Most mobile browsers display the Web, that’s it—Vivaldi Mobile can change that

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  Here are a few of what Vivaldi views as the key features of its new mobile browser: up first, Notes. “The Notes tool lets you jot down ideas and gather inspiration without interrupting your browsing by jumping to a separate app. Create Notes as you browse and sync them securely between all your devices.” [credit: Vivaldi ]

Vivaldi—makers of the power user’s favorite Web browser—has finally released a mobile version. Vivaldi for Android (sorry iOS users, it’s Android-only for now) brings most of what’s great about Vivaldi to your phone, and thanks to Vivaldi’s sync service, you can even have all your desktop data on your mobile device.

Web browsers are perhaps the most important piece of software we use in 2019. Our devices are often little more than small windows onto the Web, and the browser is what we use to see and explore what’s in that window. For all its importance though, the modern browser, especially the mobile Web browser, offers precious little in the way of features. It displays the Web and… that’s about it. Want to interact with what you see? You’re mostly out of luck.

Most people probably like their browser this way. Google, maker of the most widely used mobile browser, rarely does anything without extensive user testing. If Chrome is minimalist, it’s safe to assume it’s that way because Google has determined that’s what its users want. And since most other browsers copy whatever Google Chrome does, most mobile Web browsers end up as minimalistic pieces of software.