CNET Editors' review
Facebook fanatics should check out RockMelt, a free Web browser that integrates Facebook in its features and interface. It's based on the same open-source browser kernel as Google Chrome, so it's fast and versatile. RockMelt displays your friends, services, and other Facebook features right inside its interface. It's incredibly easy to share stuff with friends, too. While RockMelt works perfectly well as an everyday browser, it's specially configured for Facebook users, and its integrated features may be less appealing to others.
When we opened RockMelt for the first time, the setup wizard contacted Facebook and offered to sign us in. While it's possible to skip this step by clicking Cancel and continuing the setup, two things nevertheless became apparent: 1) When RockMelt says it's integrated with Facebook, that's no idle boast; and 2) If you don't live on Facebook, this level of integration may not be welcome, for security reasons as much as for convenience.
Since RockMelt is based on the Chromium kernel, it has a familiar feel. It adds some unique features, such as slender sidebars for displaying online friends and status updates. We clicked the Quick Guide link, which focused on its unique Facebook-oriented features like Publish, for updating your Facebook page without leaving your current page; Add Apps, for adding extensions to the App Edge toolbar; and Share, which let us quickly share Web pages, including comments. You can search from the address bar, as in Chrome, or in a separate search field. A drop-down menu in the upper left corner gave us access to the full range of menus and options found in Chromium-based browsers.
RockMelt saves tons of time and effort over using Facebook via a conventional browser. But if you don't spend most of your online time on Facebook, its heavy level of integration and the associated privacy and security issues might be a drawback. The browser is a work in progress, too, and will doubtless change as Facebook changes. Facebook fans will Like it, we're guessing!
Publisher's Description
From RockMelt:
RockMelt isn't your grandpa's browser. For, it's got built-in chat, sharing, and instant website updates. In addition to being built on Google's open source Chromium project, RockMelt also integrates Facebook and is powered by back-end cloud services to give you a browser that: 1) Lets you share, chat, publish updates, and stay in touch on Facebook--all from within the browser; 2) Alerts you of updates to your favorite websites automatically; 3) Searches and previews results faster; 4) Syncs your bookmarks, preferences, feeds, apps, favorite friends, and more across your computers automatically; 5) Supports Chrome extensions and add-ons.
RockMelt is in the Web Browsers category of the Browsers section.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 35 votes
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Current version:
3.4 starsout of 13 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"rock melt is good for your computer"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
do you know about rock melt? is good fot your computer
Cons
do you fnow about rockmelt?
Summary
The guys over at RockMelt have done a great job of integrating the Facebook chat onto their web browser. It's so good that were willing to say that its better than Facebooks own! The chat is not only easy on the eyes, but operates smooth and efficiently.
The contacts appear along the left side bar, allowing the user to have constant access and view of whose online ( via facebook ). RockMelt has given space for the user to "star" certain friends, putting them in a different category where they can easily be found, RockMelt has also ensured that friends can easily be searched up.
One thing we did notice was that the status of our friends on chat now popped up with an orange light that indicated they'd been idle for a while. Unlike the "blank" we draw on Facebook's chat.
But wait, here's what sealed the deal for us. In the midst of writing up this review, a mate of mine sent me over a youtube link. And guess what? The video popped up in what I'll now call my "RockMelt Facebook Chat" and we were able to view it via the chat window! So we probed around a bit more and found that not only would videos load in the page, but so would links to images! Impressive.
RockMelt seems to have cut off having to post images/videos/articles on your friends walls and have instead introduced a way to instantly view such media instantly, instead of having to hop to another web page. this is my web site www.desktopwallpapersblog.com and this browser most suitable for view image sites.thanks for read this. -
"I love the way I can surf and still stay in touch"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
Lets me never miss a message from facebook
Cons
locks up sometimes
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"They spam your friends"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
Some people may like the Facebook integration.
Cons
When you sign up they begin spamming your Facebook friends without your permission.
Summary
I agree with what the other reviewer (foxxybrowne) wrote.
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"This New Browser is Awesome, Fast & Easy to use"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
This New Browser is Awesome, Smooth, Fast and so easy to use, the way Chrome should be, wont use any other, unless this gets some teething problems, but so far, I've had a trouble-free experience !! So its 10/10 from me for 3 wks of use....Congrats to the RockMelt Team, for bringing us a great platform from which we, the users can finally Enjoy !! Keep up the good work !! Thumbs Up !!
Cons
The only slight addition i think is needed would be the ability to sort (alpha-numeric with ascending and descending order) the friends list on the right side bar and maybe even on the left side bar too
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"Security Issues with RockMelt"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
Seems fast
Cons
Security access is not necessary
Control over my account
Posting for me not gonna happen
Problems with FlashPlayerSummary
I would use this software if not for all the controls they have put on this software for private information. Passwords, ability to post on my behalf, only a nut would give that much access to their account. I would rather crash a lot on Chrome and IE before giving someone the ability to post on my behalf. This can have serious implications after all the world is watching what you post. Employers, friends, family and clergy not to mention the government. If they were hacked and my infomation was compromised irreversible damage could be done to my reputation and finances. The possibilities are numerous in ways I could be damaged by the access and securities they want to have.
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"Rockmelt is not a good program"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
none that I could find
Cons
sends messages purported to be from you that you did not send.
requires permission to read your messages and send and post as youSummary
it steals your friends list and sends messages to them and is spreading like wildfire by stealing everyone's friends list. I have removed it from my computer and changed my passwords but it is still sending messages purported to be from me. Avoid this like the plague.
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"Annoying bugs and lackluster alternatives."
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
You're able to be "Online" and connected to Facebook, such as chat and receive notifications, without actually being there. In other words, you won't need to spare an extra tab for Facebook unless you want to do something like upload a video, etc.
Cons
Many of the messages that were sent to me on Facebook do not appear in Rockmelt's chat window. The Facebook related features of Rockmelt, such as the notifications icon in the top-left corner, run off the window before displaying all of the desired information, such as what the notification specifically was about. Many Google Chrome extensions do not appear in icon form next to the URL window, either.
Summary
Try it out for a while. See for yourself. If you have a Mac, I personally recommend Menutab from the App Store instead for Facebook needs.
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"Too Confusing"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
Brings accounts in one place, for email, social, and chat.
Cons
For the life of me I just can't get this to work properly. I have a scientist as a husband, and even he was pulling his hair out. For something that is supposed to make my life easier it just seems like it's one more thing I have to have open in addition to everything else.
Summary
Make it easier to use, make it natural to do what you expect the program to do. I tried out Multimi at the same time and did an apples to apples comparison, they both do similar things. I just found Multimi to be so much easier to work with and it did what I wanted. Rockmelt should really take notice and study how Multimi is doing it, they could learn a lot.
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"COOL AND VERY GOOD APP"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
easy to use, fast, and lets me navigate all my favorite websites/widgets all at once, keeps u updated on ur other accounts like new emails, new tweets, utube, etc. good social networking browser
Cons
its the same with google and mozilla.i hope it will a have a feature like maxthon when u play a video in utube and zoom the video in, the buffer would not restart. in maxthon it will open a new window and it saves ur buffer.
Summary
ive been using this for almost a year. i usually dont stick with browsers and antivirus, maintenance programs/apps i keep switching. but i really like rockmelt.
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"Google with Facebook"
Version: RockMelt 0.9.68.1535
Pros
absolutely rocks love it fast easy and safe :) :)
Cons
nothing Yet been using it for awhile absolutely nothing wrong and it's Beta :) :)
Summary
probably best browsers out there all other browsers have issues not 1 issue with Rockmelt :)
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