Do you want to access crucial information in a location with poor network coverage? Cello makes low bandwidth surfing more bearable. It allows you to stay connected and load web pages even with a weak connection.
What is cello?
Violoncello is a mobile browser that displays websites and web pages in pure text, without images or tables. It is a text-based browser that ignores fonts, CSS and JavaScript and only displays the content structure and layout in the HTML file of the web page.
Cello is only available on mobile platforms, such as Android and iOS. There are free and paid versions, with the paid version mainly offering customization features and allowing you to support the developer.
Text-based web browsers load pages faster and use less bandwidth than graphical browsers such as Firefox and Chrome. Violoncello is similar to the w3m browser, ideal for weak connections on desktop devices.
While not as powerful as some text-based desktop browsers (it doesn’t support text boxes, for example), Violoncello provides basic functionality for users who need to stay online with limited connectivity. This allows you to view web pages without waiting minutes for them to load.
Reasons to use the cello
There are several reasons to use Violoncello, especially if you often encounter unreliable network conditions:
- Bad network connection: Cello is designed to display the web in plain text, making it suitable for weak or unstable internet connections. You can browse the Internet and load web pages with a low bandwidth connection.
- Distraction-free browsing: It can also be useful if you need to read a text-heavy blog post or article without the distraction of images and videos. You can also opt for a more permanent switch by uninstalling/disabling any other browser on your phone and surfing exclusively with Violoncello.
- Reduce mobile data usage: Violoncello can help if you have a limited data plan and need to save every megabyte possible. Modern websites are often packed with high-resolution images, videos, and other interactive elements that consume large amounts of data. Violoncello simplifies web pages by stripping away non-essential content and leaving only plain text.
- Less resource intensive: Because Violoncello consumes less data and requires fewer resources, it can help you extend your battery life, especially when you’re away from home without reliable power or signal.
How does cello work?
First you need to download the app from the Play Store or the App Store. Opening Violoncello for the first time leads to a homepage with recently visited pages at the top, a prompt to upgrade to Premium, and the app version at the bottom.
Cello’s interface is fairly easy to use. The search bar at the bottom allows you to search for a term or enter a URL, which will give you access to the Main menu via the icon to the left of the bar. From the Main menuyou can reload the page, add/view bookmarks, navigate tabs, search pages to find text, share links, and print pages.
Clicking on Settings will bring up a list of options that allow you to customize the browser’s interface to your tastes. I suggest changing the default search engine to DuckDuckGo as it is less picky about HTML browsing than Google. You can also enable Floating top button and definitely leave Show site navigation on.
Violoncello is not a perfect replacement for graphical mobile browsers such as Chrome and Safari. Interactive websites that rely on JavaScript (such as YouTube and Instagram) are usually unusable. Google’s homepage is also broken because text boxes don’t work.
However, Violoncello excels at browsing simpler, content-driven sites that focus on reading rather than interaction. It’s perfect for reading news articles and blogs or for quick research when you need information but don’t need full web functionality. Violoncello’s strengths outweigh its limitations for users in low-network areas or for users trying to save data.
