Coast by Opera Review

There’s been a lot of criticism with the default iOS browser, and rightfully so. It’s interface is pretty bland and it lacks customization options. But there are other browsers on the App Store with more pizazz if one bothers to take a gander.

That’s where the Coast by Opera comes into play. This iPad-specific web browser app is a beautiful utility that allows for full customization. The default background is a black and white city silhouette, however this can be easily changed. All one has to do is hold down on an image they come across on a web page and set it. The background can be changed as much as the user sees fit, or restored to the original easily. It also lets users set their bookmarks through a gridded menu.

Coast utilizes a Graphical User Interface for most of what it does. The icons a user sees when they first open up the app represent bookmarks, which is very different compared to how other browsers function. Users can change these bookmarks to their liking based on the pages they visit, which will appear as icons on the bottom of the screen.

Coast's address field also serves as its search box, much like other browsers. This makes it a lot easier for even the most elementary user to use. Another great thing is that, when the user begins to type in a term, website, or any other text, Coast will show suggestions based on what they type. When anyone begins to use the search box, web pages that partially match the entered url will appear on right side of the screen.

Coast’s speed is also very nice. Web pages and searches appear quickly without any lag or much wait time. Obviously the speed is partially contingent on the connection that one has, but users will find they can access searches and web pages with little slowdown. They can also navigate the various web pages that are open via the 3-box icon on the lower right. This allows for swift maneuvering between however many pages one has open at the same time. It's yet another way in which Coast offers quick and easy web browsing.

Technology isn't easy for everyone to grasp, even something as user friendly as the mobile iOS, but there are some utilities that can be made easier to understand. Coast by Opera, which uses a visual interface rather than being mostly text-based, is by far one of the friendliest iOS web browsers available. Anyone, from a technophobe to a seasoned veteran, will appreciate its functionality.