Web browsers are the applications
that allow a user to view HTML documents from a computer connected to the
Internet. Software such as, Netscape, Microsoft Explorer, etc., read files
created with HTML and display interactive web pages to the user. Most of the browser can be downloaded at no
charge. There is no standard way of viewing or navigating the web. Most browsers have most of the functionality,
although there are some differences in levels of support and overall
performance. Most of the browsers are
still being updated and improved, with new releases every two or three
months. A number of web browsers are
available for each computing platform including Lynx for terminal-based users.
The basic capabilities of a browser are to retrieve documents from the web,
jump to links specified in the retrieved document, and save and print the
retrieved documents.
A web browser is a client program
that uses the Hypertext Transfer Protocol to make requests to the web servers
on behalf of the user. A commercial version of the original browser, Mosaic was
launched as Netscape Navigator. Many of
the user interface features in Mosaic, however, went into the first widely used
browser, Netscape Navigator. Microsoft followed with its Internet
Explorer. Today, these two browsers are
highly competitive and most of the Internet users are aware of these two
browsers only. Another recently offered
browser is Opera. A web browser contains the basic software a user needs in
order to find, retrieve, view, and send information over the Internet.
Important functions of a browser are:
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Send and receive electronic mail
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Read messages from newsgroups, forums about
thousands of topics in which users share information and opinions
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Browse the World Wide Web (or web) where a user
can find and view a rich variety of text, graphics and interactive information
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Browsers like Microsoft Internet Explorer
version 5.0 + include additional Internet-related software.
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Windows Media server
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NetMeeting, conferencing software
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ActiveX.controls
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Chat
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ActiveMovie application programming interface
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Active Channel webcast
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Subscriptions
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Dynamic HTML
There are several web browsers
available to surf the Internet.
Mosaic Version 2.1.1
WinMosaic/HomePage.html At one
time first and foremost among web clients was the Mosaic graphical interface.
It was developed in 1993 by the National Centre for Supercomputing Applications
(NCSA) at the University
of Illinois
Netscape Navigator 7.1
The Netscape Navigator was
developed by the same people who created Mosaic at NCSA. The Netscape 7 browser has a tabbed user
interface that allows easy switching from one open web page to another. A user
can create bookmarks that open a specific set of tabs. Another suitable feature
is one-click search. Highlight a word in the browser window and right-click on
it, and start a search for it from any search engine. The new version of
Netscape has also implemented the ‘Sidebar’ pane that runs down the left edge
of the screen. Internet Explorer does the same thing. Netscape’s Sidebar
provides tabbed access to addresses, bookmarks, news, history, and a variety of
other useful things. The Netscape has a mail client and address book that is
quite adequate. The biggest difference between Netscape 7 and Internet Explorer
is integration. Because Microsoft presumes ownership of your desktop, it has
less need to pack as many applications into its web browser. Netscape, on the other
hand, ties together e-mail, browsing, and instant messaging in one application.
Eg, both AOL’s instant messaging client and ICQ are integrated into the
browser. Microsoft’s Messenger client is not fully integrated. In Netscape 7,
the integration feels smooth and natural.
Internet Explorer 6.0
The Internet Explorer is
Microsoft’s Internet browser that comes packaged with Windows Operating System.
It can also be downloaded from their website free of cost. Over 75% of Internet
users use the Internet Explorer. The new version of Internet Explorer
integrates Outlook Express. It provides a private, reliable, and flexible
browsing experience and the freedom to experience the best of the Internet for
users of Windows XP, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 Professional,
Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows NT 4.0 workstation. It
also includes a free copy of the Advanced Searchbar, which is an Internet
Explorer toolbar that allows users to quickly access and search over 60 search
engines and is jam packed with features including blocking of pop-up windows.
