Features

Mozilla Firefox 18 is the latest version of the popular web browser and brings with it a few key and welcome new features. First among them is the company's claim to a speedier, safer browsing experience. Tests reveal that this newest version of Mozilla Firefox is certainly quick to load even the most graphics intense pages.

Firefox 18 also now features secure connections when performing Google searches to improve privacy and there's an updated site identity indicator in the URL bar. Windows users also now get silent updates while Mac users on Lion or above can use Firefox in full-screen mode.

Mozilla Firefox's new tab layout itself is a pretty noticeable new feature. Quite similar to Google's Chrome browser, instead of seeing a blank page whenever a new tab is opened Firefox users will now be treated to icons that offer quick access to everything from bookmarks to most recently accessed and most frequently visited sites.

These icons are fully customizable in Mozilla Firefox as well. You can click and drag them to any spot you like on your name tab's page. If you're not a fan, you can also go to the grid icon on the upper right side of your browser and erase them entirely.

Something completely new to Mozilla Firefox is Facebook integration. Firefox now supports Facebook's social API so you can have dedicated buttons for Facebook in your browser. Mozilla Firefox supports Facebook's Messenger within Firefox, giving users desktop notifications as well as a persistent friends list and activity feed on the right. Conversations will open up as overlays on top of whatever website you're on so you can multitask while you chat.

Usability

Mozilla Firefox really changed the way people browse the web when it originally burst onto the scene. Today Firefox remains an incredibly powerful and customizable browser, although competition from Google Chrome has given it a definite run for its money.

Conclusion

Mozilla Firefox 20's interface isn't much different from previous versions, but the features it has added certainly make for a nicer, more enjoyable browsing experience overall.

What's new

For full release notes, please visit https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/20.0/releasenotes/

Download Mozilla Firefox 21 in Softonic

Features

The beta release of Chime has support for ten web services: Google+, Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, Quora, Flickr, GitHub, Foursquare, Reddit, and Stackoverflow. For Chime to recognize a service you must log into each of them separately from their main website. Once you’ve logged in to one or more of these services Chime will notify you of activity in three ways. First, a pop-up will show in the lower right corner of your desktop. Second, clicking the Chime extension icon will show a drop down list of all unread alerts. Last, you can open a Chime tab that will provide all past notifications.

With all of these great features it's a shame that Chime does not support other popular web services such as LinkedIn, Tumblr, or Outlook. Hopefully these will be included in the final release.

Usability

Chime is intuitive and easy to use. You will be presented with large icons of each of the supported web services, though there are no rollovers or headers for ones you might not be familiar with. Clicking on an icon will take you to the corresponding website where you can log in. Chime's functionality depends on your settings on each individual website. For example, if you disable notifications on Facebook, then Chime will have nothing to intercept. Clicking on a notification will take you directly to the corresponding website.

Despite Chime’s name there are no actual audio notifications or settings to change how notifications appear. At present you can only choose to enable/disable desktop notifications. You can filter and hide each service type in both the drop down menu and Chime tab. However, if you do not have log in cookies enabled filtering will log you out of a service.

Quality

Chime is coordinated with each network’s prime color: Facebook is blue, Reddit is orange, etc. Whenever a notification pops up or is checked it will have a clear colored banner. Chime has slow down when first logging into a service, especially if it’s accumulating hundreds of unread emails or replies. After the initial hiccup Chime works smoothly without noticeable performance issues.

Conclusion

Chime is a great way to stay on top of ten popular web services and social networks. The beta might have some minor performance and functionality issues, but it’s still an excellent means of monitoring popular sites.

Download Chime 1.73 in Softonic

Windows 8 launched with Internet Explorer 10 installed by default but Windows 7 users were still stuck with IE 9. With Internet Explorer 10 Preview, Windows 7 users can now enjoy some of the new features that Windows 8 already have.

While Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 lives a double life as a touch-based and desktop browser, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 only presents the desktop version of IE 10. Still, there are plenty of interface and upgrades under the hood.

Interface

The interface of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 has changed only a little. The forward and back buttons are integrated into the window, making the look of Internet Explorer 10 Preview more seamless. Tabs and the address bar share the same space. If you have a lot of tabs open, the interface can look a bit cluttered.

