Creating a new browser today is easier than ever - there is Chromium, which can be forked and added any functionality. Companies do this according to the same logic that toolbars were once created for - it's just an attempt to drive their brand into the user and force him to use other company products. But when it's done by independent developers, the product's purpose is to make its mark in a virtually static browser market. Don't think - I don't believe that you will switch to one of the indie browsers. But seeing what they offer is interesting, isn't it?

To pass or not?

When it seems that everything that is possible has already been said in some area, trying to do something differently is breathtaking: at first you think it’s wild and utopian, but as a result, you begin to look at market leaders in a new way. For the same reason, in the December issue of ][ we talked about such "weird" mobile operating systems as Tizen, Firefox OS or Maemo. Therefore, in my opinion, when talking about alternative browsers, it is incorrect to put the question squarely: to switch or not. No, you definitely won't. But you can try to repeat the functionality you are interested in in your favorite browser - for this, in each case, I tried to find the appropriate extensions.

The idea of ​​creating a browser that interacts closely with popular social networks has long haunted the minds of developers. There were many attempts to create such a harvester, but, perhaps, Rockmelt did a better job. No wonder they were able to get serious financial investments.

The project of the same name was launched in 2009 and immediately enlisted the support of one of the founders of Netscape. A year later, the first beta version was released, built on the Chromium source code, in a short time it managed to collect a decent number of fans. The main feature of Rockmelt was unobtrusiveness. Integration with Facebook and Twitter was implemented as an additional functionality, not an annoying addition.

Rockmelt may have had a bright future, but in 2012 the developers abandoned the desktop version and focused on creating an iOS app. Despite the drastic changes, the mobile application was born quickly and turned out to be quite interesting.

So, we are offered a solution that is interesting primarily for the interface. Browser control centers around a single line of input. It is both an address bar and a navigator for various content groups. For example, you can choose a certain topic and immediately get a pack of thumbnails of new posts that correspond to it. The presence of additional gestures allows you to perform a number of operations (sharing, likes) with a single click or swipe.

Thus, together with the browser, we get a content generator. At the same time, we have the opportunity to quite easily influence the conditions for issuing materials. You just need to go to any site and click on the “Follow” pimp. The resource is added to the watch list (RSS feed is taken into account), and new materials will be added to the personal news feed.

Extensions:

• Content generator. Plugin for Google Chrome Feedly;
• New materials by category. Plugin for Google Chrome: StumbleUpon;
• Interaction with social networks (publications, sharing, and so on). Plugin for Google Chrome: Buffer.

S.R.Ware Iron

Project audience: conspiracy theorists

The first releases of Google Chrome (like Chromium, by the way) made a lot of noise. Users paid attention not only to the interesting interface and speed of work, but also to a couple of points in the license agreement that deal a blow to privacy.

After that, a boom of articles on the topic “Big Brother is watching you” began, eventually forcing Google to reconsider its ambitions. Despite this, Chrome still has several features that somehow violate the user's personal space.

For example, everyone knows that immediately after installation, Google Chrome generates a unique identifier that is transmitted to the company's server. The "suggestions" feature works in a similar way. All data entered is sent to Google for the purpose of issuing search suggestions. Approximately in the same vein, there is a discussion about other nightmares: the background update service, sending error reports, and so on.

SRWare is ready to solve all the problems voiced. In fact, this is the same Google Chrome, but with the language cut off. It does not send any information to the Google server, but it also brings a few nice features:

• offline installer;
• built-in ad blocker;
• the ability to change the User-Agent.

Verdict: The solution is primarily for conspiracy theorists. The browser has few additional functions, and all of them are implemented using the appropriate extensions. As a result, it turns out that all the benefits come down to providing an additional level of privacy.

CoolNovo

Project audience: web developers, enthusiasts

Another project that grew out of a fork of Chromium, CoolNovo compares favorably with similar alternatives. Firstly, developers from the Middle Kingdom set ambitious goals for themselves, and do not just create another clone with a couple of additional extensions. Secondly, they position their solution as a full replacement for Google Chrome. The idea of ​​such a solution managed to win the hearts of users, and the browser itself received a number of awards.

One of the most interesting and useful features is IE Tab. My main activity is partly related to the development of web applications, and this implies the need to test whether the layout is displayed correctly in browsers using different rendering engines. IE Tab simplifies the process of testing in Internet Explorer. It eliminates the need to run a separate copy of IE, and allows you to change the engine used for rendering with one click.

Gesture control also deserves special attention. At one time, I used to use this functionality in Opera, and I must say that the implementation in CoolNovo is just as good.

About the inviolability of personal space, the developers adhere to the same views as the guys from the SRWare Iron project. All secret transfers of information to the company's servers are cut to the root.

Of the other most interesting features, it is worth noting:

• instant translation of pages into other languages ​​(via Google Translate);
• creating screenshots of a page or a selected area;
• quick clearing of history;
• a separate side bar for frequently used widgets and extensions;
• ad blocker.

Verdict: CoolNovo has been a leader among alternative builds based on Chromium for a long time. Today, it continues to hold its ground and is still a good solution for users who want to get an upgraded browser out of the box. The only sad thing is that recently CoolNovo has become less frequently updated. If it goes on like this, then sooner or later a competitor in the face of Chrome will throw it out of the race.

