An Internet browser is your window to the web, where you can find almost anything from the comfort of your own living room. Today, the Internet is widely used for media, research, communication, shopping and entertainment. The better your browser, the more you will see and experience.
Up–to–date web browsers are equipped with the latest features and technology to simplify, accelerate and enhance your Internet experience. The newest features include tabbed browsing, RSS feeds and voice interaction. Browsers are also more customizable and entertaining with skins, informative and fun widgets and additional add–ons.
Safety is a common concern among web surfers, and for good reasons. The number of hazards seems to grow every day. Viruses, spyware, phishing schemes and identity theft are some of the concerns. Other worries come from the threat of online predators and the appropriateness of material for children. Modern Internet browsers shield against all of these factors to keep you, your family and your PC safe.
Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate Internet browsers.
Features Set
Top–ranked Internet browsers offer many practical features that make surfing the web faster, easier and more convenient. A few of these features are tabbed browsing, thumbnail previews and an integrated search engine.
Ease of Use
Internet browsers ought to be simple to use so anyone, regardless of their knowledge of computers or the Internet, will feel comfortable using the web.
Security
Security is one of the most important aspects of browsing the web. Internet browsers should protect against pop–ups, viruses and phishing frauds and allow you to clear personal information so you can feel confident while online.
Speed & Compatibility
Your internet browser should help you surf fast and efficiently. While the speed of your computer and internet connection account for most of the speed, not all browsers are created equal in regards to how fast they startup, process HTML and JavaScript. Likewise, not all internet browsers will open all pages correctly. The best browsers will open websites quickly and properly.
Help/Support
Although most browsers are free, quality customer support helps if you run into problems. Developers provide support through email, phone, FAQs, manuals and tutorials.
Lets Start!
#1
Firefox 3.5
Publisher: Mozilla
Version: 3.5
New to version 3.5 of Firefox is improved speed, a private browsing mode, even more security than in previous versions, open audio and video formats, and a bunch of additional improvements.
Firefox 3.5 features the innovative (first in the world, in fact) use of open audio and video. With HTML 5 audio and video support (and the Ogg Theora open video format), you can expect a richer media experience with fewer format problems and plug-ins getting in the way. You can even save a video directly from the site to your desktop.
Firefox has tabbed browsing so you can quickly jump from site to site and open more than one website in the same browser window. Firefox also allows you to change the order of your tabs, and has a redo function for when you accidentally delete tabs. And now Firefox even has a single-click option to open new tabs, and the ability to pull a tab off and create a new window. There is an add–on for voice interaction so you can navigate the Internet through simple voice commands.
Firefox's integrated find-on-page function is slick and non-intrusive. You can easily find a word or phrase on a specific webpage without dealing with a pop-up window; Firefox puts the feature right into the bottom of the browser.
This is a great browser for students or others who conduct research on the Internet. Mozilla has developed virtual sticky notes so you can add your own notes to web pages, and they will be there when you return. The Library archives your browsing history and bookmarks for easy organization.
The innovative Smart Location Bar will adapt to your use and preferences. This handy tool makes it easy to return to websites you've previously visited, even if you don't remember the exact URL. The smart location bar helps you locate sites based on titles and content. The improved "Awesome Bar" has been refined and now includes privacy settings. One-click bookmarking makes it easy to organize your favorites. Firefox 3.5 also now includes anti-phishing, a pop-up blocker, password manager, and parental controls.
Another nice feature is the anywhere drag and drop, which allows you to drag text or a link from anywhere on a web page and put it directly into your search bar.
Firefox 3.5 has several additional features that further improve usability. A fully integrated spell checker allows users to work directly on the web and still have spelling errors checked.
Another great function is an automatic session restore. When Firefox reopens you pick up where you left off, even if the browser closed unexpectedly or by accident. It's really nice to not have to spend time getting back to where you were. Session restore restores text you were writing in an email and even downloads you might have been in the middle of.
The Firefox download manager is easy to use and integrates simply with the browser interface. The download manager gives you the ability to pause downloads and then pick up where you left off. This straightforward resume function is even available after a system restart.
Firefox protects against viruses, spyware, malware, phishing, and pop–ups. Firefox 3 has an integrated password manager, automated updates to help locate and fix security problems, and parental controls.
Another impressive browser security feature is the one-click site info. Simply click on the site in the location bar and you can view important safety information.
You can easily clear your personal information including history, cookies, passwords and web–form entries with the click of a button. New to version 3.5, you can even remove all traces of your visiting any specific site. Think of it as a selective private mode that can go back in time.
Firefox 3.5 is fully equipped to accommodate multi-touch gestures with OSX and Windows 7.
