Nintendo Life. 2017-03-07. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
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