Browsersphere

The browsersphere is a busy place, and only gets busier as I start to hone in on all the web browsers that are actually out there. Without further ado…

• Bryan Clark asks, does anyone use a homepage for their browser anymore?
• A member of the Ars Technica Forums wants to know why there’s no official browser for the Xbox 360.
• Jesse Ruderman has filed 3,000 Firefox bugs.
• The WebKit Detection Script has been updated to support the iPhone and the iPod Touch.
• Matt Brett believes that IE7 has done nothing but add more garbage to the pile.
• Kenneth van Wyk believes that Firefox is safer than Internet Explorer.
• Mashable has a list of 30+ skins for the Opera web browser.
• Software Battle calls Mouse Gestures Firefox’s killer extension.
• Mozilla Links reports that there’s a brand new Firefox start page.
• Have you tried split browsing in Firefox?

Tags: Add-ons, Bugs, Extensions, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Minor Players, Opera, Safari, Security, Themes and Skins

WinCustomize has interviewed Maxthon founder, Jeff Chen, as part of their Developer Interview Series. The interview is a little “skin heavy,” since WinCustomize obviously leans in that direction, but I did find Jeff Chen’s list of cutting-edge features interesting:

There are still a lot [of Maxthon's features] that most browsers do not have, to name a few: advanced content filtering system, advanced proxy system, URL key, URL alias, search alias, smart acceleration system… And we believe what we are developing will keep Maxthon ahead. The new feature[s] will include a light security system to help reduce attacks from Trojan, a new web acceleration technology and more…

Read the full interview for more — especially if you’re into skinning and browser customization.

Tags: Interviews, Maxthon, Themes and Skins

In an article titled What Are Google’s Browser Plans?, TechCrunch touches on Google’s tie to Maxthon, the browser in which Google invested nearly a million dollars earlier this year.

The main reason I mention this is that Maxthon is among the many browsers I intend to cover here at Browsersphere (and it’s always interesting to think about where the shoe will drop when it comes to Google and the web browser market).

To get us started thinking about Maxthon in particular, I should point out that users of that browser can now download Microformats Button, the Maxthon equivalent of Firefox’s Operator extension.

I should also point out that there is apparently a Maxthon Lovers Group on Facebook, and that there will be a worldwide Maxthon skin contest starting in the coming weeks.

Tags: Extensions, Google, Maxthon, Rumors, Themes and Skins