This post is not at all coincidental, in fact the prime reason I chose to make Web Browsers the next BEST OF … post is because of Google’s statement and release of their web browser, currently in BETA. And without further ado, I present to you:
Chrome (BETA name)
Chrome was just launched today by Google and is currently in an open BETA (which means the public tests it before an official ‘marketed’ version is announced and posted for download). The browser is free to download and is also Open Source. You can download the web browser at this official Goggle page: http://www.google.com/chrome. A few important things to take note of are that the browser is being displayed as a very safe, fast, and easy to use as well as the fact that there is currently NO version for MAC OS. Check throughout this post for browsers that are supported by MAC OS.
Safari
Safari has been out for a few years now and can run on both MAC OS and Windows. You can download and find more information about Safari on the Apple website. Safari is currently at version 3.1.2 and works very nicely as the MAC default browser.
Firefox
The most popular browser out right now is Mozilla’s Firefox which can be downloaded and installed at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/. Firefox is currently my browser of my choice on both my Macintosh laptop and my desktop PC and runs quickly, efficiently, and version 3 (released only a few months ago) does everything you would want your web browser to do. Not only that, but it also does it while appearing very elegant. There exist functions which allow you to quit the application such that it remembers exactly what tabs you have open so that you can relaunch them when you start up the browser again (tabs are a way of displaying open site pages without having them all open in different web browser pages. Firefox is also free to download and install.
Internet Explorer
Internet explorer is currently openly testing it’s newest version IE8 which can be found on the Microsoft site. It also uses the same type of slogan as Google’s newest product, however, does it live up to it?
faster, easier, and safer than ever
Opera
Finally, the last browser on this list is Opera which can be found at the official Opera site. Opera web browser is currently on version 9.5 and is free to download. Opera contains all the tools needed for a good web browser. It is very quick, great for searching (as it keeps memory of the actual content on the pages you visit), and also has a feature called Opera Link that syncs your sites you visit on your computer with those on your cell phone and other mobile devices. Learn more about it in this great demo video.
Finally…
Also, see Maxthon for another popular browser, which is very customizable and easy to use; also check http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp for info on web browser statistics (with legend at the bottom).
Please check the latter BEST OF … posts as well as the SoW #1 and my various political posts and the one I have about religion. Thanks and check back soon!
