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Friday, January 1, 2010

Firefox 3.5 passes IE7 as most popular web browser

Filed under: Microsoft, Mozilla, Browsers

We've all been watching the browser share trends for quite some time now, wondering when the day would come that an alternative finally shoved Internet Explorer off its perch.

It's finally happened - at least when we're talking about the most popular single version of a browser. You can see it all in the bar graph above: Firefox 3.5 has dethroned Internet Explorer 7.

Yes, we can all see the other two lengthy bars below IE7. Add them up, and it still means Internet Explorer (6,7, and 8 combined) is more popular overall. Still, for anything to overtake IE anywhere is pretty dang impressive.

We've still got 10 days left in 2009 to see where things wind up, but there's no denying that this has been a good year for Mozilla.

[via TheNextWeb]

Firefox 3.5 passes IE7 as most popular web browser originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome

Filed under: Features, Google, Browsers

With the Download Squad crew (and the rest of the world) spending more and more time in our web browsers, we decided it's time to make with the weekly round-ups. Sebastian introduced you to our Firefox series last week, and now it's time to get the ball rolling for Google Chrome!

Each week we'll be sharing interesting items we've gathered - news, program updates, extensions, themes - you name it. If you spotted something cool and Chrome-related you think we should cover, send us a tip! Without further ado, on to volume 1 of Chrome Corner!

Hey, Big Daddy! Skin Chrome with two awesome Bioshock 2 Themes!
If you're a sucker for the dark, grungy, industrial look, check out these themes created by fansite Bioshock2.org. There are two available, and they're very well done. Easily two of the best unofficial themes I've seen - check the image after the break!

Continue reading Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome

Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mozilla dev shares new info on Firefox 4 for Windows

Filed under: Mozilla, Browsers

It's no secret that Mozilla is working on a fairly major facelift for the next major version of Firefox. We've already seen some early concepts for Linux and Windows and there's even an easy-to-install Strata 4 theme (called Strata40) for current versions of Firefox.

On his personal blog Chromatic Pixel, Mozilla contributor Stephen Horlander has shared some more iterations of the Windows version. Early in the post, Horlander admits that Mozilla's undivided attention has shifted toward implementing a new theme for v4.0. Firefox 3.7 likely won't see a UI update.

One thing which is clearly getting a lot of attention is the application button. It's been tested in at least the five positions you can see in the bottom of the header image (and likely several others). Mozilla is taking a cue from Microsoft here, looking at the single-button menus in Windows 7 apps like Wordpad, Paint, and just about anything else with the Ribbon UI.

Personally, I'm a fan of the options on the top and bottom right - they seem like an efficient use of space and a good fit for widescreen monitors.

What do you think of Strata 4.0 so far? Where would you like to see the application bar placed? Does it even matter? This is Firefox, after all, so v4 is going to be as customizable as other versions have been.

[via IThinkDiff]

Mozilla dev shares new info on Firefox 4 for Windows originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opera 10.5's new Carakan Javascript engine is fast - Google Chrome fast.

Filed under: Browsers

I've been waiting to try it out since I heard the first rumblings about Carakan, and it's here at long last. Opera's new Javascript engine has finally appeared in the developer build just posted on their website.

The bottom line: it's fast. Carakan should serve as proof to the world that Opera is serious about building a competitive browser.

Putting Opera 10.5 through the paces with my everyday web apps, it's obvious that the new engine is a huge leap forward. GMail, Google Reader, and Seesmic Web are much more responsive than they are in 10.10, as are other Javascript-heavy web apps. Google's Chrome Experiments? If Opera was able to load a particular one (like Crystal Galaxy), Carakan ran it nicely.

On Google's V8 benchmark, 10.5 posts a very respectable 2263 overall. That's a far cry from the 182 put up by version 10.10 on my laptop. As you can see, Carakan actually managed to best Google Chrome's V8 on the RegExp test.

If you want to try out Opera 10.5 and the new Carakan Engine yourself, head on over to Opera's web site. Installers for Windows and OsX are available at the bottom of this page and you can also read more about Carakan.

As for me, I'm going to spend a week with the alpha and reserve judgment until then. It's certainly made a good impression so far.

Opera 10.5's new Carakan Javascript engine is fast - Google Chrome fast. originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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History2 extension is a better way to explore your Google Chrome browsing history

Filed under: Google, Browsers

While Google's stance on a lot of things is "just search it," that's not always the most comfortable way to do things. For example, when I poke around my browser's history page it's nice to have things sorted and grouped rather than deposited in a large pile.

History2 provides a more flexible way to peruse Chrome's archives. Install the extension and click its icon in your toolbar, and the History2 page above is displayed. It doesn't replace Chrome's built-in page -- you can still access that via ctrl + H or under the wrench menu.

Instead of the default chronological linkdump, History2 groups your browsing by site and provides buttons to jump to specific days. Right now the extension only allows you to explore the previous seven days, though that's not a serious shortcoming in my mind. Anything older than that I probably won't recognize in my history anyway.

As with Chrome's built-in history page, a search box is provided for quick lookups. Once you've entered a term and searched, History2 is smart enough to keep it applied as you click through different days.

History2 extension is a better way to explore your Google Chrome browsing history originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Festive Firefox Friday: 2009 review

Filed under: Internet, Mozilla, Browsers

As I write this, you're probably tucking into your Christmas dinner.

Actually... if you're reading this, you're probably peeling back the plastic of your microwave turkey and uncrispy 'roast' potatoes.

Of course, the other option is, in this day and age, that you simply don't celebrate Christmas. Here at Download Squad we want to cater for everyone, Christmassers, loners, nerds, Twitterers: the lot. This Festive Firefox Friday is for you.

Instead of bringing you Firefox-related news from the last seven days, this is an entire recap of Firefox in the year of 2009. It's been a big year for that cute little red panda and 2010 will be just as exciting if not more so!

Continue reading Festive Firefox Friday: 2009 review

Festive Firefox Friday: 2009 review originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome

Filed under: Google, Browsers

It's week 2 of Chrome corner, and there's plenty to talk about once again: a nice, new theme, an Omnibox tweak, and a juicy hardware tidbit. Let's start there.

Specs for Google's Official Chrome OS ~~Laptop~~ ~~Netbook~~ Smartbook leaked
IBTimes has posted a vague list of specs for the upcoming Chrome OS system which Google will begin selling in 2010. The smartbooks will feature an ARM CPU and NVidia Tegra chipset, 2GB of memory, a 64GB SSD, and a 10.1" HD-ready multi-touch display. Estimated price: about $300US, with additional subsidies offered from the cellular carriers Google will inevitably partner up with.

I've got to say, I'm a little surprised by the size of the drive. For a machine and OS which are all about the cloud, 64GB seems like an awful lot of local storage. Chrome OS will have a file browser, of course, and Google's going to include some offline functionality. 64GB would provide plenty of room to take your favorite videos, images, and music with you on those lengthy roadtrips...It could also be nothing more than a rumor. A Chrome smartbook would probably be just fine with a 16GB SSD.

As for IBTimes' suggestion that this "looks like a high performance machine," they're wrong. "It's like getting a Ferrari for the price of a Mini Cooper!" the article states. Really? I'd say it's more like getting a Ford Focus SES for the same price as a regular Ford Focus.

Continue reading Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome

Chrome Corner - weekly updates, extensions, themes, and tips for Google Chrome originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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