We will now look at the functions of each browser
|
Multi-tabs
|
Dowload manager
|
Search bar
|
Pop-up blocker
|
Zooming
|
Icremental search
|
IE
|
No |
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Firefox |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Non
|
Yes
|
| Opera |
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
- The navigation by tabs means that there is a tab open for each different page but only one instance of the program is running. When you get used to this it is very practical allowing you to easily have multiple pages open in front of you.
- The download manager is the best in Opera. It actually resembles a real manager (like Flashget, NeTransporter or cie). That of Firefox is very “simple” and only allows you to put a download on pause. Internet Explorer does not have, so to speak, a download manager.
- The search fields allow you to perform a search without having to actually go to the search engines web page, allowing you to perform a search quicker.
- The incremental update allows you to perform searches at the same time as when you type the word in. This means if you type “hello”, Opera/Firefox will first of all search on the “h” then “he”, “hel” and so on.
Listed below are the real basics that each browser needs to respect. You will notice that Internet Explorer has very few of them.
Other advanced functions are also welcome.
|
RSS reader
|
Session |
Mouse browsing
|
Personalization
|
Extensions |
| IE |
No |
No
|
No
|
No
|
No*
|
| Firefox |
Yes |
No**
|
No**
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
| Opera |
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
- An RSS stream is a syndication format for Web content. This system allows you to receive new information from information sites or blogs, allowing you to quickly consult the information without having to go to the site. Firefox and Opera both have RSS streams and you simply need to save the RSS so that you can consult it without having to go to the site. For more information you can read the article on Wikipedia.
- The “Session” function is very practical under Opera. If the program locks up then you have the possibility of going to back to the environment where you were (open paged, etc).
- Opera allows you to navigate with the mouse, which is very useful when you get used to it. Or example, right click + moving the mouse to the right = previous page. The navigation is a lot easier.
Only IE is not customizable, with the other two allowing themes.
The biggest positive for Firefox when compared with the others is the possibility of completely customizing it. There are thousands of extensions available for the browse which will allow the browser to do ANYTHING you want.
- You want to block advertising?
- You want to see the weather?
- You want to be able to control your radio?
- You want to control Firefox with the mouse? (This is the reason for the **)
- You want to…?
You can. This is the strength behind Firefox. You can do whatever you want. The
official Mozilla site references all the extensions followed by the foundation.
On its side, Opera distinguishes itself with its widgets. These are small web applications display the time, weather and current news for example… For more information, click
here.
There is a system that allows you to add new functions to IE: layers.
These are applications that you install over the top of IE (they are actually quite heavy) so that new functions can be added (navigation by tabs, RSS reader…). Just to name two, there is
Maxthon and
CrazyBrowser.
We can cite even more functions that could be added to these browsers, but it is sure that Internet Explorer is the one missing the most.
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May 24th, 2013 - 7:28 AM ET
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