The desktop team over at Opera have just released a version 10 alpha release of their popular alternative web browser.
Opera 10.1 Alpha includes many new features, including the long awaited auto-update, an inline spelling checker, and scores a perfect 100/100 in the Acid3 test.
A full run down can of other new features can be found on the Opera Desktop Team’s blog. You can download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 using the links below:
Download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 for Windows
Download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 for Windows Classic
Download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 for Macintosh
Download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 for Macintosh (Intel-only)
Download Opera 10.1 Alpha 1 for UNIX
Opera Acid3, Alpha, Opera, Opera 10
Google Chrome is to get the same level of customisation as Mozilla’s Firefox, with a new effort launched to make it possible for developers to create plugins for the popular browser.
Third party applications or addons are attributed to the huge success of Firefox, and is currently the number one most requested feature from Chrome users.
Aaron Boodman and a few others from the Chromium project last week released a design spec detailing their plan for developers.
The document also lists some extensions that the company would like to support, including both an ad and flash blocker - both of which are top addons for Firefox.
Google is yet to give a release date on the feature, but at least work is under way. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.
Chrome Add-ons, Chrome, Chromium, Google Chrome, Plugins
It has been a good month for the ‘underdogs’ in the browser wars this month, with Firefox, Safari and Chrome all gaining ground.
Firefox has hit a fantastic milestone, now with over 20% of the web browser market, up 4% from last month. Apple’s Safari has climbed to just over 7%, up 8.5% from last month.
Even Google’s Chrome has crawled back some ground, after a steady drop off rate from the browsers first month. Chrome gained around 12% during the month, taking it’s total share to just under 1%.
The losers this month were both Opera and Internet Explorer. Opera lost 5% of it’s market, and is now 5th in the race, behind Google Chrome. November also saw Internet Explorer’s market share plummet below 70% for the first time since 1999.
You can view the full report at the Market Share website. Historical data can be sourced from Wikipedia. The browser wars are really firing up.
Browser Watch, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari Browser Share, Browser War, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
EMG Technology is suing Apple over an alleged patent infringement in its mobile version of Safari.
EMG is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, claiming the “simplified interface of reformatted mobile content to provide optimum viewing and navigation with single touches on a small screen” as a reason for the suit.
Patent 7,441,196 was issued in October this year, after being filled back in November 1999. The patent covers the resizing of content and data on mobile screens, along with navigation and scrolling methods.
EMG has not offered Apple the chance to licence the technology and currently has no plans to go after other smartphone makers.
Apple will not comment on the matter.
Safari Apple Safari, iPhone, Mobile Browsing, Safari
Browsing the internet while gaming
Rouge, a new web browser developed by GotGame for gamers has been released. Rouge allows gamers to browse the Internet while they are in-game.
The browser overlays the game, with adjustable transparency, and is best suited to use during idol time. Gamers can now check their Gmail between Counter-Strike rounds, or bid on a new mobile phone while playing World of Warcraft.
The browser currently only works on PC, with a list of supported games and download link on the Rouge website.
Browser Watch gaming, Rouge
Microsoft has confirmed that IE8 will now be delayed to 2009. On the IEBlog, Dean Hachamovitch, General Manager of Internet Explorer has stated that Microsoft “will release one more public update of IE8 in the first quarter of 2009, and then follow that up with the final release”.
The reason for the delay according to Hachamovitch is so the IE team can “make any changes they feel are necessary for the best possible customer experience using IE8, and report any critical issues. Our plan is to deliver the final product after listening for feedback about critical issues”.
Despite the delay, this should be good news for users of IE, as the current beta 2 is still quite buggy. The extra time should let Microsoft fix all outstanding issues to deliver a stable and complete product.
Internet Explorer IE8, Internet Explorer
Mozilla Foundation chairperson Mitchell Baker has revealed that revenue for Mozilla in 2007 was at USD $75 million. This is a 12% increase on last year which Baker believes is impressive, despite the world economic slowdown.
Most of Mozilla’s revenue comes from a search agreement with Google, but there other sources of income such as the Mozilla Store.
The relationship between Mozilla and Google is now under the microscope by the IRS (the “Internal Revenue Service,” the US national tax agency). Baker isn’t sure how long the investigation will last, but is confident that Mozilla hasn’t committed any wrong doings.
Mozilla also handed over $1 million in grants and donations to other non-profit organisations in 2007. GNOME project, Creative Commons, Oregon State University are just a few of the organisations to receive grants or donations in 2007.
The future sure is looking bright for Mozilla and Firefox. You can read Baker’s post in full for more details.
Firefox Creative Commons, Firefox, GNOME, Mozilla
Mozilla, makers of the popular Firefox web browser, have passed a huge milestone, with over 1 billion add-ons downloaded.
This number is much likely larger, as Mozilla only started tracking downloads in 2005, with add-ons also available from other websites.
Justin Scott from Mozilla says there are about “1.5 million add-on downloads per day and increasing”.
Add-ons are currently available for a large range of Mozilla products including Firefox, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Sunbird, Komodo, Flock, and Songbird.
Have you fashioned your Firefox?
Firefox Add-ons, Firefox, Flock, Komodo, Mozilla, SeaMonkey, Songbird, Sunbird, Thunderbird, Tweaks
I’m sure some of you may be frustrated by Firefox 3.1’s new tab behaviour when pressing Ctrl + Tab. No longer does it just browse through the tabs, but instead it switches to the most recently viewed tab (much like Windows Alt + Tab.
Thankfully, you can turn the new Ctrl + Tab behaviour off, and return it old skool. Simply follow the steps below:
- Go to about:config in the URL bar
- Set browser.ctrlTab.mostRecentlyUsed to false
- Set browser.ctrlTab.recentlyUsedLimit to 0
- Restart Firefox
All done! Enjoy the old Ctrl + Tab behaviour.
Firefox Firefox, Firefox 3.1, Tweaks
Over the weekend Apple has pushed out the latest version of it’s web browser Safari. Now at version 3.2 the latest version fixes security flaws and increases protection against known phishing sites.
A full list of security updates can be found via the Apple support website.
The update should automatically be pushed out to current Safari users via Apple’s software update tool, or it can be downloaded for individual systems using the links below:
Download Safari 3.2 for Leopard
Download Safari 3.2 for Tiger
Download Safari 3.2 for Windows
Safari Safari, Safari 3.2, Security Patches
