Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
The browser wars used to be a superpower slugfest, but these days it's more like a free-for-all. Ironically, more browser choices doesn't necessarily mean a lot of different browsers to choose from, due in part to an emerging commonality in design and features. Tabs, integrated address bars, sidebars, extensions, add-ons, and widgets add useful features and let users customize their browsing experience. Element Browser offers most of what the others do, but with some unique features, chief of which is shelves, which are like souped-up tabs that display open content in thumbnails, and the Personal Hub feature that lets you set your favorite sites for quick and easy access. There's also a Web Applications Dock for quick access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Digg.
Element Browser's user interface is nicely configured and free of clutter, thanks to dynamic panes that appear and disappear as needed. The Element Browser menu, aka the Browser Orb in some themes, is the starting point, a well-designed pop-up menu that offers easy access to all important functions, such as Downloads, Widgets, Social, and Page Tools as well as browsing history, accounts, options, and the Start Hub. The default view of the Hub is eight windows with captions, which we could configure via the browser's settings. As a browser, Element is fast, limited only by our bandwidth. However, we searched everywhere through the interface and Help file for some means of importing bookmarks or favorites from another browser but couldn't find one. There's a way to sync bookmarks online with a discontinued Web-based account service, which didn't help much.
On the other hand, Element Browser has some cool features, such as integrated social media (Twitter) via the Social menu, the Web Apps Dock, and Developer Tools like DOM Inspector and Strict Standards Mode (Kestrel). There's also an interesting hardware acceleration option that uses your graphics card's processing power to render Web pages using OpenGL and AniCore frameworks, though it isn't enabled by default. It also has useful antiphishing and dynamic malware protection, too. And as an everyday browser, Element Browser proved as capable and easy to use as any of the big names.
Publisher's Description
From Element Software:
Visualize your websites in shelves. Reorder them, get live previews. All the power of conventional tabs has been super improved with shelfs. Element Browser gives you incredible power, simplicity and extreme ease of use. Never get lost in a sea of windows again. Web developing can be a daunting task. However, with Element Browser, it is made a breeze. Together, with sophisticated technology, including the ElementKit platform, combined with technologies from Mozilla Foundation, developing and testing websites with Element Browser could be no easier. We've added a powerful JavaScript debugging engine, source editor, cache manager and advanced plug-in editor. And, ElementKit platform complies with the WC3 standards, so you don't have to worry about your webpage breaking in other browsers.
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All versions:
2.1 starsout of 8 votes
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Current version:
2.2 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-4 of 4
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"Would not install"
Version: Element Browser 6.0
Pros
I'd prefer not to give a rating when programs won't install
Cons
won't install
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"Seems a good idea, but it's poorly executed"
Version: Element Browser 6.0
Pros
Clean interface, fairly fast web browsing
Cons
Shows internal fatal errors and loses tab info when changing the display mode. Loks like It's not a finished product.
Summary
Could get to be a good option, but I would wait maybe a complete new version beofre trying Element browser again. It contains some interesting ideas but it's not sound enough to replace your everyday browser. Yet. Maybe.
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"Element Browser"
Version: Element Browser 6.0
Pros
Small Interface, Fast, Nice Security, Nice Design, Easy to Use, Has a dock
Cons
Not many widgets or themes, dock animation is annoying
Summary
Element Browser, what to say about it. It would be a browser that I would use if my browser was to bulky, uncustomizable, and slow. I wouldn't use this as my #1 browser because of a couple reasons, but I like some things about it that my favorite browser doesn't have.
The browser has a nice interface. What i used to hate about IE is that there was always that annoying bulky interface. I didn't want to move anything because then I would loose my tools that I used. What is nice about this one, it is small and the navigation bar is only one bar. When I loaded up a couple websites, it loaded fast and easy. I like the design of it, the one bar navigation, the tabs below, and the nice home menu. I found that this was easy to use unlike some newer browsers that are hard to find some settings other browsers offer with ease. One thing I really like is the dock, I have my own dock on my computer and I love it But, one thing about the dock is a downside.
The browser doesn't have many widgets or themes. The company can only help this to a certain degree, depending on available money, the influence the company has, and the interest of companies into the browser. One thing I did not like about the dock, is the animation when you rollover is annoying. The dock should have the icons stay larger with the rest going smaller until the original size, this time only the one you have rolled over is large and it goes instantly small when you roll off instead of slowly. This could be updated in my eyes, maybe not others. If you want to use the developer tools, I think they are annoying to access. My browser is just a right click away, this one is 2 clicks away from access.
I would only recommend this to people who want to try a new browser and want a faster and smaller interface, but with that comes less customization. This is a new browser and doesn't offer as much as others, but the browser works good. -
"Not so good"
Version: Element Browser 6.0
Pros
Many up-to-date features.
Cons
A little slow. A bit buggy. Bloatful and a big size compared to other browsers.
Summary
Get other browser instead. Of course, it is no harm to try out this browser.
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