Bitstream has announced an updated BETA version of its mobile browser BOLT. We were impressed with the original BETA version and these updates are expected to only improve a very good browser.

The update represents a considerable number of changes which include a new 3XL magnification mode bringing content 33.3% larger than 2XL; double tap protection to eliminate inadvertent clicks; Wifi auto-selection as a default option; Save/View pages locally on the phone; landscape view feature; improved video quality on mpeg4 capable devices; support for folders in Favorites; improved scrolling speed and the ability to reduce menu clutter in the preferences menu.

The BETA2 download can be found over at the BOLT website and it is a free download.

[Read: IntoMobile.com]

It's easy to get lost in the shuffle of Mobile World Congress, but here's a little item that piqued our interest. The once-quiet Windows Mobile web-browser field has seen a lot of activity lately. From Opera Mobile going Turbo to Skyfire releasing a new Beta version to Mozilla releasing the Milestone release of Fennec, the mobile browser industry has been busy.

Adding to the web-browser mix, Bitstream developers have introduced the Beta version of BOLT. Compatible for several platforms, including Windows Mobile and Palm OS, BOLT is marketed as providing fast, secure, desktop-styled Web browsing. The browser has support for XML, ATOM, RDF formats of RSS feeds and support for JavaScript and AJAX. BOLT also claims to consume one-third of the battery power of other mobile browsers and offers 23:1 over-the-air data reduction to speed page delivery of pages to your phone.

The browser sounds promising and while the application has been in closed Beta testing, the browser is being announced at the Mobile World Congress and is now available for public consumption. Follow the break for our first impressions of this new browser and a few screen shots.

Read the rest of this entry »