Firefox hosts a load of features and a top-notch security system in an intuitive program. And with tools like the smart keyword search toolbar and password manager, you can add productivity to your web experience. Firefox has all the essential features to make a great browser, with plenty of add-ons for each user to personalize. But more than having all the features, Firefox outperforms in its execution. Firefox has a sleek interface with all the right tools under the hood. Firefox is certainly our browser of choice, and they continue to deliver new and innovative features that keep us excited, making the web a whole new experience as they go.
#2
Google Chrome
Publisher: Google, Inc.
Chrome features an Incognito mode, so you can browse in private. This stealth browsing mode allows you to open sites and even download files without affecting your histories. Additionally, cookies and passwords are deleted after you close the incognito window. You can even have one browser window open in normal mode and another in incognito mode.
The download manager of Chrome is inconspicuous, integrated at the bottom of the tab where the downloading is occurring. Chrome also has an integrated find on page feature, which appears near the top right corner.
Another nice feature is the anywhere drag and drop, which allows you to drag text or a link from anywhere on a web page and put it directly into your search bar. The smart toolbar gives helpful suggestions while you are typing in it, and makes it easy to revisit a previously viewed site that you’ve forgotten because the toolbar searches through titles as well as actual in-page text.
Google Chrome adds a whole new level of simplicity to web applications. You can run a web application in a designated window and have it feel more like distinct software. You can create desktop shortcuts that when opened, reveal your desired web application without tabs, address bars, or even buttons. You can even use the “Google Gears” to create shortcuts (desktop, start menu, and quick launch bar) for your newly created application window. Google Chrome helps bridge the gap between your desktop and online applications.
The tabs in Google Chrome are designed to be simple and help you utilize tabbed browsing in a whole new way. Like other browsers, you can easily rearrange tabs, create new ones, and even transfer tabs from one window to another very easily. But the dynamic tabs in Google Chrome can also be pulled out from the browser to create a whole new window. Furthermore, the visual tabs in Chrome simply get smaller and still display all of them rather than in a side-scrolling fashion like other browsers.
Another unique tab feature that simplifies your browsing is related tabs. When a new tab is created from an existing tab, the new tab is placed next to the originating or parent tab, rather than at the end of your list of tabs. This makes it much easier to keep related tabs organized and grouped together, as they naturally should be.
Chrome does a good job with providing the essential tools (and more) easily at hand, but not bombarding users with extra toolbars and extra buttons. The interface is simple and intuitive, but doesn't draw your attention away from the actual web content. In these regards, less browser is more.
Google Chrome uses “sandboxing”, which makes every tab run independently in the browser. This is great because if a certain application crashes, it will stay isolated to the tab it’s in, not affecting any other tabs. Different processes run separately in their own tab. This technique helps prevent malware from installing itself on your computer and also stops one tab from taking control of all others. Once you close a tab, that process is completely terminated.
Another innovative feature that Google takes from traditional operating systems and applies to internet browsing is a task manager. Users can open the online task manager and see which websites and applications are running and how much computer memory they are using. Users can even check out the "stats for nerds" section and see detailed information about browser memory usage and the processes running.
Google has taken initiative in making Chrome very compatible with the Internet. Chrome was specifically designed to quickly and efficiently load, display, and interact with the huge variety of applications on the web.
Google Chrome has an online Help Group where users can post issues and interact with other users and an official Google Guide.
#3
Internet Explorer 8
Publisher: Microsoft
Version: 8
Internet Explorer incorporates tabbed browsing. With tabbed browsing, you are able to switch quickly between open websites and you can open more than one website in a single browser window.
Another notable feature is an integrated search window. You can choose to search with your favorite search engine or through other informative websites like Wikipedia, About.com and TopTenREVIEWS. Additionally, IE offers RSS feeds, a synchronize tool and a password manager, so you can further benefit from the array of information on the Internet.
Internet Explorer 8 has a private browsing mode, which stops the browser from adding any sites you visit to your history. InPrivate mode also prevents your computer from picking up temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, usernames, and passwords.
Internet Explorer also now has a smart toolbar, offering search suggestions based on your previous browsing and even visual previews.
IE provides security for the entire family and offers extensive parental controls to protect children against web predators and inappropriate content.
Opera 9.6
Publisher: Opera
Version: 9.6
Opera sings to a different tune, and it sounds great. This browser has all of the entertaining and practical features that will not only make surfing the web functional, but also fun.
Just a few of the outstanding features include interactive voice, quick find, thumbnail previews, mouse gestures and customizing skins. This is one of the only browsers that has interactive voice commands. You can navigate the web by talking to the browser, and Opera will even read text to you.
Configure Opera to fit your needs and your style. Arrange panels, toolbars and buttons and choose from several unique skins and various widgets.
