BROWSER WARS

Big fight on the Net space

There is no denying that the internet tops the spot in our lives today, with most of our waking hours spent surfing, tweeting and facebook-ing! But, how can we network, share, socialise, search and work better? 

Six of the leading browser developers have come up with their next gen versions, to make your experience speedier, easier and also, pleasant. Choosing the ideal browser that accelerates our performance without occupying too much of our disc space is even more essential today. 

So for those looking to climb up the performance ladder, it's time to make the change!

We downloaded six of the latest versions and tested them for compatibility, security, ease of use, speed, functionality and appeal. Here's how they stack up.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 8

Packing a long list of interesting features, longer that Katrina's legs, IE 8 has all that you need from a browser, with a few bugs that show up once in a while.

With the whole world spending most of its time 'sharing' a link or file at work or at home, it's always a welcome thing if there's an easier way out. Bored of pasting chunky amount of codes from one site to another, just to post a link on your Facebook? IE 8's accelerator will help you do it in a jiffy. 

Simply highlight the text you want to share, and 'accelerate' it the way you want - share, search or map the data. You can add more accelerators too. Running an auction on eBay to sell your antique wristwatch? We're sure you'll love Microsoft's web slices then. The browser will keep you updated with what's the latest bid and thus help you monitor the auction better.

As for security vulnerabilities, the IE 8 had an issue in handling certain graphic files, such as animated cursors. The browser also crashed too often for one of our team mates, when he ran it on his PC, notebook and netbook. 

While most browsers often have compatibility problems with websites developed prior to the development of the browser itself, IE 8 has an interesting feature you can fall back on. If a particular website doesn't open, click on the compatibility view icon which you can find beside the address bar.

Apple Safari 4 Beta

While Microsoft has laid emphasis on a feature-rich platform, Apple has worked more on the 'feel-good' factor. You'll notice changes on all features ranging from applications for accessibility, navigation to graphic, fonts and interface. But, Safari built for PC isn't the best in the lot, simply because it lacks what we expect from a normal browser - speed.

 Apple claims that its Nitro Engine theoretically offers 3x speeds, but we were faced with slow page-download problems. If you don't mind its slow pace, this one has the panache to make your browsing experience pleasant.

Initially, Apple had a major problem with PayPal. The eBay owned online payment company had warned its users not to use the Safari browser. With Safari 4, Apple has attempted to sort out the issue. We had no problems signing into a PayPal account through the browser. 

Though pop-up blocking, cookie blocking, phishing and malware protection were available on most of these browsers, you might not find parental controls anywhere else but in Apple's Safari 4. It was previously reported to be vulnerable to cross-domain scripting, but the Beta version of the fourth generation browser passed the test with ease. So, you needn't worry about the risk of a malicious website accessing your data on other websites, anymore.

The browser file itself takes a long (yawn) while to download. If you are not used to downloading heavy files from Apple's website, you might find it slightly annoying. It took us nearly twice as much time as it took with Firefox. Chrome and Opera took the least time to download.

Google Chrome v2.0

The search giant's browser is a complete performer, when it comes to speed. When we checked the browsers for start-up speeds, Chrome emerged victorious, followed by Firefox, Opera and Safari. Flock took the maximum time to load, due to its graphic-heavy structure.

But there's one funny thing about Chrome we are yet to understand - why doesn't it allow you to install the Google toolbar? While the rest of the browsers sent warning messages when we 'unknowingly' closed the browser, instead of a tab, Chrome's v1.0 did not. Maybe Google heard us cry, it has managed to include an 'undo closed tab' feature with the v2.0 Beta, along with more control over thumbnails.

We love the simplicity, but Chrome lacks some advanced bookmarking features its fellow browsers now boast of. Another point to note, accessing secure (https) websites through proxy server is a slight bother.Google had initially left Linux and Mac users high and dry, but now a Crossover Chromium is available for download on Mac and Linux packages.

The official versions are to be released later this year. Google says that the security problem, which reportedly allowed cross-site scripting attacks, has been sorted out. However, we weren't able to whet the claim.

Firefox v3.0

Rejecting fancy layouts, this one's ordinary, but usable. It's definitely worth a look, if you are a no-frills kinda person. Few design updates, new bookmarking features, a list of new add-ons and stability upgrades, the new 'fox' on fire definitely won't disappoint you.

For developers there are new content handlers, engine keyword support and password manager. Compared to developer apps in IE 8 and Safari 4, we feel these are also easy to use. Compatible with almost any OS, except for the-nearly-extinct Windows 95 and Windows 98, and with versions 10.2 and earlier of Mac OS, the browser promises to pair up with any other, with consummate ease.

It's undeniably fast, compared to the new entrants in the market. With its new Gekko 1.9 engine, the browser renders pages faster and lives up to expectations. Quick start-ups, no re-booting of system after download, and no sudden crashes, the v3.0 raked up more points for speed and functionality.

Flock

Flock is unique in the way it helps people share content. Developed on Firefox, it helps you keep track of your friends' quicker. Imaginatively named Flock, the browser is all about 'coming together.'

You can now tweet, play peer-games on Facebook, update your blog - all of it at the same time. You needn't go through the hassle of scanning through the Facebook notifications.

The People bar and Media bar will alert you on your friends' latest update, the very next minute. You can even bookmark favourite feeds or any photo/video update.

Opera 9.6

One of the fastest among our test contenders, Opera has been a pioneer in introducing a few revolutionary features like mouse gestures and tabbed browsing, but the then 'out of the box' ideas have now become common place. But, there's something unique about Opera you can't find with the others.

None of the other browsers allow for distant access. With Opera Link, you can synchronise custom search engines and typed history too. So no matter where you go, any website address you typed on your PC will be available.

Same feature, packaged differently

All these browsers have a lot of things in common - the iconised tabs that lead to recently browsed pages, the smart address bar that recalls your history quickly and the incognito modes that allow you to browse guilt-free, not having to bother with who's tracking what you browse.

We experienced a sort of deja vu, when we tried the same application in the different browsers. For example, Opera's 'Speed Dial,' Apple's 'Quick Tabs' and Microsoft's 'Quick Bar' are all based on the same principal of iconised bookmarking.

There were minor tweaks though. Now this makes choosing tougher. And not to miss the flexibility Microsoft offers - letting you reopen closed tabs. This comes in handy especially when you spend long hours browsing, skipping to check previously visited websites.

Another clever feature is 'grouped tabs,' where sub-links from a parent website are grouped together with the same colour code. This ensures quicker browsing.

Why change your current browser?

While the six of the browsers we tested share a lot of things in common, the frills are what set each browser apart. If more of your activities online revolve around networking and sharing alone, you can stick to Flock.

If it's some basic browsing, researching and sharing, you can opt for IE 8. If you spend just a few hours online and want to make it pleasant, opt for Safari 4 for its appealing looks, provided you have an extremely speedy internet connection. If most of your online activities are done on your netbook, we suggest Google Chrome, one of the fastest browsers.

Are you one of those budding developers? Then, you might just love Firefox. Though IE 8 and even Safari have some developer applications, we feel they are comparatively tough to use. Opera might come in handy if you want to have the same browser wherever you go.

All of them are free to download.

To view the pictures of these browsers, go to http://sify.com/finance/imagegallery/galleryDetail.php?id=jfhuqVjjeff&title=Browser_wars_&?vsv=TopHP7