Guest Post: What is a browser?

Hugo last educated us as to What the Web Weally Is. Now he’s back to talk about Web Browsers. What are they and which one should we choose?
- Darren

So do you know what a browser is?

According to google at least, very few people actually know. So they have made this video to help tell you:

Now i will describe in detail each of the most popular and mainstream browsers that are out there.

Many would be surprised that there is even more than one!

Internet Explorer:

This is the big blue E that you see on Windows computers. It comes ready packed with Windows, and has been since the browser wars of the 90s.

Windows holds a MASSIVE market share of the internet, and computing in general, with its software.

Internet explorer is what everyone is used to. Its a clunky basic thing that can be added to with toolbars, but not many.

It’s popular because most people are aware there is another choice. IE 6 is even so unpopular there is a web campaign for websites not to support it’s use.

Browsers are growing with the times and IE is a stuborn outdated tool. IE 8 is the latest version and may be stronger than IE 7 and the outdated 6, but has little change’s.

Most IE 8 users only have IE 8 because they actively updated to get it.

IE 8 is also due to be bundled with Windows 7, although in Europe this may not be the case as the EU is afraid it is unfair to other Browsers and doesn’t offer the user choice. This could mean cheaper BROWSER-LESS versions of Windows 7 may be released, creating a catch 22. You need the internet to download a free browser. Without a browser, you DON’T have the Internet….

Google Chrome:

Google Chrome is the new kid on the block.

A very young, and very sleek browser, chrome is all about “simplicity”.

It’s also about “speed”. Google likes to think this is important.

What Chrome really means is a browser that only does one thing, browse. No fancy gimicks, no toys, just browsing.

It also has move-able tabbed viewing that can also be “un-docked” to create a new browser window.

In plain english this means the web-page you’re viewing can be moved around at the top in order of your preferance, or lifted out of the browser alltogether and be on it’s own as a new window at the bottom of your screen. This can be very helpful.

Each “tab” also is it’s own seperate “instance” within your computer’s memory. This means if a website crashe’s it won’t, in theory, affect the other tab’s you’re viewing.

This however means it is more demanding on older computers for those of you with machines older than 5 years, or just not tech savy or interested in all those strange numbers and phrase’s the spotty kid tells you in PC World.

Google is so proud of Chrome that it even use’s it as a basis for the Google Aps program’s that support desktop Gmail, Google Documents and Google Callendar.

Chrome is also soon going to be a “operating system” for Netbooks. Google hopes to make the first Internet based OS for internet focused laptops.

Expect this in your stocking in 2010.

Google Chrome however is not yet on Apple computers. A”Beta” called Chromium is available, but it’s full of bugs, updates itself and is mainly just used by Web Journalists and nerds eager for google on their pristine white Mac’s.

Google also Hate’s IE, almost. As a massive rival of Microsoft, they are also are proponants of http 5, the next generation of internet code and language, complicated stuff. But basically they think IE is a good browser, but not “fast” enough.

So as an act of kindness they made “Google Chrome Frame” a “plug-in” that basically turns IE 6-7 and 8 into a version of Chrome. It is all for people who work on Computers where they are not allowed to change their browser, so they can make IE better, faster, almost a Google IE.

Safari:

For Mac users, and iPhone Users Safari is their default web Browser.

It’s not to shabby, and just as normal and understandable as IE.

It is also available to Windows users, with a few asthetic changes, the familiar X and minimize boxes etc.

I don’t use Safari myself, but it’s out there and holds significant market share by virtue of being Apple’s native browser.

The Mozilla Firefox School of Browsers:

Mozilla is a company that make’s its own code’s and base’s for browsers. They aim to spread openness in the use of browsers and web based aps.

Firefox is their main browser currently on version 3.5 and it supports some http 5, the first browser to do so. This means very little now, but in the future it means imbeded image’s and video in websites themselves and not belonging to specific software, such as adobe flash (like youtube).

Firefox is like any other browser, but it’s also very very stable.

It’s favored by a lot of devote computer user’s because of the cool toy’s it offers.

Firefox offers a lot of Add-ons that either improve, add to, or even beautify the browsers functions.

There is a plethora of tools on offer and it can be overwhelming to choose what to add, but if you’re patient you can find the right balance. Whether you want to control your music from your browser, read your twitter feed or have different coloured tabs, you can do it all.

Firefox also exists in a “portable” form that you can put on a usb key and take with you where-ever you go.

Flock:

Flock “the social browser”.

Flock is based on firefox and also supports http 5. It also includes in built feature’s that aim to use social media to their full extent.

An inbuilt feed reader, blog publishing tool, photo up-loader, media stream window, a clip board(for drag and drop photo storage) and bebo/facebook/myspace/twitter and other services integration means you’ll never miss a beat.

Flock is so similar to Firefox that all the same Add-ons work on Flock, an added bonus.

Some of it’s cool toys however are a bit demanding, and people with older computers may have some issues. Also since some websites change it is important that you make sure it is up to date (issue’s with the blog publisher in my case).

Songbird:

Songbird is more of a Music player than a browser, but it’s centered around being you’re entertainment source.

Songbird intigrate itself with iTunes, Last.fm and other service’s to catalogue your music and tell you everything about you’re music while you listen and even give you lyrics and infromation about each track.

It also feature’s normal web browser functions because it is based on Firefox. And it isn’t half bad either.

Opera 10 and Opera Mini:

This quirky little browser is a gem from a Norwegian company.

Opera is like any other browser but it also features some of it’s own special tools and unique features.

Extra tweaks and gizmos, like in-built code inputs for nerds, an inbuilt bit torrent loader for Pirates, an in built mail client and it’s own social network.

It also feature’s extra buttons beside the standard back and forward, “fastforward” and “rewind” buttons that skip page’s and take you back to where you started.

Opera also recently created “Opera Unite”. A means of sharing information across the web via their browser with your friends/colleagues and others. It also can host websites, servers, access file’s and music on far away computers (provided they are on, and using opera unite).

Opera’s browser also feature’s the “turbo” button. The Turbo button makes the internet even faster. It basically make’s the information the browser loads smaller by ignoring big time consuming things like pictures and complicated graphics or plug-ins and make’s them lower quality.

This is helpful for those without broadband or suffering from wi-fi shortage’s and peak time’s. It may make viewing picture’s impossible, but if you need information quick and can’t wait, turbo will get you to the words in a jiffy.

Opera is not a big player, but it’s strong and determined, and its pretty inventive to. But it’s main success is Opera Mini.

Opera mini is a web browser for Mobile Phones. Yep, they have the internet on mobile phones now.

Forget that wap stuff you saw years ago. These day’s it’s much better. A lot of phones have their own in built browsers but they’re pretty weak.

Opera mini is a flash based software, similar to the game’s that can be played on many mobile handsets.

Opera Mini on the other hand is a REAL browser. It’s fast and powerful, and it’s small enough to fit on even the generic memory card’s of mobile phones. It can read real website’s to, and loads them in a reserved way to help save time, and you’re pocket money. It also feature’s an impressive zoom feature that helps you see the whole page before you get closer to actually read the internet.

Opera Mini can also be synced to your computer based Opera Browser so all you’re favorite websites can go with you where ever you go.

Now that you know what a Browser is, Shop around. Find what works for you. Whether it’s simplicity, speed, user friendliness, customisation, gadgets, toy’s, gizmo’s or just plain old surfing, there is a lot of choice. So inform yourself and browse Safely.