Opera has a dedicated user-base and reasonably so with all of its innovative features. However, we couldn't overlook some fairly serious compatibility issues. We look forward to Opera becoming a bigger household name and getting better compatibility web-wide.
Other convenient browsing features include an integrated search function, quick find, and customizable toolbars. Furthermore, you can cascade or tile web pages to view and work on more than one page at a time. You can use Opera Link to sync bookmarks and Speed Dials with your mobile phone.
Through Opera, you are able to customize your web experience. They offer a large database of skins so you can change the appearance of your browser. Choose from hundreds of widgets to make your web experience more enjoyable. Widgets are small programs like games, news, tools and more.
Another standout feature is thumbnails that appear as you mouse over a tab, so you can visually jog your memory without going to the site. One thing Opera is missing is parental controls.
Safari 4
Publisher: Apple
Version: 4
Safari is not an Apple exclusive anymore; the top-notch browser is now available for PCs as well. Safari provides the Mac look and feel in Internet browsing. It is complete with tabbed browsing that includes a save tabs feature.
Safari focuses on being lightweight and non-obtrusive rather than customizable. Hence the sleek interface isn't bulky and the frame is only one pixel wide.
Some nice features include the development of Top Sites, spell checking for all fields, resizable text boxes, and snapback.
Safari competes with our top browsers, but lacks some features like parental controls, anti-phishing, and a smart toolbar.
Safari does not incorporate anti-phishing technology nor does it include parental controls. We also would have liked to see more customization possibilities.
Clearing your history and information from forms is simple, especially with the development of Safari’s Full History Search option, which is a Mac-esc way of viewing where you’ve been on the Web.
Maxthon 2.5
Publisher: Maxthon International Ltd
Version: 2.5
Maxthon is a versatile browser that you can tailor to fit your web browsing needs. Customization options include the security settings, the interface layout, and useful plugins that you can download like a personal information management tool, decorative skins and the Google Toolbar.
Maxthon lacks a few features higher–ranked browsers offer including thumbnail previews, parental controls, a smart toolbar, and anti-phishing technology.
Through tabbed browsing, you can quickly jump from site to site and open a number of sites in one browsing window. When you're done searching the web, simply save the group of sites and you can resume at a later time. Maxthon even lets you reopen closed tabs in an undo function. To ensure fluid viewing within tabbed browsing, Maxthon uses anti-freeze technology.
Mouse Gestures make it so you don’t have to find and click buttons on the tool bar. You can navigate the web through movements of the mouse.
Other nice features include the magic fill for forms, a built-in feed reader, and a url Alias.
If you’re accustomed to Internet Explorer’s layout, you’ll have no problem finding your way around Maxthon. All of the buttons are well labeled and you can customize the browser bar to fit your needs.
Maxthon protects from viruses and spyware, and includes a trusted website check, but doesn't protect against phishing.
Flock 2
Publisher: Flock
Version: 2
Flock is the Internet browser targeted towards social butterflies. Flock is the Mozilla powered browser that specifically meets the needs of online social networkers by helping you keep informed when friends post or a favorite site is updated. It has a slick interface and plenty of features.
Flock is equipped to keep you up to date with your contacts from Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, Twitter, etc.
Flock is a great browser for online social networking, but falls a bit short compared to some of our higher ranked browsers in regards to features and utility.
Flock has plenty of tools built in to help you if you want to share photos, news, or simply your life story. Plus you can easily drag and drop to share videos, text, or favorite links.
Avant Browser 11.7
Publisher: Avant Force
Version: 11.7
Avant Browser allows you to enter a full screen mode, and also has a nice minimize button that removes the windows from everywhere except your bottom right toolbar.
See the top rated Internet Browser, Firefox. Or for an alternative browser that incorporates mouse gestures, check out Opera.
Deepnet Explorer 1.5
Publisher: Deepnet Security Ltd
Version: 1.5
The only stand-out feature is the at-a-glance security found on each tab.
You can delete your Internet browsing history and saved passwords just like in Internet Explorer.
PhaseOut 5
Publisher: PhaseOut
Version: 5
PhaseOut is a flash-based shell for Internet Explorer. It adds some really impressive looking graphics and customizable skins to your web browsing experience. If futuristic looks and space inspired graphics are your thing, you might want to consider PhaseOut.
PhaseOut is a neat idea, but the browser seems a bit too distracting. The interface seemed just a little too busy and sacrificed speed. PhaseOut is interesting, but not very intuitive, and lacking in features. We recommend using Firefox with an add-on skin if you need to personalize your browser's look. Or compare PhaseOut with Google Chrome or Opera.
Source : toptenreviews.com