blog.

A browser can be like that comfy pair of old slippers, it’s your friend, to take your walks around the internet in. It can be hard to break the habit of those old comfy slippers though, and try a new pair of slippers, even if they may allow you to walk a bit faster and trip you up less. You might not know your way round in them so well at first, they might not be the right fit for what you need or they could be a great improvement; maybe those old slippers are holding you back? With the launch of Internet Explorer 9 last week it’s time for us all to consider if our current browser really is the best fit.

For those less technical savvy amongst you, you may be shocked to know that there is more than one way to view the internet. You may still be using Internet Explorer thinking that that is as good as the internet can get, but let me introduce you to my friends, Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. These different browsers offer different functionality some are better for macs (Safari) some are faster (Chrome) and some are safer (Firefox). 

Internet Explorer has dominated the browser market for many years; in 2002 95% of web users were browsing through it, now that’s more like 45-50%. This is because the browser market has revolutionised in the last couple of years with the invention of browsers like Chrome and Firefox which offer faster web browsing, better functionality and a more intuitive web browsing experience. Internet Explorer 9 is Microsoft’s latest offering that is trying to win back its market share. It offers integration with Windows 7 to make browsing your favourite sites easier, and gives larger screen space to site contents by reducing the tool bars. 

It’s free to download any of these browsers, so why not find out which is the right fit for you? 

Well, clever perhaps isn't the word but effective sounds a bit dull.

Creating a buzz around Firefox 3.0's launch day by attempting to make a World Record for the number of software downloads has worked rather well.  Over 8.3 million users grabbed the software within the 24-hour window, a figure that is being impartially scrutinised before submission to the Guinness Book of Records.

The fact that no other software company has previously attempted this record will no doubt leave some well-paid marketing execs kicking themselves. 

In terms of web development, Firefox 3.0 promises a "leaner, speedier experience", with access to sites like gmail being up to 6 times faster.  It certainly has our own developers smiling!