iPad Browser Advice

[poofyhairguy]

I recently got an iPad Air 2 to mostly be a web browser and a game console. I assume within a few months we will have some games to show off the A8X GPU, but I was kinda hoping to knock out web browsing early so I need some advice.

I hate Safari so far. It flickers all over the place while scrolling, its text selection is rough to use, and it seems buggy. I figured I would just use Chrome but it must have to keep all its tabs in memory because as soon as I hit like 15-ish tabs it crashes which is unacceptable. So I am looking for other options since I can't upgrade the ram in this thing.

Needs:
-Great tab handling with the ability to push tabs out of memory and reload them ala Safari

Wants:
-Download manager, preferably that can download unsupported file types (yes I am jailbroken)
-Good text selection, preferable with quote selected text functionality like Windows/Android Chrome
-The ability to share sites more easily via messages, Hangouts, Facebook, Pocket, the clipboard, etc. The Safari share function only has freaking Google Plus in the list
-The ability to find words on the page easily

If the answer is I have to hack Safari to pieces with add-ons I am cool with that. I will do almost anything because I hate having such an amazing device be nonfunctional for the primary (and I think basic) task I have for it.

 

[JAG87]

You will likely not find much advice for your questions in this sub forum. Generally, apple users don't hack-up anything that doesn't work by design for their needs. Tablets aren't meant for efficient browsing with 15+ open tabs, nor as a downloading tool, and to quote selected text (presumably in a forum?) you would use a dedicated app for forum browsing.

For what you want to do, an apple user would sell the iPad and buy a MacBook. Or, if another tablet OS such as Android can do the things you want to do at a cheaper price and more convenient form factor, then maybe explore that option.

Lastly, Chrome on iOS can find words on a webpage (Safari really needs this feature ffs). But I'm sure you've figured that out already.

 

[raf051888]

I'm pretty sure that there is a build of Chrome for iOS. I'm not certain as I don't use iOS anymore, but there used to be.

I think it may check most of the boxes for what you are looking for.

 

[HN]

Lastly, Chrome on iOS can find words on a webpage (Safari really needs this feature ffs). But I'm sure you've figured that out already.

Safari can do this. when you're on a webpage, type a word in the address bar and at the very bottom (after '[browser] search' and 'Bookmarks and History') there's a section 'On This page [#] matches'. click on your word there and it will highlight them on the page.

I'm pretty sure that there is a build of Chrome for iOS. I'm not certain as I don't use iOS anymore, but there used to be.

I think it may check most of the boxes for what you are looking for.

OP already tried chrome and it fails for him as it crashes at 15 tabs

 

[Rakehellion]

-Download manager, preferably that can download unsupported file types (yes I am jailbroken)

Any third-party download app will do this.

-Good text selection, preferable with quote selected text functionality like Windows/Android Chrome

What is that?

-The ability to share sites more easily via messages, Hangouts, Facebook, Pocket, the clipboard, etc. The Safari share function only has freaking Google Plus in the list

Safari can share to Facebook and the clipboard. If you download an app that supports sharing, it'll appear in the list too.

 

[wilds]

Check out iFile on Cydia. I'd just say to get used to Chrome or Safari as there aren't a lot of alternatives.

iPad Air 2 should be fine to use as a little media device. I wouldn't be too surprised if it has a few torrent clients on Cydia now along with a good download manager for Chrome or Safari.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Generally, apple users don't hack-up anything that doesn't work by design for their needs.

I get that, but honestly it seems a lot better than when I used iOS in 2011. I found a terminal emulator in the App Store, file managers, and a pile of alternative browsers. I could (and will if I have to) try all the alternative browsers myself, but I thought I would ask first.

Tablets aren't meant for efficient browsing with 15+ open tabs, nor as a downloading tool,

Why not? This thing is more powerful than my old Macbook that could do it. If I can't get it done the problem is the OS/software and not the hardware or its design.

For what you want to do, an apple user would sell the iPad and buy a MacBook. Or, if another tablet OS such as Android can do the things you want to do at a cheaper price and more convenient form factor, then maybe explore that option.

Lol, I already have both of those. My Macbook isn't as convenient as a mobile device, and every popular Android tablet ever made has build quality issues that I am sick of dealing with. I get that I am not going to do the crazy Windows-like stuff I do on Android, which is why I only expect my iPad to do two things. I didn't think asking for a solid modern web browser was too much for iOS.

Thank you for the feedback.

 

[JAG87]

Safari can do this. when you're on a webpage, type a word in the address bar and at the very bottom (after '[browser] search' and 'Bookmarks and History') there's a section 'On This page [#] matches'. click on your word there and it will highlight them on the page.

Oh HOLY CRAP, this is Apple's idea of good UX/UI... Wow. I've been wanting this feature for the longest time, thanks so much for pointing it out.

I get that, but honestly it seems a lot better than when I used iOS in 2011. I found a terminal emulator in the App Store, file managers, and a pile of alternative browsers. I could (and will if I have to) try all the alternative browsers myself, but I thought I would ask first.



