Browsers

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 67 products in this category.

for the week of: November 29Visits

1.
WebNotes Firefox Toolbar
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins17
2.
FoxyWebSearch for Firefox
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins5
3.
Social Media Firehose
Newsreaders & RSS Readers4
4.
eBay Simple Price Search
Newsreaders & RSS Readers3
Real Player SP

Watch your favorite videos on your favorite devices.

Download Now
5.
Google Reader
Newsreaders & RSS Readers3
6.
Quazion
Newsreaders & RSS Readers2
7.
Alltop
Newsreaders & RSS Readers2
J. River Media Center

Organize and play audio, video, images, TV, Web media.

Download Now
8.
Amazon Item Search
Newsreaders & RSS Readers2
9.
BLoglines
Newsreaders & RSS Readers2
10.
Feed Sifter
Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

See all most popular software

System Surveillance Pro

Monitor PC activity by logging websites, keystrokes and chats.

Download Now

Release date

GREedge Toolbar Nov 23
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
PriceTrace Toolbar Nov 20
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
FoxyWebSearch for Firefox Nov 12
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
ul.timate.info Oct 09
Other Browser Add-ons & Plugins
IMDb + Clipland Jul 08
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
WebNotes Firefox Toolbar Jun 25
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
Streaming Stats Toolbar for Firefox Jun 19
Newsreaders & RSS Readers
iCyte for Firefox Jun 17
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
MashLogic May 21
Firefox Add-ons & Plugins
WorldNews Apr 23
Newsreaders & RSS Readers

See all new releases

1.
Feedity
Create RSS feeds for Web pages easily.
2.
Feed2Podcast
Convert your RSS feeds into Podcasts.
3.
EarFeeder
Deliver RSS enabled newsfeeds based on your favorite music.
4.
Fluctu8
Publish and check sources for new sound file releases and content.
5.
Congoo
Search and access higher level of information on any portal.
6.
Google Reader
Keep track of ever-expanding reading list of Web contents.
7.
ZapTXT
Monitor RSS-enabled sites through email, mobile devices, or IMs.
8.
BLoglines
Create your own blog and access it from any pc or mobile device.
9.
Pageflakes
Build your own homepage that is tailored to your liking.
10.
Blorq
Collect and read the latest news and articles from your favorite sites.

See all editor's picks

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.

from the download blog

Windows Starter Kit refreshed for 2010

an introduction to Browsers