Extensions:

• Fast and flexible cleaning of history, cookies and other files of network activity. Plugin for Google Chrome Click&Clean Click&Clean ;
• Link shortener. Plugin for Google Chrome URL Shortener;
• Gesture control. Plugin for Google Chrome: CrxMouse or Gestures for Chrome;
• Reading mode (without displaying pictures and extra layout elements). Plugin for Google Chrome: iReader or Clearly;
• Button for quick subscription to RSS. Plugin for Google Chrome: RSS Subscription Extension ;
• Super drag. Plugin for Google Chrome: Super Drag;
• Translator. Plugin for Google Chrome: Google Translate.

Maxthon

Project audience: All inclusive lovers

Maxthon is one of those projects that have experienced a rebirth. He first saw the light at the beginning of the 2000s under the pseudonym MyIE. Then it was a convenient wrapper for the donkey IE and a number of useful functions. It had a built-in download manager, tabs instead of separate windows, and other goodies.

When the Firefox boom began, and subsequently Google Chrome, MyIE was forced to go into the shadows for a major overhaul. Total straightening brought it back with a new name, updated feature set and a completely different face.

Today, Maxthon is more like a powerful router than just a browser. As many as two engines are hosted under the hood of the rpg - WebKit and Trident (used in Internet Explorer). Moreover, unlike most similar solutions, Maxthon is able to independently determine the pages for which the use of Trident is more preferable (as a rule, these are old sites). I specifically took out one old project from the pantry, adapted for viewing in IE, and tried to look at it with Maxthon. Without thinking twice, the walker immediately switched the display to retro mode and rendered the page using Trident. In addition to working with two engines at the same time, Maxthon's biggest strengths are its own cloud and the availability of versions for mobile platforms (Android, iOS). Own cloud not only allows you to store various small information such as browsing history, a list of open pages and similar things, but it is also quite suitable for storing files.

For example, I was very pleased with the ability to save files from a web page with one click to the cloud. This function looks most advantageous when working on a mobile phone / tablet. The usefulness of Maxthon does not end there, but rather just begins. Among them:

• gesture support;
• the SuperDrop function, which simplifies interaction with the browser interface in the absence of a mouse;
• ad blocker;
• completely redesigned application interface (not just another Chrome clone);
• simultaneous processing of search results from several search servers;
• view pages in reading mode (without unnecessary information);
• saving videos from YouTube;
• mute the sound on any page;
• simultaneous viewing of several tabs in one window;
• download manager;
• own extension store;
• setting an arbitrary refresh time for open pages;
• night surf mode. When this mode is activated, Maxthon darkens the bright background of the pages, thereby reducing eye strain;
• improved performance and more.

Verdict: Maxthon will appeal to both casual users and hardcore geeks looking for new adventures. The presence of versions for mobile platforms and a full-fledged personal cloud are two key features that allow Maxthon to beat many competitors. Combine this with good performance, multiple wins in web standards compliance tests, and you have a near-perfect, but little-known browser.

Extensions:

• Retromode (page rendering using the IE engine). Plugin for Google Chrome: IE Tab ;
• Creation of screenshots. Plugin for Google Chrome: Webpage ScreenShot ;
• Night mode. Plugin for Google Chrome: Hacker Vision or Turn Off the Lights for comfortable watching videos;
• Password storage. Plugin for Google Chrome: LastPass;
• Ad blocker. Plugin for Google Chrome: AdBlock;
• Built-in notepad with the ability to store notes in the cloud. Plugin for Google Chrome: Memo Notepad;
• Resource sniffer. Plugin for Google Chrome: Web Developer.

Project audience: lovers of fresh

Chromium is the father of many WebKit-based walkers. It forms the foundation of almost every new browser, and it is hardly possible to shake its dominant position.

So, you probably already know that it is on this project that all new items are tested before they get into Google Chrome. Support for new HTML5 features, fixing terrible bugs, new interface - all this is primarily received by Chromium users. Alas, you have to pay for the frequency of updates with stability. Major problems that do not allow you to work normally with the browser are rare, but aptly.

It is quite difficult to single out some original interface features or features, since they are more an implementation of new HTML5 features and are relevant for web developers, and not mere mortals.

Nevertheless, Chromium still has a number of differences that can interest a simple user. For example:

• no error reporting;
• the RLZ identifier is not transferred to the company's servers;
• there is no Updater hanging in the background;
• only open and free media formats are supported;
• performance is very high.

Verdict: A special version of Google Chrome for enthusiasts and geeks. All the latest appears here, and the named user groups will definitely like it. Chromium is unlikely to be suitable for mere mortals, since this is a product primarily for testing. And there are few users eager to be the first to test, say, the Battery API.

Avant Browser

Project audience: web developers

The primary goal of Avant Browser developers is to provide users with an easy way to combine the work of engines within one application. It would seem that the task is not easy, but looking at Avant Browser, you are convinced of the opposite. The developers were not only able to bring together all the popular engines under one wrapper, but also came up with an easy way to switch between them. Changing the rendering engine is done in a couple of mouse clicks.

This ends the super-useful functions, and remains typical for such solutions:

• a simple cloud storage that can store RSS subscriptions, favorites, passwords and other information;
• ad/pop-up blocker;
• creating screenshots of pages;
• simple implementation of gesture control;
• creating aliases for pages, with which you can quickly go to frequently visited sites;
• built-in RSS reader;
• mail client.

Verdict: Avant Browser cannot be considered as a complete application for everyday use. This is more of a specialized solution that can serve web developers well, but not the average user. There are simply no other interesting features in Avant Browser.