Why not? This thing is more powerful than my old Macbook that could do it. If I can't get it done the problem is the OS/software and not the hardware or its design.



Lol, I already have both of those. My Macbook isn't as convenient as a mobile device, and every popular Android tablet ever made has build quality issues that I am sick of dealing with. I get that I am not going to do the crazy Windows-like stuff I do on Android, which is why I only expect my iPad to do two things. I didn't think asking for a solid modern web browser was too much for iOS.

Thank you for the feedback.

iOS has come a long quite a bit to the point where you really shouldn't need to jailbreak to get things done. And I do agree with you on all other points. It is powerful, but the primary interface (a screen and your fingers), aren't best suited to micro managing huge browsing sessions and multiple downloads. It gets clumsy. A mouse pointer is still the best tool for that. And I think the right tool for your job is the Microsoft Surface.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Any third-party download app will do this.

Like for example?

What is that?

You highlight a chunk of text, in either a forum or an email app, and when you hit quote it automatically quotes that text. It cuts down on needless copy and pasting.

Safari can share to Facebook and the clipboard. If you download an app that supports sharing, it'll appear in the list too.

That the thing, I have Facebook and Hangouts and all my apps on here and the only thing in that list is Google Plus. I tried to find some sort of jailbreak app to force apps into that list but there doesn't seem to be one. I will be sad if the answer is only the developer can fix it.

 

[mmntech]

Try Mercury. It's based on Chrome with a few added features.
-Download manager
-Ad Blocking
-Built in support for 1Password and LastPass, and a few other extensions
-Social media sharing

The only thing I don't like is lack of a browser mode. I hate when sites force you on to their mobile version on tablets.

Atomic is still pretty good as well, even though it's developer seems to have disappeared into a black hole. Hasn't been updated in ages. Still fast though and has built in ad blocker.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Check out iFile on Cydia.

I found a few jailbreak file managers I like, but none of them take over file downloading like ES File Explorer does on Android. I am happy to use the jailbreak file managers to actually manage the files, as long as the browser lets them save to the device.

iPad Air 2 should be fine to use as a little media device.

It sure is! I already got Kodi installed and it is hooked into my library. The iPad Air 2 is the first ARM device I have ever seen that can decode Blu Ray quality x264 mkvs on the CPU. The thing is a beast on paper, that is why I am so desperate to make it work for my limited needs.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Try Mercury.

It's based on Chrome with a few added features.
-Download manager
-Ad Blocking
-Built in support for 1Password and LastPass, and a few other extensions
-Social media sharing

The only thing I don't like is lack of a browser mode. I hate when sites force you on to their mobile version on tablets.

Atomic is still pretty good as well, even though it's developer seems to have disappeared into a black hole. Hasn't been updated in ages. Still fast though and has built in ad blocker.

Thanks for the advice, that looks perfect! I will try it and report back.

I actually still own Atomic from back in the day but as you said it looks like abandonware so I avoided it.

I appreciate the help!!!

 

[HN]

Oh HOLY CRAP, this is Apple's idea of good UX/UI... Wow. I've been wanting this feature for the longest time, thanks so much for pointing it out.

it used to be more noticeable (pre iOS 7) when the address bar and search bar were separate. but i agree, now that it's one big omni bar at the top, it's too buried for most users to notice.

 

[Ichinisan]

My Safari share sheet has a lot of options. Messages, email, Facebook, Twitter, copy link, etc...

Maybe your jailbreak hack screwed up Safari...?

I do a *lot* or Safari browsing on my iPad mini 2 and iPhone 6 Plus. I disabled the tab bar in Settings for more screen real estate in horizontal orientation.

Finding words in page is super easy with Safari. Just type it into the omnibox. I always wished Chrome worked this way...

 

[Ichinisan]

... Lastly, Chrome on iOS can find words on a webpage (Safari really needs this feature ffs). But I'm sure you've figured that out already.

Most of your post is wrong, but I'll focus on this: LOL! Mobile Safari does find-in-page much better than Mobile Chrome! Especially on iPad.

That said, iOS 8 on iPhone 6 Plus is glitched such that I can't hit next/previous without rotating to vertical orientation. Works in any orientation on iPad.

 

[JAG87]

Most of your post is wrong, but I'll focus on this: LOL! Mobile Safari does find-in-page much better than Mobile Chrome! Especially on iPad.

That said, iOS 8 on iPhone 6 Plus is glitched such that I can't hit next/previous without rotating to vertical orientation. Works in any orientation on iPad.

Thanks man, but do you read threads all the way through before posting?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Thanks man, but do you read threads all the way through before posting?

Who does that?

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks man, but do you read threads all the way through before posting?

Nope!

 

[poofyhairguy]

I just wanted to follow up:

I tried it all, including Mercury, and I was disappointed. I mean Mercury is nice but it didn't perform as good as I wanted.

And then halfway through my hunt Google put out a huge update to Chrome that fixed almost all my problems. Yay Google.