Menus have been simplified and the menu bar is still hidden by default. Users can get to all of the options from the little gear icon on the top right. The options menu is still there for the more technically inclined but it hasn't received any update.

Performance

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 is the quickest version of the browser yet. Microsoft has included support for web standards like CSS animations, HTML5 spell checking, and improved JavaScript performance. The browser definitely feels a lot snappier than previous versions and puts it on par with competitors like Firefox and Chrome. Microsoft even partnered with Atari and Contre Jour to show off the power of Internet Explorer 10.

In our HTML5 benchmarks, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 fell behind both Chrome and Opera but beat out Firefox. It is slightly faster than IE 9 and much faster than IE 8. Microsoft has done a great job of making Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 a speedy browser.

Security

IE has been very weak in the security department and Microsoft hopes to change this with Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7. The main security addition to Internet Explorer 10 Preview is "Enhanced Protected Mode," which will lock down parts of the Windows operating system, preventing the browser from accessing the OS. There will be specific pop-ups that will ask for permission to access part of the OS that a browser typically doesn't require. This will help prevent viruses or hackers from gaining access to your files, even if IE has been compromised.

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 takes a page out of Google's play book and adds automatic updating. This way, users won't have to remember to update their browsers for the latest security and performance upgrades.

Do Not Track

It seems that just about every browser these days has a 'do not track' feature. This feature allows users to opt out of targeted advertising. With Google Chrome, you'll have to enable it yourself. Microsoft makes 'do not track' user friendly by having it be opt-out instead. This move by Microsoft has upset some companies with its do not track enabled by default. Some companies have announced that they will be ignoring Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7's do not track settings.

Integrated Flash

Like in Windows 8's version of Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 will feature integrated Adobe Flash support but only for selected sites. The Flash plugin isn't integrated into Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 yet but will be added in a future update for the browser.

Wrap-up

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 offers a great look at the future of IE 10 but lacks the complete touch-focused redesigned of IE 10 for Windows 8. There are still interface elements in the Internet Explorer 10 Preview that look and feel antiquated. Unfortunately, its improvements aren't enough to sway users away from competitors like Firefox or Chrome.

Download Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 10.0.9200.16521 in Softonic

Windows 8 launched with Internet Explorer 10 installed by default but Windows 7 users were still stuck with IE 9. With Internet Explorer 10 Preview, Windows 7 users can now enjoy some of the new features that Windows 8 already have.

While Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 lives a double life as a touch-based and desktop browser, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 only presents the desktop version of IE 10. Still, there are plenty of interface and upgrades under the hood.

Interface

The interface of Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 has changed only a little. The forward and back buttons are integrated into the window, making the look of Internet Explorer 10 Preview more seamless. Tabs and the address bar share the same space. If you have a lot of tabs open, the interface can look a bit cluttered.

Menus have been simplified and the menu bar is still hidden by default. Users can get to all of the options from the little gear icon on the top right. The options menu is still there for the more technically inclined but it hasn't received any update.

Performance

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 is the quickest version of the browser yet. Microsoft has included support for web standards like CSS animations, HTML5 spell checking, and improved JavaScript performance. The browser definitely feels a lot snappier than previous versions and puts it on par with competitors like Firefox and Chrome. Microsoft even partnered with Atari and Contre Jour to show off the power of Internet Explorer 10.

In our HTML5 benchmarks, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 fell behind both Chrome and Opera but beat out Firefox. It is slightly faster than IE 9 and much faster than IE 8. Microsoft has done a great job of making Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 a speedy browser.

Security

IE has been very weak in the security department and Microsoft hopes to change this with Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7. The main security addition to Internet Explorer 10 Preview is "Enhanced Protected Mode," which will lock down parts of the Windows operating system, preventing the browser from accessing the OS. There will be specific pop-ups that will ask for permission to access part of the OS that a browser typically doesn't require. This will help prevent viruses or hackers from gaining access to your files, even if IE has been compromised.

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 takes a page out of Google's play book and adds automatic updating. This way, users won't have to remember to update their browsers for the latest security and performance upgrades.