Avant Browser v9.02
This browser add-on, runs on top
of Internet Explorer. An integrated pop-up stopper and Flash animation filter
protect users from unwanted distractions. The Avant Browser supports
tabbed-multi-window browsing. The built-in Google search engine lets a user
search right from the browser’s taskbar. It has several built-in features like
records eraser to keep privacy by deleting typed addresses, auto-complete
passwords, and cookies, history of visited websites, temporary Internet files
and search keywords. It has built-in Flash Animation filter and options to
block downloads of pictures, videos, sounds and ActiveX components. With these
options users can control their bandwidth and speed up page loading. Additional
mouse functions, if link is clicked with the middle mouse button, the link will
be opened in a new window in the background. It supports Real Full Screen Mode
and Alternative Full Desktop Mode. It is fully Internet Explorer compatible and
supports all Internet Explorer functions, including Cookies, ActiveX Controls,
Java Script, Real player and Macromedia Flash. The Avant Browser supports many
different languages.
Enigma Browser
Enigma Browser incorporates a
large collection of powerful features like built-in pop-up stopper, skinned
window frame, form filler, site group, quick-search, auto login, hidden sites,
built-in commands and scripting, online translation, script error suppression,
blacklist / white list filtering, URL Alias. It provides convenient and
comfortable browsing. It has ability to turn on / off Flash Animation. Enigma
provides convenient access to major search engines by Quick-Search bar. It has
built-in VBScript, Jscript, HTML and Text Editor. It has features to hide sites
and show a site at user’s request. It provides for auto login. Enigma
seamlessly integrates with online translation engine and dictionaries. It has
the ability to suppress script error message dialogue.
Crazy Browser v1.05
Crazy Browser facilitates
browsing multiple websites at once. It blocks advertisements. Users have the
option to turn off multimedia and browse the web in text mode. Users can search
on a number of search engines that come with the program. It incorporates Smart
Pop-up Filter. It supports tabbed-multi-window browsing.
AutomaticSearch Browser
AutomaticSearch is a
search-themed web browser that automatically finds related links, subjects, and
topics associated with the current website being viewed. It features an
integrated search engine utilizing the popular engines and allows users to
quickly switch among the search results using tabs. Users can also save and
access their favorite websites easily by using toolbar buttons.
Mozilla v1.7.2
Mozilla, developed by the
Mozilla.org open-source community, is a cross-platform product with support for
Windows, Linux, and Macintosh 8/9/X. It incorporates a filter to stop pop-up
advertisements. It supports tabbed multi-window browsing that lets a user open
new pages easily instead of forcing a user to open a new window and then click
back to see the previous screen while the new window loads. Mozilla offers a
tab to the new window and loads that page in the background, letting you stay
focused on the work at hand. Another welcome advance is the ability to turn off
pop-up ads and animated GIFs. Besides the browser, Mozilla includes an
instant-messaging application, an e-mail client, web-composer software, and
some nifty cookie-management and anti- spam features.
Opera
Opera browser is designed for
Windows with built-in pop-up stopper to stop unnecessary pop-up pages. It
supports tabbed multi-window browsing. It has integrated Google search engine
that lets a user search right from the browser’s taskbar. It has a built-in
mail client. Opera is extremely well designed with minimum resource use in
terms of hard disc and memory requirement. Opera is fully customizable and it
has page magnification capability, and graphics handling which make Opera an
alternative to Internet Explorer or Netscape.
EasyBrowse v2.0
EasyBrowse is a free Internet
browser that works on all Windows platforms. The new version includes the
Pop-up disabler option to a standard list of features including plug-ins,
direct linking to 11 search engines, plug-in checker, large browsing window, favorites
and a history list.
NeoPlanet Browser
NeoPlanet offers a great browsing
experience while allowing users to customize the interface. The NeoPlanet
browser has an embedded e-mail client that has most of what a user needs.
Neoplanet facilitates download management and offers QuickSearch features. A
key difference between NeoPlanet and other alternative browser options like
Opera is that NeoPlanet is not actually a full-fledged web browser. NeoPlanet
is actually a front- end for the
Internet Explorer. It means that every technology supported by Internet
Explorer is supported by NeoPlanet.
Lynx
Lynx is a text-based, full screen
interface to the web. Arrow keys, tabs,
and the cursor are used to move around and select items instead of a
mouse. Lynx interface is not multimedia,
and so pictures, icons, maps and other graphical elements cannot be viewed
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