RetroBrowser 1.2

RetroBrowser is designed for just one task - simple, straightforward and comfortable mobile web-browsing. No waisted screen space, no gimmicks, but featuring all you need for that purpose:

- minimalistic yet sophisticated navigation

- quickly switch between Browser and Search

- one click choice between Google and DuckDuckGo

- simple but powerful bookmark management

- comprehensive help (RTFM!)

RetroBrowser doesn't use gestures to avoid conflicts with websites that support gestures themselves. Check the help to understand the power beyond the surface.

RetroBrowser as most Android browsers uses Androids WebView do display websites. Android 4.4 (KitKat) WebView features Chromium and is much more powerful than Webkit-based WebView on older Android versions. I strongly recommend upgrading to KitKat if possible.

RetroBrowser is a project-in-progress. While navigation and bookmark management are very advanced thre are still issues with some websites to be fixed.

RetroBrowser will run on any device with Android 4 or higher and at least medium size screen. It is primarily designed for large screen mobile devices such as Galaxy Note series or other large screen smartphones/phablets. It will run on tablets as well however it is currently optimized for limited size screens.

Security

To make it short RetroBrowser should be as secure or insecure (!) as your tablet or smartphone, your version of Android and the manufacturers' and mobile providers' customizations. Think for yourself what that means for you ...

It works as a normal Android App without critical permissions. Of course it needs Internet access and the permission to write to external storage. The latter is used to save and restore bookmarks.

Websites are displayed in Android's built-in Webview which is used by most if not all Android browsers and the standard browser as well.

Privacy

RetroBrowser is set up for easy usage and stability. It accepts and stores Cookies but the browsing history is only kept during the actual session. RetroBrowser uses a cache for faster page loading. The cache stores copies of the websites you visit. Cookies allow websites to save additional information on your device. Cookies and cache are stored in RetroBrowsers private storage which is not accessible to normal users or other normal apps you install.

Software with root rights however, that is the Android system itself and some software installed by the device manufacturer or mobile provider can read the website cache and cookies. On rooted devices basically anyone who has physical access to the device can read these data.

RetroBrowser does not save any form data or passwords. Access rights to many web forums and social sites are stored in cookies so you don't need to enter them on every visit. It depends on the individual website if this is a safe procedure. Normally it should not be possible to read your credentials from cookies, but someone with access to your device could (ab-)use your account. So think twice before you set 'remember me' or similar on login.

If RetroBrowser is exited through the menu option (not only paused with 'Home Button') it forgets the history. Since there is no autocomplete feature there will be no traces in RetroBrowser other than your bookmarks if you quit callin 'Exit'.

However that doesn't mean that you are not trackable when surfing the web. You are trackable in many ways, and 'THEY' definitely will :)

I can only promise that I respect your privacy and always will and that I do as much as I can to protect you.


© 2014 Nikolaus von Bomhard

google@bomhard.de . www.bomhard.de