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The past few weeks we have seen the new Google Chrome 10 browser update, Internet Explorer 9 was launched and joined by Mozilla Firefox 4. And there is still Opera, recently updated to version 11 and Safari making it version 5. It is time to update your browser and here it is why:

All new browsers allow you to work with your favorite sites more effectively. Your “lifeline-sites” like Facebook, FriendCaller and Gmail can be attached to your browser or even the windows task list and auto start when your system is starting up.

Firefox, Chrome and Opera
Right mouse click on the open tab and use the “Pin tab” command. Next time the browser starts you are all ready to go and logged in. Unfortunately these tabs are not really permanent, when browsing to another site without opening a new tab the pinned tab gets automatically replaced, no warning is provided.

Internet Explorer:
Right clicking a tab would have been too easy and the Microsoft instruction to drag the tab to the Windows task bar simply did not work for me. Instead of clicking the tab right to the address bar, click the small icon left to the address bar and drag it to the Windows task bar, not the tab. Or maybe Microsoft calls the icon “tab”, you never know. Done! Later, I did manage to drag the tab in icon view to the task bar. Click right to the open tab to open a new tab and the icon view “Your most popular sites” opens up. In case your site is there, you can drag its icon to the task bar. Now it would be smart providing an auto start option through a (right) mouse click. But Microsoft wants you to do this manually as well. Get over, just do it: Click on Start, All Programs, scroll down to actually see Startup in the list, click on Startup, open it (wait, no double click, you need right mouse click here), then drag the small icon in the folder. And yes, you can autostart any other browser through the Windows Startup folder as well.

Safari:
Apple is ignoring the recent browser development altogether and sticks to the Top Site concept. This provides a tile view where you can arrange and pre-view your favorite sites as thumbs in the grid. For me, the thumbs are too small even in their largest size and there is no fast switch between the top sites, the preview grid becomes detour.

Update your browser now. These pinning features are great for our browser based VoIP service FriendCaller. It is now generally easier to start all your essential websites and to keep them open through the day. We believe that browser based software is most convenient and secure, any security update or new feature becomes available automatically with next browser reload, no installing, rebooting required. Browser based services like Gmail or the FriendCaller WebPhone leading the way to new Internet user experience without bulky Operating Systems.

I can not wait, right now I need to go, my MAC urges me to restart for MAC OS X 10.6.7 update installing a good 300 MB.

Martin Feuerhahn

View all posts by Martin Feuerhahn
Martins website

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