Broadcast:
Talk Radio Europe - 01.06.09
TV340 & Mijas Radio 107.7 - 29.06.09
Web Browser: it's the software used to visit and view Web pages on the Internet.
If you want to access internet pages from your personal computer, laptop, or mobile device, you need to run a software program that knows how to do this. This is the purpose of a web browser. Browsers have had one of the most public and interesting competitive lives of any software.
Bill Gates had his problems because he bundled Internet Explorer in Windows operating systems. Therefore the majority of us are using Internet Explorer by default.
In response to Firefox, Microsoft changed its plans and renewed its browser development and released IE7 and recently IE8. Apple (Safari) and Google (Chrome) have also become involved in efforts to build new Web browsers. Innovation and choice is returning to browsers and the Web.
Internet Explorer 8 has been out for a few weeks now.
Microsoft's current standard is Internet Explorer 8. This browser out performs its ancestors with tighter security, private browsing and a clean look and more speed.
According to early reviews, IE8 blows IE7 speeds out of the water; however, most reviewers haven't seen a noticeable difference between IE8 and Firefox, Internet Explorer's closest competitor.
Internet Explorer 8 features extensive parental controls that can be customized to fit each individual in a family. If you have small children and protection is a priority, look no further, this is the browser for your home computer.
Additional features in version 8 make it even better and definitely worth your consideration.
Internet Explorer 8 Standout Features:
Internet Explorer 8 has InPrivate browsing , which stops the browser from adding any sites you visit to your history. In Private mode also prevents your computer from picking up temporary Internet files, form data, cookies, usernames, and passwords.
Launch an InPrivate browsing session, and all traces of your browsing session vanish when you close that instance of the browser. That means that cookies, temporary Internet files, browsing history, form information, and user names and passwords all vanish.
Internet Explorer 8 has enhanced security features. It protects against viruses, spyware, pop–ups and phishing schemes. You can download additional security tools from the add–ons list on their homepage. You can also easily clear your personal information and stored cookies.
SmartScreen filter. SmartScreen now warns people when they are about to visit a Web site known to harbor malware. SmartScreen regularly updates its database of sites known to harbor malware.
InPrivate Filtering which is designed to prevent Web sites from sharing information about your browsing habits without your knowledge. InPrivate Filtering lets you block the site you're visiting from sending information to third-party sites. You'll notice it's active by the small icon of an arrow on top of a lock in the bottom right of the browser. If the icon is gray it's turned off; if it's colored, it's on. To turn it on, you would choose Safety-->InPrivate Filtering, or press Ctrl-Shift-F.
Web Slices offer another way of easily getting information. They deliver changing information from a Web page you're not actively visiting directly to IE8. So, for example, if you want to watch stock prices you can get information from the Web Slice without having to visit the Web page that houses that information.
When you visit a Web page that can deliver information via a Web Slice, the Web Slice icon on the Favorites bar turns green. Click its down arrow and you'll see a list of all Web Slices on the page. Select one, and a listing for the Web Slice then appears on your Favorites bar. When its content changes, the title turns bold. Click the Web Slice, and it drops down and displays the content. You can click through to go to the Web page that hosts the slice, or view it in the drop-down.
Conclusions
IE8, the newest version of the browser, makes browsing and searching much easier, has productivity-boosting features, is safer, and provides an overall superior experience.
Should you use IE8 or the current version of Firefox 3.01? (new version 3.5 to be released soon) For core browsing, IE is superior. It offers better tab handling, a better Search Box, and a slew of features that Firefox doesn't have, such as InPrivate Browsing, anti-malware protection, and Web Slices and the translator: Translate with Live Search
One thing it doesn't have, though, is an entire ecosystem of add-ins, and there doesn't appear to be such an ecosystem on the horizon. Web Slices and Accelerators are good technologies for delivering information, but not for changing the actual behavior of the browser itself. Moreover, there aren't many Accelerators and Web Slices available, and the selection of ones that are available sometimes leaves much to be desired.
So if you're a fan of add-ins and customizing the browser itself, Firefox is superior. But for the actual browsing experience, Internet Explorer has the upper hand -- for now.
Firefox
Experience the simplistic power of Firefox. This web browser packs top notch features and blazing speed into a tidy, intuitive interface that will help you navigate the web the way you want to.
A few outstanding features include tabbed browsing, an integrated search engine and this high-performance browser also has a massive selection of add ins, great customization features and tools to help you personalize your Web experience.
New to version 3.01 of Firefox is one-click bookmarking, even more security than in previous versions, and the smart location bar. This handy tool makes it easy to return to websites you've previously been at, even if you don't remember the exact URL. The smart location bar helps you locate sites based on titles and content.
The latest plug-in allows for a pictorial panoramic view of all of your open tags. (Like the Safari view of your favorites). This view can be customised as to colour and layout and is activated by combined clicking of the left and right buttons of your mouse.
Mozilla Firefox has over 5,000 add-ons to customize and enhance your web browsing experience. Categories include blogging, tools, entertainment, humor, news, privacy and security, and more. You can add style to your browser with skins and themes. Or, equip your browser bar with a dictionary or add a media toolbar with games and other forms of entertainment.
