10 Surprising Browser Alternatives

Flock can be considered a fusion of Web browser and Web 2.0. Not only can you browse from within Flock using your search engine of choice, but you can add widgets that link in realtime favored social networking and media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr and more. The "Favorite Feeds" option displays favorite RSS feeds alongside with Twitter status updates. The search bar operates in much the same way as the Firefox "Awesome Bar." Just type in a word or phrase to search and Flock will pull up the associated sites from the Web or search history. The Media Bar will search the Web for media files and streams. Users also can upload photos and post to blogs all from within Flock. Flock is built on Firefox's code.

Ultrabrowser is ultralightweight. It's built with the same core code as Internet Explorer but has more customizable features, such as multiple-skin support, a Web-based bookmark manager, ad-serving technologies and more. The toolbar can be viewed in standard or slim mode, reducing the amount of real estate taken up on screen. Ultrabrowser also has an integrated pop-up blocker and one-click access to popular instant messaging applications.

Avant is a fast-performing browser that combines elements of IE and Opera, yet has its own unique features. For instance, you can run Avant from a flash drive or any other portable device such as an MP3 player. Bookmarks, feeds, auto-fills and settings are stored in online profile storage, so a user can retain Avant customizations from any computer, anywhere. Security and performance features include built-in privacy controls and the ability to block flash animation (much of which is advertisements). There also is a neat language translator that will translate displayed Web pages in 20 different languages.

This small, fast browser is free of ads and pop-ups. Enigma uses IE's Trident layout engine. It's got a Popup Killer, built-in skins that can easily be changed to a user's color preference plus a feature known as Site Group. Site Groups are user-created collections of Web sites. Security includes blacklist/whitelist filtering. Enigma also supports URL Alias.

GreenBrowser has some clever features. For one, you can perform searches by dragging and dropping text into the browser. You can drag a link to open it in a new window. The search bar is customizable, with special search buttons for news, software, dictionary, MP3 files and more. Other features include Auto Scroll, External Toolbar, Page Manager, Link Lists and Page Background Color Customization.

Lunascape combines the underlying technologies of IE, Firefox, Safari and Chrome into one engine. As a matter of fact, after installing Lunascape, you can select the default engine you want Lunascape to use: Trident (IE), Gecko (Firefox) or Webkit. Users also can opt to have the browser look like IE 6 or 7 or Safari, or you can use the Web mode look. With customizable design options, plus menu and submenu customizations, Lunascape is a tech tinkerer's dream.

K-Meleon is based on the Gecko layout engine. The developers promote it as "The browser you control." That seems to be the case, as K-Meleon has plug-in commands for macros, accelerators, menus and toolbars. There also are command line options. Much of the behavior of K-Meleon can be controlled through the PreferencesDialog.

Seamonkey isn't just a browser, it's an all-in-one applications suite. Based on the Mozilla Application Suite, Seamonkey has IRC Chat support, an HTML editor and a Messenger client that incorporates enterprise-ready features such as S/MIME, return receipts, address books, LDAP support and digital signing. Intelligent junk mail control gets more adaptive the longer it's used.

Smart Bro's got a cool name and cool interface. Features include tabbed interface, history clean-up on exit of an Internet session, tabs toolbar and an option to save all documents on exit. Once available for a fee, Smart Bro is now freeware. The latest version has support for full-screen view, RSS feeds and an integrated entertainment section.

iRider is available for trial use for 21 days and then it's $19.95 for registration of all version updates indefinitely. iRider has a ton of features. The Page List allows users to flip back and forth between multiple pages effortlessly. Surf-Ahead is a feature that speeds up downloading of new pages while a user is on a current page. You also can search across multiple search engines all at once. With iRider, users can send or receive entire sets of pages via e-mail, IM or a document.