14 DAY TRIAL // With time, web browsers reached their current state in which they are pretty much complete. After all, just what non-existent functionality can be added into a web browser? They already function as mail clients and FTP clients and download managers and RSS aggregators, tabbed browsing has been widely accepted by every browser out there and there is simply little else to add. Of course, there are still small details and options that set each browser apart, but all of the big pieces are already in place. And it makes sense, since the Web, as a platform is in essence a combination of text and images, and there is only so much that can change about it since it needs to keep compatibility with itself. But this is not to say that web browsers have hit a wall that they cannot yet pass, and there is still some innovation taking place. One of the strangest things I have seen recently was the Mini Shiira browser widget, which I've tried out and deemed less than useful. After all, just how much time do you spend in Dashboard every day? Is it enough to justify having a dedicated browser widget, when you could simply use the full-blown browser itself?
Unfortunately, the Dashboard implementation limits the usefulness of the mini Shiira browser, but there is another browser that does things right, and it is called DeskBrowse.
What it does
DeskBrowse is a web browser. However, it is a browser unlike any other, because of the way it was intended to be used. Unlike traditional browsers that are designed for heavy browsing, and to be packed with features, DeskBrowse is intended to be a light weight browser.
Those who work heavily with the web often find themselves with many windows open, each window often having tens of tabs. That's a lot of windows, and a lot of tabs, and while that is great for when you are browsing, it is less than ideal when you are doing a complex task that also requires a web browser. Sure, you could open up a new window, with new tabs, but more often than not the number of windows you have to juggle can get easily out of hand. Another solution, for those who do not do this already, is to use several browsers but even like this, things can be hard to manage.
DeskBrowse has a very different approach: it is a discrete, on demand browser. Similar to a drawer that can be there when you need it and gone when you do not, DeskBrowse only has one single tabbed window that can be hidden and shown at will.
Working with it
Using DeskBrowse is quite simple. When you need it, you can invoke the program using one of the two available shortcuts. The beauty of the program is that it can function in one of two modes. In SlideBrowser mode, the window is similar to a drawer that opens up from the side of the screen, taking up little space and fitting perfectly in a multi program workflow. The window can be shown and hidden at will and it will simply slide in and out of the side of the screen. There is only one window, which cuts down on clutter, but it does have support for multiple tabs so you can have a reasonable number of pages open at any given time.
The second mode in which you can use DeskBrowse is Webspose, which is a full screen, kiosk mode in which nothing else other than the browser is visible. Once you bring it up, it will automatically cover the entire screen, and everything else will be taken out of the way.
The entire idea of this browser is to be ideally suited for both full time and casual browsing. When in Webspose, you can browse with no distractions and make the most out of the screen space you have. Conversely, when you are doing something else and want to take a quick peak at a site, you can simply open the SlideBrowser, type it in and then hide it to let it load the page while you work.
Nothing new under the sun
In a way, DeskBrowse is not that big a deal. Many browsers already have a Full-Screen mode, also their window can be resized to take up a little space on the screen, similar to a drawer, but while indeed this may seem similar on the surface to how DeskBrowse works, this similarity is only skin deep.
Full-Screen mode requires you to already be in the browser when you activate it, and similarly, when you turn it off, you are back in a browser, whereas DeskBrowse can be invoked regardless of what application you are in, and as soon as you hide it, you are back in that application. Same goes for the SlideBrowser mode, which can be activated from anywhere. While the functionality may be existent, the way in which it is implemented is quite unique.
The Good
Simple, elegant, on-demand web browser. Ideal for both heavy and light browsers alike.
The Bad
The additional windows such as Downloads and History are impractical because of their transparency. The bevels used by Apple are simple in content, often little more than just a symbol and a progress bar. Trying to read a browser's history of a half transparent bevel should be forbidden by the Geneva Convention.
The Truth
If you need an on-demand browser, then be sure to give this little gem a look. This is what the next generation of browsers will look like.
Here are some screenshots, click to enlarge:
