Celensoft Super Web – Review

fair
key review info
application features
  • Large page previews
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Web browsers have become increasingly complex at a fast pace and it’s no wonder that they have, since they occupy a central spot on any computer device.

Although users focus on just a few major browsers, there are plenty of alternatives that encompass more functionality. New choices pop up quite often, most of them quickly fading into oblivion because they fail to achieve the current standards.

Celensoft Super Web is a newcomer that attempts a fresh approach to this type of applications, and combines social networking features with some unique options and capabilities.

Just like all web browsers, this one is also available free of charge. Getting the application on the system does not take too long, and at the first launch you are asked to select the default search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask.com or Aol) as well as to import bookmarks.

Our test system had the latest stable versions of Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera installed.

When it came to transferring the bookmarks, Celensoft Super Web managed to list only Chrome and Opera in the import dialog, although, when we selected any of them, it issued a warning informing that the browser could not be found on the system. In its defense, the bookmark importing feature is announced as work in progress.

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The interface is not impressive, but it follows the trend already imposed by the most popular browsers, with a flat tab bar and an address bar that shares the space with additional functions, such as “back,” “forward,” “home” and “refresh” buttons, as well as icon for accessing the quick configuration menu.

The set of options available under this area seem to be aimed especially at users very active on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Posting to the Facebook wall and updating the tweet feed can be done through standalone entries that have keyboard shortcuts assigned for a faster process. For sharing the current page on any of the three social platforms, there is a menu separate entry that expands, allowing you to select the desired channel.

Celensoft Super Web integrates Google-powered capabilities for translating web pages. All you need to do is select a language, hit the “Translate” button and wait for the translated content to appear in a new window.

The application also includes a download manager and a basic form of bookmark manager. As far as the latter is concerned, it stores all links as they’re added, with no possibility to organize them in any way, resulting in a list of entries that cannot be searched or grouped into folders or categories.

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Configuring this browser is a far simpler task than with Chrome or Firefox. The list of choices is limited to the regular ones relating to the tabs that should be opened at launch, defining the home page, default download folder and the search engine.

There is also the possibility to impose a tab limit, an option the developer recommends to be enabled on older systems, with fewer resources.

Additional options allow you to control the display of favicons and of auto-complete searches and web addresses, confirmation for starting a download task.

By default, the application offers previewing of opened pages; this is activated by moving the mouse cursor over the tabs. This can be turned off from the configuration panel.

Celensoft Super Web is not a full-fledged web browser. During our tests, we bumped into all sorts of issues, ranging from crash-serious to heavily crippled usability.

Standard hotkeys have different functionality here. Ctrl+T, generally used for opening a new tab, launches the translate function in a separate window; opening a new tab can be done from the tab bar or by using Ctrl+N, a shortcut that in popular browsers fires up a new instance.

Initiating a private session using the assigned hotkey (Ctrl+Shift+N) launches two blank tabs titled Celensoft Super Web. Furthermore, the messages announcing your entering or exiting this mode seem to remain visible on the screen until you close them manually.

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The list of glitches we found is pretty large, but among the most significant is the wait time required for opening a new tab, which increases as you use the application. Crashes out of the blue are not uncommon.

We noticed that RAM usage is continually increasing (not at an alarming rate, though), even if there is no activity in the browser.

The application also has a few good parts, such as previewing the pages at a much larger scale than a thumbnail by simply holding the mouse over the tab.

On the same note, the embedded social functions allow constant monitoring of the Facebook and Twitter feed as well as the inbox activity in Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and Hotmail. The Mini Browser component achieves this in a separate, mobile view-style window that sits on top of everything else on the screen.

Celensoft Super Web (wrapped with Awesomium, which relies on a version of WebKit) is a project with a one-man force behind it. If you add the fact that the author is a 16-year-old who does the work in his spare time, the effort is quite commendable, despite all malfunctions and quirky usability.

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The Good

The social functions (posting to Facebook and Twitter, checking the feed and email or sharing the current web page) available in the program are a nifty implementation and so is page previewing.

The Bad

We experienced numerous crashes and other malfunctions. Looks are far from impressive and usability is heavily affected by confusing shortcuts, slow response to some commands and lack of intuitiveness.

The Truth

Celensoft Super Web is impressive only when you see it as project developed in the spare time of a 16-year-old, with no funding or a background in programming.

There is plenty of work to be done, but it incorporates features that many users would be happy to have in the popular alternatives.

user interface 3
features 2
ease of use 2
pricing / value 2


final rating 2
Editor's review
fair
 
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