Version: 2008
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Browsers

If you're looking for browsers or browser extensions, CNET Download.com has you covered. We feature all the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more, as well as Firefox extensions, Internet Explorer add-ons, even RSS readers. If you want to surf the Web, CNET Download.com is the place to start. See all 64 products in this category.

for the week of: November 08Visits
  1. 1.
    WebNotes Firefox Toolbar

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins13

  2. 2.
    Hackpress

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers5

  3. 3.
    FeedLounge

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers4

  4. 4.
    Twitter Feed Without Replies

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers3

  5. Watch your favorite videos on your favorite devices.
  6. 5.
    iCyte for Firefox

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins3

  7. 6.
    BLoglines

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers3

  8. 7.
    Pageflakes

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  9. Convert any Windows file to a secure PDF document.
  10. 8.
    Quazion

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  11. 9.
    ul.timate.info

    Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins2

  12. 10.
    Yoono

    Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins2

See all most popular software

  1. Reduce multiple passwords to one single item.
Release date
  1. ul.timate.info Oct 09

    Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins

  2. IMDb + Clipland Jul 08

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  3. WebNotes Firefox Toolbar Jun 25

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  4. Streaming Stats Toolbar for Firefox Jun 19

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  5. iCyte for Firefox Jun 17

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  6. MashLogic May 21

    Firefox Add-ons & Plugins

  7. WorldNews Apr 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  8. Yoono Feb 08

    Internet Explorer Add-ons & Plugins

  9. Reddit Jun 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  10. Smashing Feeds Jun 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

See all new releases

  1. 1.
    Feedity

    Create RSS feeds for Web pages easily.

  2. 2.
    Feed2Podcast

    Convert your RSS feeds into Podcasts.

  3. 3.
    EarFeeder

    Deliver RSS enabled newsfeeds based on your favorite music.

  4. 4.
    Fluctu8

    Publish and check sources for new sound file releases and content.

  5. 5.
    Congoo

    Search and access higher level of information on any portal.

  6. 6.
    Google Reader

    Keep track of ever-expanding reading list of Web contents.

  7. 7.
    ZapTXT

    Monitor RSS-enabled sites through email, mobile devices, or IMs.

  8. 8.
    BLoglines

    Create your own blog and access it from any pc or mobile device.

  9. 9.
    Pageflakes

    Build your own homepage that is tailored to your liking.

  10. 10.
    Blorq

    Collect and read the latest news and articles from your favorite sites.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

Official NASA app and a hovercraft racing game: iPhone apps of the week

Posted by Jason Parker on Nov 06, 2009
This week's apps include a free app to explore the latest NASA info and a game where you race at high speeds on a cushion of air.
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mySimon Outdoor Gear mySimon Swimwear mySimon Home and Garden

an introduction to Browsers

Browsers, often called Web browsers, are software clients that allow users to navigate to sites on the World Wide Web. The majority of these Web sites use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but many browsers can also interpret other protocols, including FTP, RSS, and P2P protocols such as BitTorrent. Hypertext pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first ever Web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990, but the software didn't become popular until the release of NCSA Mosaic, the first graphical client.

Browsers truly hit the mainstream with the launch of Netscape Navigator, which was later shortened to simply Netscape, though the free client's popularity was radically affected by the 1995 release of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's entry into the browser market. In the years since, IE has completely dominated the market, only recently losing ground to alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

Aside from general Web browsers, various subsets of the category offer special services. Offline browsers cache content from the Internet for future reference when you're not connected to a network. Newsreaders manage content from Usenet newsgroups and syndicated feeds.

In recent years, the open-source browser Mozilla Firefox has earned praise for the ability of third-party developers to easily create extensions that add functionality. Among the thousands of home-brewed add-ons for Firefox, we've narrowed down our favorites in a collection of the best. The Microsoft browser also allows for IE add-ons, but its closed framework makes it a bit more difficult for developers.