Have you used the Dolphin Browser and, if so, what do you like better about XScope?
Dolphin is the best I've found so far but always keeping my eyes opened for something better.
I have not tried it within the past couple years, but after reading your comment I went ahead and downloaded dolphin to try it out. I've now been using it for a couple days and are a few key differences:
- Data collection - Dolphin runs in the background, always, collecting data. XScope does not (but it is a paid browser).
- Zooming - XScope has "Pin Zoom" which is an absolute necessity when browsing one-handed. I can't stand using dolphin because I am always needing both hands to operate my device (I tend to read things zoomed out and need to zoom in to accurately click hyperlinks, so XScope is infinitely more convenient).
- Rendering Text Field - Dolphin seems to do a little bit better job with fitting the text. Dolphin condenses the text much more than it needs to be, but at least everything is within the margins. XScope either adjusts the text to be exactly on the margins or occasionally misses it slightly, requiring some left-right scrolling to read.
- Entering web addresses - I LOVE dolphin's voice entering ability. I won't use it much since I use bookmarks, but I still REALLY like it!
- Speed - I gotta give it to XScope. It seems to load new pages faster, and without a doubt blows away Dolphin when going back through pages (XScope caches a limited customized number of pages so that going back is instant).
Those gestures in dolphin look like they would be cool too. But again, I just hit a new tab and use my bookmarks. I also am not a fan of whatever dolphin is doing with hiding the tab bar. Sometimes it's down, sometimes it's hidden, and 'sometimes I get a return to the top' arrow (which I like, but I don't always have that option). Whereas XScope's is hidden when you hit the menu button, and returns with the menu button.
In the end, I have to go back to XScope. The cached browsing, and especially pin-zooming, really are deal makers/breakers IMO. Hopefully the dev gets the 'swipe for notification bar' option working when he releases his next update. I really like using the full screen, and the option to hide the notification bar doesn't seem to be working on ICS.