Quantcast

Don't have an account? Register Now! Forgot password?

Maximum IT
News

New Japanese Browser Seeks to Snag Market Share from Firefox, IE

comment Commentsprint Printemail EmailDeliciousDiggStumbleUponRedditFacebookSlashdot

The battle of the browsers always comes down to Mozilla's open-source Firefox and Micrsoft's tight-lidded Internet Explorer, and no matter how hard Opera, Flock, Safari, and the rest of the alternate browser try to join the fight, there just doesn't appear to be room for a third contender. Or is there?

Fenrir, a Japanse software company, apparently never got the memo and thinks it has a chance at snagging 5 percent of the browser market within the next few years. And while most of us would automatically shrug at such an impossibly ambitious notion, it would be a mistake to dismiss the company's claim without a second glance.

Most Americans have probably never heard of the Sleipnir browser, but in Japan, 6 percent of surfers are cruising the web with it (Fenrir says it's more like 9 percent). Like Firefox, Sleipir has built a reputation for itself based on its high level of customization, including the ability to switch back and forth between the Trident and Gecko layout engines (used by Internet Explorer and Firefox, respectively) with the click of a button.

Development of the Sleipnir browser began back in 2005 and there has always been an English version to correspond with the main Japanese version, but a recent spike in international demand has sparked the company to target Firefox and IE user more aggressively. In what would be no small task, the company says it wants to grow from its estimated 100,000 users all the way up to 17 million with a big focus on the English-speaking market.

Does Fenrir have a fighting chance? Give the download a try and see for yourself.

COMMENTS
avatarSafara?

Is it Safara or Safari?

New invovation is great for the breed.

Login or register to post comments
avatarYawn 2.0

I definetely will not be looking into this new browser. What a waste of time. Why would they want to become popular with a browser, seriously, what do you gain from being the "best" browser on the internet. Not much.

Login or register to post comments
avatarAdvertising Dollars

To answer your question, developers gain advertising dollars by increasing their browser's market share. Google's search box doesn't come standard on Firefox simply for convenience; they pay for that placement.

Login or register to post comments
avatarAhh, ok. Atleast firefox is

Ahh, ok. Atleast firefox is stylish, not cluttered, and fast!

Login or register to post comments
avatar*Yawn*

Another day, another browser.

 

And this one looks like the unholy lovechild of IE6 and Firefox 2.

 

Seriously, other than the engine switching (easily accomplished with IETab in Firefox), what does this bring to the table?

Login or register to post comments
avatarWhy bother?

Well, the story about the new Japanese browser told me nothing and sure didn't make me want to take the time to check it out. And I don't see anything in the picture that looks better than Firefox or IE.

Login or register to post comments
avatarI agree with rwills2

If the intent of this article was only to tell readers that there is a Japanese browser available that is now competing against IE and Firefox than it did its job, but if it was to inform the readers about this Japanese browser and encourage us to try it then it was a pure Fail!

If I am going to look at an alternative to what I am currently using, Firefox, than there must be better information to show me what this browser has to offer or does differently than what I am already happy using.

Login or register to post comments
avatarIntent

News articles and accompanying links are always intended to inform. I find it pretty interesting that an established browser developer in Japan thinks it's going to grow from 100,000 to 17 million users in a couple of years, and because of that, I found enough interest to give it a download and take a peek.

To make a recommendation on the browser and whether or not anyone should download it, that would breach review territory and no longer be news. ;)

Login or register to post comments

This Month's Issue
FEATURE How to Get FREE Programs, Services, Software & MoreFEATURE Digital Photo Printer RoundupHOW TOBuild a 3D CameraFEATUREDIY Arcade PCWHITE PAPERHow TRIM Works