Do Not Track

It seems that just about every browser these days has a 'do not track' feature. This feature allows users to opt out of targeted advertising. With Google Chrome, you'll have to enable it yourself. Microsoft makes 'do not track' user friendly by having it be opt-out instead. This move by Microsoft has upset some companies with its do not track enabled by default. Some companies have announced that they will be ignoring Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7's do not track settings.

Integrated Flash

Like in Windows 8's version of Internet Explorer 10, Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 will feature integrated Adobe Flash support but only for selected sites. The Flash plugin isn't integrated into Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 yet but will be added in a future update for the browser.

Wrap-up

Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 offers a great look at the future of IE 10 but lacks the complete touch-focused redesigned of IE 10 for Windows 8. There are still interface elements in the Internet Explorer 10 Preview that look and feel antiquated. Unfortunately, its improvements aren't enough to sway users away from competitors like Firefox or Chrome.

Download Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7 10.0.9200.16521 64 bit in Softonic

With the official release of Windows 8 around the corner, Mozilla is scrambling to complete its version of Firefox Metro Preview. The interface is completely redesigned and has taken some designed cues from Google Chrome like its rounded tabs instead of Firefox's traditional squared off corners.

The first thing users will notice about this version of Firefox is its Windows 8 Modern UI inspired home page with your most frequently visited sites and bookmarks. The interface is intuitive and feels like it's part of the operating system.

Firefox Metro Preview also features a new tab bar at the top that shows live thumbnails of the sites you have open. This is impressive and goes with the Windows 8 'live tiles' feel. The tabs are also big enough to manipulate by touch without having to be too precise. Firefox Metro Preview feels like much more of a complete product than Google Chrome for the Modern UI.

Firefox Metro Preview's search is also integrated into Windows now so users can quickly bring up the search field by pressing Windows + F. This works for Google results so you get instant suggestions for completing search terms. Bookmarks also get a major overhaul. Bookmarks will no longer be stored in folders but in lists. No bookmark will go unsorted in Firefox Metro Preview!

To enter a URL in Firefox Metro Preview, access the address bar by swiping up from the bottom bezel. If you're using a mouse and keyboard, just right click the mouse. If you're sick of using the Modern UI version, you can use it as a normal desktop application, which will look exactly the same as Firefox 15.

Overall, Firefox Metro Preview is a solid build with many great touch friendly features. Once the bugs are hammered out, it'll be a great browser for Windows 8.

Download Firefox for Windows 8 21.0a1 Nightly Build in Softonic

Based on WebKit, the powerful engine that both Safari and Google Chrome also use, Dooble's main focus is security on the web. Dooble also incorporates RetroShare, an application that makes it possible for you to send emails and files with a sense of privacy. RetroShare also has a built-in chat program for those who want a complete web surfing experience without the need to open a stand-alone desktop application to chat with friends and family.

In addition, cookies and Javascript are disabled on this browser by default. Dooble also automatically removes the browser's history every time you close the program. You can make changes to the default settings with relative ease through the configuration menu. There are also several search engines included with the browser, tabbed browsing, and the ability to open bookmarks with the keypad numbers.

Unfortunately, Dooble's search engine automatically gives you search results in German, no matter what language you configured to be your primary option. Sometimes the browser's font size also automatically shrinks to an illegible level after you've changed unrelated settings, which can be annoying.

Dooble certainly doesn't break any new ground, but it's a competent and secure browser alternative.

Download Dooble 1.37 in Softonic

This very early developer version of Google Chrome gives us a glimpse into the future of a touch-friendly Chrome. To install this version, users will have to go to the developer channel and download Google Chrome from there. Make sure to check the box for "Make Google Chrome my default browser" to enable its Metro interface.

This developer version of Google Chrome for Metro will immediately be familiar. It looks almost identical to the desktop version of Google Chrome but simplifies things with a bigger menu button on the top right. From there, you can access all of the preferences and settings that you would get from the desktop version of Chrome. This is where Google Chrome for Metro begins to show its sloppiness. The settings buttons are bigger, but aren't as touch-friendly as Internet Explorer for Metro.

One of the best features of Google Chrome for Metro is full Adobe Flash support. As with all other variations of Google Chrome, Flash is baked right into the browser so no additional downloads are needed. Internet Explorer for Metro, on the other hand, features a watered-down version of Flash that only works on certain sites.

