NetFront

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

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

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

References

  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.