Try the Arc Browser to Edit the Internet and Break Away from Google Chrome
In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee, a British computer scientist at CERN, created the World Wide Web, which initially served as the sole method for browsing the limited internet. However, everything changed when the source code became accessible to developers, who used it as a foundation for their own browsers. Since then, web browsers have evolved significantly, offering a wide range of features. While still primarily used for web browsing, they now also enable real-time communication, media recording, and various other functionalities.
Over the past few years, web browsers based on Chromium, an open source code developed by Google, have become ubiquitous. Google Chrome, Opera, Microsoft Edge and Brave are just some of the world’s most popular browsers using Google technology. However, most of these browsers are almost indistinguishable in terms of interface and user experience, except for a few subtle differences.
However, the new web browser is now slowly gaining traction after its public release. It is significantly different from other browsers despite the fact that it is based on Chromium – Arc browser.
What is Arc Browser?
Launched in 2022 by Browser Company, a company founded by ex-Facebook employees Josh Miller and Hursh Agrawal, Arc Browser is a Chrome-based browser that aims to change the way a traditional browser works. Since it’s based on Google’s open source code, users can import all their existing bookmarks, extensions, logins and more from other browsers.
Arc Browser: Features
Unlike its competitors, Arc Browser has a significantly different user interface. It has a vertical tab bar that allows users to view multiple tabs at the same time. It transforms your bookmarks and tab and brings them into an app launcher-like interface. There is also an option to create Spaces for different categories or tasks, where you can save related tabs. Each space can also have different accounts, six pinned pages, and more. Arc also lets you save up to 8 tabs as favorites and always have them just a click away.
Arc Browser allows you to view multiple tabs at once in a split screen, which can increase productivity and be useful in situations where you need to access the content of two different web pages at the same time. Interestingly, it has built-in tools like whiteboard and notes that you can only use with plugins in traditional Chromium-based browsers.
With the new Boost feature, you can even change the look of websites. You can change elements of websites such as layout, background, color, font and brightness of web pages. You can even delete items with the Zap tool. It’s basically “reshaping the Internet,” according to the Browser Company.
If you are used to opening several tabs at once, closing them becomes a hassle. Arc Browser does this work for you by automatically closing tabs every 12 hours. You can save tabs by pinning them. It also has a built-in command line that allows you to perform multiple commands like switching plugins, opening/closing tabs and more by just pressing the command key along with a designated number key.
Because its user interface is significantly different from other Chromium-based browsers, Arc Browser requires a bit of a learning curve, but it can become an organizer’s dream once you get the hang of it.
How to get Arc Browser?
Arc Browser was initially launched in an invitation-only phase, but was released freely to the public in July. However, it is currently only available on macOS, so only Mac users can take advantage of its features. While it doesn’t have a full-fledged browser for iPhones, it does have a companion app for Arc Browser on the App Store.
A Windows version of the Arc browser is also in the works and is expected to be released in winter 2023.
