Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 19 May 2008 18:07
Opinion and Analysis
Page 2 of 3
Opera 9.5 beta 2 doesn’t just start finding web addresses and names of websites based on the letters you start typing.
Opera 9.5 beta 2 also searches through the text of websites you’ve previously visited in an attempt to be even more useful to you.
Naturally, with both Firefox 3.0 RC1 and Opera 9.5 beta 2, you can wipe your past surfing history so that others can’t use the tool to snoop through where you’ve visited, but then any browser has the option to clear your private surfing data.
The look and feel of Firefox 3.0 also more closely matches the operating system you’re using, so whether you’re using a flavour of Linux, Mac OS X or Windows, Firefox 3.0 will look slightly different and more ‘at home’ in your desktop environment.
Firefox 3.0 has plenty of
other features, from better anti-virus integration for downloaded files, an easier way to make bookmarks of favourite sites, a better full page zoom, new web forgery protection features, better malware protection, Vista parental controls, a better download manager, resumable downloading, an option to save open tabs on exit, and much more.
Firefox 3.0 is certainly worth it, but if you’re not keen on beta or release candidate software, wait a few weeks and get Firefox 3.0 when it officially launches.
Keep an eye on Opera 9.5 too – it’s also an excellent free browser that deserves more limelight, and has enjoyed great success on Mac, Linux and PC platforms – as well as being used in the Nintendo Wii, available for the Nintendo DS.
It’s also available in a free ‘mini’ version for most mobile phones – just having been updated to Opera Mini 4.1 - and paid even a version called Opera Mobile for Windows Mobile smartphones offering tabbed browsing, totally eclipsing the rather useless Internet Explorer Mobile browser that Microsoft provides for Windows Mobile devices.
So, what about Safari and Internet Explorer 8? Please read on.