Google's developers have a long way to go to make Google Chrome for Metro feel like a native application. As it stands, this is a very early port of Chrome that hasn't put much thought into design.

Download Google Chrome for Windows 8 22.0.1229.96 in Softonic

Managing multiple machines can be a hassle. Provide technical support can be even more of a headache. Chrome Remote Desktop solves both of these problems by allowing users to remotely connect to their friends or their own computers.

Chrome Remote Desktop is basic but solid. You have to install the extension from the Chrome store. You'll need to set up your computer for remote access so you'll have to install a couple pieces of software. Don't worry as Chrome Remote Desktop will walk you through all of that.

After the software has been installed, you can then set up a device specific pin for secure access to your remote machines. Alternatively, you can generate a randomized code to give to someone to provide tech support for your machine. This is a bit cumbersome but it requires the host to give access to a guest, making things more secure.

In use, Chrome Remote Desktop worked well but lacked many features of its competitors like LogMeIn. The top tool bar only allows screen adjustment and two basic key commands to send to the remote computer. Chrome Remote Desktop has no options to lock out the keyboard and mouse on the other end. There's also no way to switch between multiple monitors. You must view them all at once.

Still, Chrome Remote Desktop offers a solid remote desktop experience but needs more features to catch up to its competitors.

Download Chrome Remote Desktop 1.9.1271.42 in Softonic

Delete Tracking-Cookies: Tracking-Cookies were invented to observe your surfing behavior. Cookies are small data spies that are stored on your computer while surfing. Cookies enable websites to track much information like how long you remain on a certain web page or what for links you click. Delete Google-Traces: Find and delete Flash cookies (also known as Super-Cookies), form data, surfing traces and data garbage of Google applications. Protect your Computer automatically: No need to delete surfing traces manually. The Google Radar is a small application that will permanently look out for Google traces and data garbage on your Computer. The Google Radar starts up with Windows and will keep your system clean automatically.

Google Desktop, Google Toolbar, Chrome, Picasa and Earth: Almost every Google application sends information back home. GoogleClean prevents Google applications from sending unnecessary personal information.

Many Google Applications collect Information about their users and send data back home. It is almost impossible to deactivate some of these spy features manually. With GoogleClean you can switch off those data transfers easily.

Download Google Clean 4 in Softonic

It would be great to enjoy flawless video playback on desktop or mobile. Just use the HTML5 Movie Maker! It supports play video files on any browsers or devices. The main browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera. And the mobile devices include Apple iOS devices iPad/iPhone, Android devices Samsung Galaxy Tab/smartphone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone 8.

Add business watermark and advertisement Add picture watermark, adjust watermark transparency, size area, horizontal and vertical location. Insert picture advertisement with link to your website, change advertisement image size.

Customize web player Customize the web player with your favorite style of player skin control bar.

Download VMeisoft HTML5 Movie Maker 1.0.1 in Softonic

The ESPN Cricinfo extension for Google Chrome, gives you the latest cricket news, features and live scores from ESPN's extensive cricket coverage service. In addition to alerting you about a new story via auto notifications, it also shows the current scores in a tooltip when you hover over the ESPN Cricinfo icon.

It also includes Wicket Alerts - just select one or more matches to follow and whenever a wicket falls, the ESPN Cricinfo icon will change to a W on a red background. Just click the icon to see the wicket that fell. Alternatively, you can be notified by a Desktop Notification. To configure which one to use, visit the Options page to enable Desktop Notifications. Note however that one bug with ESPN Cricinfo is that the "Disable notifications from ESPNCricinfo" doesn't work and so you have to disable it completely from the Options page.

Finally, you can filter news stories by country. Just click on the small gear cog icon in the top right corner of the extension to access the Options page and you can select up to two countries.

ESPN Cricinfo is a must have add-on for all fans of cricket and Google Chrome.

Download ESPN Cricinfo 1.8.4 in Softonic

Built on the open source Chromium project, RockMelt is unusual for a browser in that you have to log in to use it properly. It looks like Google Chrome with two slim sidebars. On the left is a Facebook bar with all your online friends, and on the right a notifications bar, that houses pop-ups for your Facebook wall, Twitter feed plus any RSS feeds you want. You cannot add email at the moment.

