MicroB
{{Short description|Discontinued mobile web browser}}
{{forthe|the Micro-B USB interface|USB_hardware#Connectors}}
{{Infobox Software
| name = MicroB
| logo = Microblogo.png
| logo size = 250px
| screenshot = Microbos2008.png
| screenshot size = 250px
| caption = MicroB on Maemo 4
| developer = Nokia's maemo project
| latest_release_version = 1.0.4
| latest_release_date = {{release date|2008|12|17}}
| latest_preview_version =
| latest_preview_date =
| operating_system = Maemo
| discontinued = yes
| genre = Mobile browser
| license = Proprietary EULA
Engine under MPL/GPL/LGPL tri-license
| website = {{url|http://browser.garage.maemo.org/}}
}}
MicroB {{IPAc-en|ˌ|m|aɪ|k|r|oʊ|ˈ|b|iː}} was a mobile web browser developed by Nokia for use in smartphones and mobile devices that run the Maemo operating system. The browser is Mozilla-based and uses the Gecko layout engine.
It is shipped with Nokia's N800, N810 and N900 Internet Tablets, and is also available for the 770 via the 'Hacker Editions' of the operating system. In place of Mozilla's XUL-based user interface, MicroB uses the Maemo-native (GTK-based) Hildon API and widgets.
History
MicroB was initially released as a public beta for Internet Tablet OS 2007 on July 17, 2007 to allow third-party developers and community members to develop and port plugins, and help shape the development of the browser.[http://browser.garage.maemo.org/news/1/ Mozilla based browser engine available for testing] MicroB beta announcement It was updated several times before it replaced Opera as Internet Tablet OS's default browser with the release of Internet Tablet OS 2008 on November 18, 2007 with the N810.[http://browser.garage.maemo.org/news/9/ MicroB ships as the official browser for IT OS 2008]
Architecture
MicroB is Mozilla-based and uses the Gecko engine, but a number of features are omitted due to platform-specific limitations. In particular, SVG support is disabled due to unacceptable performance, and XUL is not included to reduce size and decrease memory consumption.[http://browser.garage.maemo.org/docs/browser_paper.html#s4.2 MicroB whitepaper - 4.3 Supported web standards] As XUL is not included, most Firefox plugins require porting and repackaging before they can be used with MicroB. In place of XUL, MicroB uses GTK and the Hildon UI toolkit to provide a native interface.[http://browser.garage.maemo.org/docs/browser_paper.html#s2.2 MicroB whitepaper - 2.2 Browser User Interface]
=Add-ons=
Add-ons usually need to be ported. The Maemo Browser Extras project is responsible for a large number of the available add-ons.[http://browser-extras.garage.maemo.org/ Browser Extras]
==Some MicroB Plugins==
- Adblock Plus[http://browser-extras.garage.maemo.org/news/5/ Adblock Plus Plugin]
- Adobe Flash 9 (bundled with Maemo)
- Flashblock[http://browser-extras.garage.maemo.org/news/7/ Flashblock Plugin]
- Gears (partial functionality)[http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17174 Google Gears Plugin]{{dead link |date=March 2015}}
- Greasemonkey – All scripts that work on the desktop version of Firefox work fine in MicroB, extending the capabilities of the browser and even replacing the need for some extensions which are not available for MicroB.[http://browser-extras.garage.maemo.org/5 Greasemonkey Plugin]{{dead link |date=March 2015}}
- MPlayer plugin[http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17715 MPlayer Plugin] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315184719/http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17715 |date=March 15, 2008 }}
- Windows Media Player Stream and RealPlayer stream supports via the built-in Media player
- WML browser[http://www.internettablettalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=197015 Wmlbrowser Plugin]{{dead link |date=March 2015}}
Notes
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{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
References
{{refbegin}}
- [http://browser.garage.maemo.org/docs/browser_paper.html Mozilla based browser for maemo whitepaper]
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://browser.garage.maemo.org MicroB Homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421150125/http://browser.garage.maemo.org/ |date=2008-04-21 }}
- [http://browser-extras.garage.maemo.org/ Maemo Browser Extras]
{{web browsers|mobile}}