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Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

ashraful.org

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Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#51

Post by alexwyser »

dlan1000 wrote: post #48

Beyond managing your identity/s, the most compelling notion this brings to my mind is that sites should reduce transmission of redundant data: You specify the structure once then only the data is transmitted (what someone else referred to as "like iOS apps"). To an extent we are already moving in this direction with asynchronous update technologies, but rather than a next-gen browser, it seems like we need a next-gen…

This is exactly what I'm planning, and have wrote about in my follow-up post: http://ashraful.org/browser-features/

In particular, you can install these native apps and no longer need to download the UI again and again, instead just get the updated data. And access the past data even when you're offline.

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#52

Post by alexwyser »

sliverstorm wrote: post #28
patrickaljord wrote: post #15

Couldn't that be done as a browser extension? It's a lot of work to maintain a browser and you will reach many more people by doing it as an extension.

Not to mention a lot of the browser wars right now are about core performance, as UI cues are rapidly picked up by every competitor. You can't directly compete with entire teams on that playing field.

Its more than just a new UI.

Read here: http://ashraful.org/browser-features/

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#53

Post by alexwyser »

Yxven wrote: post #50

This is really cool man. Would you expand more on what you're planning for local apps? One trend I see now is the reproduction of GUI toolkits in javascript. I feel like the better way would be to properly sandbox python (or whatever) and leverage the toolkits already available. Do you plan on enabling anything like that?

From http://ashraful.org/browser-features/:

Nowadays almost any website you use has a lot of information about you. Google knows your search history, Microsoft has your emails, Facebook has your social graph and photos, Last.FM has your music history, Foursquare has your check-ins. And even though you are the owner, you cannot take your data with you.

You should be able to take your search history from Google with you, so you can use Bing and still get relevant results. You should be able to take your photos with you from Facebook to Google Plus so you can share it with your friends. You should be able to take your emails from Hotmail to Gmail so you can search through it more easily. And most importantly you should have the right to deny access to your data to any web service.

Browsr tries to provide you with complete control over your data by storing all our information locally. Instead of storing your information on some server that you don’t have access to, all of it is stored on your PC. And you can do whatever you want with it: back it up, put it on Dropbox, or provide access to any web service you choose. Having control over your data means you can quickly get started with new web services you want to use, with all your past data right there with you.

On top of that, Browsr also lets you keep your social connections with you by using the identity manager. Your entire social graph stays with you regardless of what social network you are using.

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#54

Post by ChadNYC »

After reading all of the comments on this post I think I finally understand what you are setting out to achieve. I am intrigued by the ideas of "multiple identities" and keeping control of identity related data by storing it on my computer rather then the websites server but, in your initial post, that wasn't very clear. The follow up post cleared it up some, but not much.

Additionally, I think it would be best to focus on these issues rather then any UX or UI changes. What you've presented isn't game changing enough and, as you can see below, most people are indifferent to it.

All of that said, I am certainly interested in being a part of this project. I'll contact you for more information.

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#55

Post by civilian »

systemizer wrote: post #41
civilian wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What?! I'm so against this-- I think that my first understanding of the internet really came from looking at url structures as I surfed. It made me realize where I could explore, what subsections I could change to get different results. Sure, it's meaningless to the general populace, but it's still a good feature. Additionally, if there wasn't a url bar then it might be harder to detect phishing.

You're thinking in way too much detail here. What I proposed is such an abstract idea to interact with the internet, and you're talking about phishing attacks. Don't be so critical about crazy ideas; people who invent are only successful if they think outside the box and don't carry much concern for the constraints that currently exist in present day systems (like phising, url structures.... forget about that)

Phishing attacks were a good example, but I don't feel like I'n being too critical! It's a good concern.

Similarly: I'm hoping that you're also someone who's annoyed when Windows hides extensions. Yes, you can figure out how to restore extensions so you always have the extra piece of information--- but can your mother? Can your nephew? These computer users are learning less about files has "conveniences" them with simpler filenames.

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#56

Post by polyfractal »

dlan1000 wrote: post #48

Beyond managing your identity/s, the most compelling notion this brings to my mind is that sites should reduce transmission of redundant data: You specify the structure once then only the data is transmitted (what someone else referred to as "like iOS apps"). To an extent we are already moving in this direction with asynchronous update technologies, but rather than a next-gen browser, it seems like we need a next-gen…

Do those extra 20 kilobytes really matter though? In the age of gigabyte streaming video, who cares if you redownload facebook's UI a few times a day?

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#57

Post by dlan1000 »

polyfractal wrote: post #56
dlan1000 wrote: post #48

Beyond managing your identity/s, the most compelling notion this brings to my mind is that sites should reduce transmission of redundant data: You specify the structure once then only the data is transmitted (what someone else referred to as "like iOS apps"). To an extent we are already moving in this direction with asynchronous update technologies, but rather than a next-gen browser, it seems like we need a next-gen…

Do those extra 20 kilobytes really matter though? In the age of gigabyte streaming video, who cares if you redownload facebook's UI a few times a day?

Sure the relative lost efficiency from that extra 20kb may be

Re: Show HN: I am building a next-gen browser

#58

Post by dlan1000 »

dlan1000 wrote: post #57
polyfractal wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do those extra 20 kilobytes really matter though? In the age of gigabyte streaming video, who cares if you redownload facebook's UI a few times a day?

Sure the relative lost efficiency from that extra 20kb may be

may be minor compared to other use, but I bet it accounts for a fair proportion of the time to page render.
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