CNET Editors' review
There's a lot to like in this beta release of Flock 1.0, if you're into social networking. Built on Firefox, it's designed to make interfacing with social networking sites extremely easy.
The browser loads pages well, but the Quick Search dialog box doesn't like it when you switch search engines, it just opens them in a new browser. Most, but not all, regular Firefox extensions work, too.
Flock's social network savvy sidebar is the reason to get this browser. Nine buttons at the top of the collapsible sidebar make accessing any of your social networking or frequently used Web sites easier than Twittering what you had for breakfast. Each button either helps you get your message out faster, like dragging-and-dropping photos into Flickr, or helps you read your friends' messages quicker, like the integrated RSS feed reader.
The People button turns the sidebar into a nifty way to track all your social networking accounts. Your avatar is displayed on the left, while the right contains links for new messages and new comments. The bottom holds the links to upload new media when applicable and a hot link to open or close your media stream.
There are also hot links to most major blogging sites, and if you choose to configure it for your own self-published blog, Flock guides you through the process. Even though it's resource-heavy, Flock is the way to go if Twittering, Facebooking, or YouTubing is how you spend most of your online time.
Publisher's Description
From Flock:
Flock is a free Web browser that makes it easier than ever to share photos, stay up-to-date with news from your favorite sites, and search the Web. Flock gives users control over their Web experience by integrating a variety of Web applications and services into its browser, and making participation online easy. Flocks design leverages a simple, elegant interface to deliver a powerful interactive experience thats accessible to power users and everyday mortals alike. Flock is committed to innovation and forward movement, and users can expect something fun and new--designed just for them--every few months.
Version 1.0 beta includes the People sidebar for managing your friends lists, a media bar showing the latest uploads from you and your friends, several usability and stability fixes as well as the latest security patches from Mozilla.
What's new in this version: Version 1.0 beta includes the People sidebar for managing your friends lists, a media bar showing the latest uploads from you and your friends, several usability and stability fixes as well as the latest security patches from Mozilla.
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Installed
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All versions:
3.9 starsout of 130 votes
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Current version:
4.6 starsout of 22 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Really Nice !!"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
Good looking...
Good options...
Tabed...
Abstractly All u need as a browser...
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"Flock is MY NEW FAVORITE BROWSER"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
I'm telling people. I've never experienced the web like this before. All of my friends and news sources in one place. I feel liberated! Thank you Flock!
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"hi"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
hi
Cons
hi
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"Great browser!"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
cool and useful sidebar, great design
Cons
slow, but...it is a beta....so...it's ok
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"Fun to use browser"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
I've been using it all day and i can say that it is fun. Works fast and really is a social media browser.
Cons
Non that a can find yet.
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"It is Great Browser"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
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"Really slow"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
Love the new good and extra features.
Cons
It runs really slow on my computer which is just a year old. Places like Flickr just seem to pause for long periods before loading fully.
It is very much a memory hog and one I can no longer use.
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"Major step into a Web paradigm shift"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
Everyone knows the Web is changing, and that web sites technology are screaming their heads off to be more usable and useful. But it is also a fact that if the supporting browser lends a hand, it is an extremely easier task. This is the case with social web, with both online presence and media sharing aspects. Flock aids the user by removing the burden of having to login to such sites, checking for news at specific places, maintaining separate contact lists, and checking for media content in different locations (among other features). The fact that most Firefox add-ons still work is also a major plus (along with its seamless Firefox profile import feature!)
Cons
This is not a general purpose browsing tool. It's very "social web"-oriented, and thus it's greatly bloated if one wants to search the web, do web development or visit specific web applications...
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"Great browser for social users"
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
Flock has a lot of things going for it for the forum posters and random bloggers out there. It's one of the new browsers that has actually added on to whatever base it was using, in this case, firefox. Most clones take away, but Flock has become something in itself. The media stream is fantastic, and the note taking ability is something very useful.
Cons
Only really made for social site users. If you don't have a flickr, youtube, photobucket, blog, then Flock doesn't really offer you much more than a somewhat different looking browser.
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"my dedication to this browser borders on "creepy as a mac user""
Version: Flock 1.0 beta
Pros
what is not to like? i don't have to login to flickr to upload my photos. if i drag one to the browser it knows i'm in need of the uploader. i can blog anything from anywhere, and when i save favorites i can save them locally or to the web.
the people bar is the latest, greatest thing. how WONDERFUL not to have to go IM trolling to find and harass the people i love.
the rss reader, the favorites, the very clever extensions, and the way that you can do everything in one browser without having to go to page after page of social network, makes me happy. before i became a flockulist i scoffed at flickr and facebook, now i am all over those things. i don't use the youtube much, but i am in love with the media bar for looking at images.
Cons
the problem is that once you start to get the hang of how to flock, you forget to do stuff like work, make lunch, or catch "how it's made" even if it's the one you *really* wanted to catch.
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