Firefox version 3.5 is now in final Candidate Release.
Add-ons and Plug ins
Through the installation of Add-ons and Plugins Firefox can be extended to deliver new features. The difference between Add-ons and Plugins is a bit of a grey area, mostly historical, and is narrowing to mean the same thing with each new release of Firefox. The installation and updating of Plug ins and Add-ons still remains slightly different but in future releases of Firefox this may also be streamlined and unified.
Some Popular Plug ins: Flash, Java, Quick-time, Windows Media Player, Adobe PDF Reader are popular plug ins for Firefox but there are many more. For example there's a plug in to replace many advertisements on web pages with fine artwork. See the Mozilla site (below) and search for add-art plugin. You can also go to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6846
Where to Find Them: See https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/browse/type:7 for the mentioned plugins and many more.
Why Bother Getting Plugins: Each of these plugins allow web pages to show audio, video, or publishing formats beyond the language of the web that is HTML, CSS, and Javascript. For example, Adobe Reader plugin lets the user open PDF files directly inside the browser, and the QuickTime and RealPlayer plugins are used to play special format videos in a web page. If you are viewing a site like YouTube and you aren't seeing video, chances are you are missing the Flash Plug in and you need to install it.
An add-on is a software module which lets Firefox do something more, or do things differently. To use an add-on, you must download the module and install it. Then Firefox gets the functionality of this new module. The add-on system allows the basic user interface for Firefox to remain clean and simple from release to release, but also be extended in thousands of different ways to meet personal preferences.
There are several types of add-ons: extensions, plugins, and themes.
The functionality available from add-ons is quite wide. You can add dictionaries to Firefox, change the look of Firefox, display the time in different countries in the browser, or an add-on might suggest other websites you can visit that are similar to the one you are looking at.
The list of Add-on categories are here :
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/browse/
You can browse the list and see what’s available.
Chrome:
from Google
Chrome version 2.0.172.28 was touted by Google as being up to 30 percent faster for handling JavaScript.
Chrome address bar is its search bar! As you start typing it will pick up key sites that match your words.
Security is good. It picks out malicious sites and marks them red!
It never crashes!!
Safari 4:
This is now compatible with Windows. Apple has published a Windows version of their browser Safari and it is a visual experience to use!
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. But one of the most impressive aspects are the visualw. If you like iPod and iPhone you’ll love Safari. A wrap around screen view shows snapshots of your 12 most popular sites. From here you can open whatever one you choose. It is very impressive. We now have a Mac experience and realize why there are so many Mac diehard fans.
If you don't already have Safari, it's a 6.2MB download. A drive image automatically mounts on the desktop and launches the Installer program. When you first open the browser, it automatically imports your IE favorites and some settings, including the home page, but Safari also sets itself as your default browser without asking!
Safari is a very fast browser, out performing most. The built in progress bar lets you see how fast it is actually going. Safari is compatible with most of the web. But just about the only thing you can alter is the font. In the beta 4 version the security factors have been increased.
http://internet-browser-review.toptenreviews.com/
WebbIE : site for the visually impaired
http://www.webbie.org.uk/screenshots.htm
The internet can be an unfriendly place for those with limited vision. WebbIE is particularly helpful in the way that 'visual clutter' is filtered out and replaced by simple text links.
It is extremely user friendly.
It has simple controls and the fact that you can toggle between web page and text only is so helpful.
The WebbIE web browser is an easy-to-use, familiar Windows application, fully controllable via keyboard, with a plain text output allowing you to explore a page, follow links and even fill in forms.
BBC Listen Again lets you hear any BBC Radio programme from the last week, simply listing them by station or topic, letting you go through the list and press a key to hear any station.
Podcasts are free audio programmes - like radio programmes - available on the Internet. Podcatcher gives you a simple and easy way to listen to podcasts from anywhere in the world, and Podcast Directory lets you find interesting podcasts to try out.
The BBC radio stations are all available online: this incredibly simple application lets you go through them and press return to listen to one!
The Gutenberg project provides over 20,000 books free to read in an accessible format. Accessible Gutenberg lets you explore the catalogue, download books and read them easily and simply.
Kidzui.com
Web browser for kids (3 to 12)
Busy parents can simply set up KidZui and trust that their kids will be safe online."
Kids have the freedom to learn, play, search and discover over 2 million games, websites, videos and photos on their own. KidZui has the largest number of games, websites, videos and photos reviewed by parents and teachers anywhere. Kids can find what they need to help with schoolwork, by themselves.
Kids safely express themselves, with their Zui, backgrounds, tags and online status.
KidZui eliminates the need for parents to constantly watch over their kids' shoulder, when they are online.
Parents know what their kids are doing online and they can connect by sharing content. KidZui sends a weekly email that tells you what your kids are doing online. The KidZui parent account lets you share content and set limits.
KidZui is free to all families but also offers paid Membership with extra benefits.
Search is essential for kids, as they learn all the things that will make them productive adults.
KidZui Search is tailored to the needs of kids. KidZui Search provides:
Suggestions and spelling correction
Search results with content relevant to kids
Graphical presentation that is easy for kids to understand