The whole multi-tabbed browser debate is becoming pointless. Opera 5 was the
first I think) to offer the multi-document interface (MDI) to users. This
let you open multiple windows (in a straight row) within a single instance
(session) of the software. The approach was a trifle clunky. And the code
unstable: Opera was (and still remains) seriously resource-hungry!
Next came NeoPlanet that introduced skinning and channels. But after a
brief run, it seems to have died a not-much lamented death. If you are
really interested, the download site is still available. NeoPlanet tried to
be everything for everyone. And moved from custom portal browser (an idea
that Microsoft usurped, and marketed more successfully a few years later
with their MSN Explorer browser) to compleat suite but with a very unstable
Java-based setup. When it's home portal fell victim to dot com crash, so
inevitably, did Neoplanet.
The next serious MDI browser was
TARGET='_top'>NetCaptor. This ad-ware supported IE-add-on (it needed IE4
installed to work) was the first to offer multiple, stackable tabs -- a
trick I've never managed to get Opera's MDI to perform! And included
refinements like a pop-up blocker, support for favicon. An enhanced sidebar
for all-in-one access to Web Search, Favorites, and History. And even
allowed you to search Favorites and History. It also introduced
URL-completions shortcuts: Ctrl+Enter for .com; Shift+Enter for .net;
Ctrl+Shift+Enter for .org.
NetCaptor also introduced its unique set of bookmarks or CaptorGroups. These
were stored as ASCII text and could be edited manually. Or you could use the
built-in Organizer. NetCaptor is still available, but in the face of
HREF='http://www.ruihehang.com/myie2/html_en/home.htm'
TARGET='_top'>MyIE2: a free clone, seems to have lost ground. After all,
why would you pay when you can get almost all NetCaptor features for free.
It seems de rigueur for every Web browser today, bar Internet Explorer, to
support MDI. And URL shortcuts as well. Mozilla and its browser-only
spinoff, MozillaFirebird, support it. As does
HREF='http://www.avantbrowser.com/' TARGET='_top'>AvantBrowser. And
MyIE2 of course. Of course Opera has to do things differently. But the
HREF='http://nontroppo.org/wiki/HomePage' TARGET='_top'>Opera Wiki is a
great tip resource. Use it to really
HREF='http://nontroppo.org/wiki/Opera7Tips' TARGET='_top'>optimize
Opera. My copy is now a speed demon and even auto-detects domain names.
Internet Explorer from being an integral part of the windows OS seems to
have reached the end of its life cycle. Microsoft has
HREF='http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/itc
ommunity/chats/trans/ie/ie0507.asp' TARGET='_top'>gone on record that
post-IE6 versions will be a part of the OS and not available separately. The
code base too hasn't improved much since IE 5.x: we're still awaiting an
MDI. As well as extended domain completion: all we have is the Ctrl+Enter
shortcut. As well as (hopefully) fewer security-related vulnerabilities.
IE for the Mac too is going to see an incremental release: 5.2.3 before the
curtain closes. Microsoft cites Apple's refusal to share code as the reason
why they are
TARGET='_top'>stopping development. The only Mac-web browser clients
will be Apple's own Safari. And various Mozilla-spawned open-source
alternates. In case readers think that IE for Mac is hot shit, it ain't. If
anything its code base is rather similar to that of IE 4 for PC!
But if you are an IE for PC fanatic. And don't want to (or aren't allowed
to) change. Yet are envious of MyIE2 features. You can get most of them
using Microgarden WebTools consisting of
Tabs to open multiple sites within a single browser window. Plus
drag-and-drop support where any in-page link can be dragged 'n dropped on
to the tab toolbar to open it in a new tab. As well as pop-up blocking. It
costs $15 and can be downloaded from
HREF='http://www.microgarden.com/shareport/WT10Install.exe'
TARGET='_top'>here.
But far more interesting. And still free for personal use, is
HREF='http://www.iespell.com/' TARGET='_top'>ieSpell add-in. This
integrates into IE as a toolbar icon. For alternate browsers like MyIE2 and
NetCaptor it's available as a context-menu item.
Use it to spell check email, message board posts, blogs, and data for form
submission. You can also define, store and add to your personal word list
(custom dictionary). User may also select more than 1 custom dictionary. The
latter can even be on network shares so that multiple users can share a
single list. Which is also shareable by Word. The add-in is far more
flexible than the standard Microsoft dictionaries. It can ignore words with
numbers as well as HTML markup and escape sequences. And v2.0.577 brings
online lookup. Got
TARGET='_top'>get your copy today.
Courtesy the Lockergnome newsletter I learnt about an interesting and
innovatively executed Flash piece titled about which Windows desktop will
triumph. As well as
TARGET='_top'>Gizmodo: a blog dedicated to gadgets, gizmos, and
cutting-edge consumer electronics. And the most interesting of all: using
Word as a syndication
HREF='http://www.ftponline.com/portals/microsoft/office/demos/gunderloy/'
TARGET='_top'>client.