The King of Browsers is Dead! All Hail the New King! Yes, indeed, Microsoft Internet Explorer, after years of being the #1 Browser, has fallen to the #2 position. It sure took it long enough. Of course, the main reason it was number one was it came free with every version of Windows. It was the default browser on most computers, so people used it.
But it was far from the best. In fact, it was arguably the worst browser. It was slow and cumbersome and full of bad security holes that allowed bad guys to take over computers…or at least install some very bad malware. I stopped using it years ago.
With the inception of Windows 10, Internet Explorer became obsolete. Microsoft created a new browser called Edge which is quite good, but still incomplete. IE is still included with Windows 10, but it is well hidden.
So folks like me started searching for a better browser. I chose Firefox, but many of you chose Google’s Chrome. It is is a good browser, but it too has its flaws. It is a memory hog extraordinaire and often will not release memory even when shut down. It also sucks the battery life out of portable devices. One reporter said his tablet with 10 hours of battery life went dead in 2 hours using Chrome. It is on none of my portable devices including my two laptops. I use it occasionally on my 2 desktop computers, but only when I have to.
Another reason for the downfall of IE is its lack of availability on operating systems other than Windows. So many of you have Android phones and Chrome is the default browser on them. Since both Chrome and Android are Google products, it only makes sense. And many of you discovered the many great features of Chrome on your phones so naturally you added it to your desktop and laptop. I can’t blame you for that. Chrome has some very excellent features.
And while Firefox is my personal browser of choice, it too has its faults. It is a bit of a memory hog also, but doesn’t seem to suck the battery life out of my portable devices. On my iPhone and iPad, Safari is the default browser and I use it. I could download Chrome or Firefox, but there is no way to change the default browser. Apple has Safari pretty well locked down on its mobile devices. Not a great browser by any means, but it does the job I need on my two iOS Apple devices.
When Microsoft completes building the Edge browser on Windows 10, I am definitely going to give it a very hard look. It is fast and does a good job, but without the ability to use add-on’s like Last Pass, it is nearly useless for my browsing purposes…and Edge is only available on Windows 10. The add-on’ problem will be addressed in the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition due out this summer.
So there you have a very quick look at the world of browsers. Our first story highlights the new King of the browsers…and if you are a dedicated Chrome user, be sure and read the first story in the Computer Tips and Tricks section on how to speed up Chrome and lessen its memory consumption.
Be sure and take a look at our other stories and tips to see if there are other things to make your own computing life a bit better. -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Google's Chrome edges Microsoft's IE as top browser
Microsoft's Internet Explorer is no longer king of the browser hill.
US surveillance court didn't reject a single spy order last year
The FBI and NSA still don't have any trouble getting permission to intercept calls and messages.
Microsoft declares Cortana search box as Bing- and Edge-only turf
Blocks other browsers from hijacking Cortana search box; Bing used for all Cortana searches, only Edge shows the results
What Is HDR (High Dynamic Range)?
Move over 4K. HDR is the latest television feature that could vastly improve what you watch. Here's what you need to know.
U.S. House unanimously passes email privacy bill
The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to require law enforcement authorities to get a search warrant before asking technology companies to hand over old emails.
Computer Tips and Tricks
Ten tips to make Google Chrome faster and reduce how much RAM it uses
Google Chrome may be your browser of choice, but it does have a habit of consuming a lot of system RAM. Also, there are times when it seems to start feeling a bit sluggish. Fortunately, these problems are easy to fix.
What Is Cloud Computing?
The 'cloud' is a real buzzword, but what is it, how does it impact what you do, and is it anything really new?
How To Speed Up Windows 10 On Older PC's
There is one very easy way to speed Windows 10 up on older devices, even if it may be more of a workaround than an actual solution
The 10 best Microsoft OneNote add-ins and tools
OneNote hooks into a ton of different services, so it’s easy to save everything from meeting notes to recipes and even emails to your digital notebook.
11 Excel tips for power users
Learn how to make tables more effective, reshape data, easily look up data and more.
Mobile Computing
How to manage ad tracking on your iPad
Ads, a necessary perceived evil that are the compilation of information collected anonymously about us and our behavior while using our iOS devices.
How to use pinned and favorite locations in Maps on iPhone and iPad
By dropping pins in Maps, you can get quick information on the location you selected, including how far away it is or even an approximation of how long it will take you to get there by car or on foot.
Google Android Keyboard 5.0: Now you get one-handed typing, gesture cursor control, swipe delete
New gesture-based cursor controls in Google's Android keyboard bring faster editing to smartphones.
12 Android Apps Actually Worth Paying For
Really, when you think about it, apps—truly worthwhile apps—are some of the best bargains available.
10 great accessories for Android and iPhone
Buying a smartphone is only half the battle. With the right accessories, your Android or iPhone handset can realize its full potential. Consider these options.
No comments:
Post a Comment