Clicking the Facebook or Twitter button opens a neat window for the appropriate feed. You can disconnect these window, and float them anywhere on your desktop. The same is true of chats on the left sidebar. Next to the address bar RockMelt has a Share button, allowing you to quickly post interesting links to Facebook or Twitter.

If you're a heavy Twitter and Facebook user, RockMelt will really suit you. It's fast, very well thought-out and the social integration is better than anything else available. It may be in Beta, but RockMelt looks and feels like a finished product already.

RockMelt is a genuinely excellent social browser, building on the already great Chrome to make a uniquely attractive and useful application. Essential.

Download RockMelt 0.16.91.371 in Softonic

Chrome OS Linux is not related to Google Chrome OS and it's based on openSUSE, therefore it is very stable and open. Unlike Google Chrome OS, it runs on every x86-compatible PC, laptop or netbook and it does not require Internet access to run.

Chrome OS Linux is meant for all users, from beginners to nerds. It is very user friendly and has the user experience similar to Windows.

Download Chrome OS Linux 1.9.1077 in Softonic

To use Facebook Pro, you'll have to install and run it with administrator rights. Once opened, you sign in to Facebook as usual, and then you'll be able to use the social network normally.

However, there are numerous disadvantages to Facebook Pro. The biggest is that all links will be opened in Internet Explorer: it doesn't matter what your default browser is. This means to use Facebook like most people do, with Facebook Pro you'll have two applications running instead of just one.

Facebook Pro is a strange idea, the only apparent advantage is a button called 'Facebook Pro Extras'. However all this does is load a page with adds and links to popular Facebook pages, the Facebook blog, and hilariously, 'Face Books on amazon'!

For the best Facebook use, we recommend using the service in Google Chrome. It's faster, and gives you a truly integrated experience. Give Facebook Pro a miss..

Download Facebook Pro 3.0 in Softonic

There is so much software in the world today that it can be really hard to decide what you need and what you don't. Similar to LiberKey Ultimate, Google Pack comes with a load of interesting and useful apps essential for most PC users. Google Pack includes Google Chrome, Google Apps, Google Earth, Google Toolbar for IE, Norton Security Scan, Spyware Doctor, Google Desktop, Picasa, Google Photos Screensaver, Adobe Reader and Firefox with Google Toolbar.

Installation is a breeze and uses an attractive interface to manage it and subsequent updates. The Google Updater window - the tool left once you have installed all the programs in the pack - allows you to configure various update options, summarize past updates and view recent activity.

There is no doubt that many of the programs included in Google Pack are essential basics that will help a lot of people, especially new users who might not already have applications for preventing spyware or reading PDFs, for example. Google Pack also lets you select what to download before installing, as well as individually uninstalling programs if you later decide you don't want them.

On the downside, Google Pack takes a while to install and does not allow you to configure the installations, which means you get desktop icons and toolbars whether you want them or not. In Google's defense, you can modify this once the programs in question have been installed.

Google Pack is an easy-to-use program pack that's perfect for beginners.

Download Google Pack 2.4.1970.7372 in Softonic

Personas for Firefox is a special extension that improves theme management for Firefox and makes it easier.

So far, applying a new theme to your favorite web browser implies searching for it on Google, downloading the correspondent file to your PC, installing it on Firefox and then restarting the browser in order to see the results. Personas makes this whole process much simpler: just install the extension and you'll see a tiny button on the lower left corner of your browser window. Then, every time you want to apply a new theme to Firefox, simply click on this button and select it from the context menu.

Personas for Firefox currently includes about fifty themes, but chances are there'll be more in the near future, especially if we take into account that this extension also makes theme designing and updating much easier. I guess we'll have to wait patiently as you can't add any new themes to the menu, but use only the ones that come shipped with the extension.

The included themes are classified into several categories (Firefox, Holidays, Nature, Scenery, Sports and others) for a more convenient browsing. Though some of them make menu bars really hard to read, many others give a nice touch of color to the browser window. Also, bear in mind that the themes only change the main window's appearance – icons and menus remain the same.

Despite the limitations of a first version, Personas for Firefox is a great extension to change your browser's appearance in just two clicks.

Download Personas Plus for Firefox 1.6.1 in Softonic