Arc Web Browser Now Open to All Users
The Browser Company has made it effortless for users to personalize or vandalize the websites they browse. They have launched the Arc 1.0 browser for Mac without any waitlist. This final version incorporates several recently introduced features such as an optional toolbar, a site “control center,” and picture-in-picture functionality for Google Meet video calls. Additionally, the software is expected to be more streamlined and quicker compared to its previous iterations.
As before, Arc is rethinking some of the fundamentals of web browsers. You can customize the look and layout of your website with Boosts, which allow you to change colors, replace fonts, and even “hide” sections you don’t want to see. While this doesn’t work perfectly for all websites, you can share many customizations with other users. You can use coding and scripts to create effects, but they don’t require that expertise.
Tabs are still there. However, you primarily organize your browsing around interchangeable virtual spaces (effectively groups of tabs) that help you focus on a specific task, such as work or social media. You can pin sites you visit often, and there’s a command line to help power users.
A Windows version of Arc is coming “soon,” the company says. This probably won’t displace Chrome, Edge, or Safari if you’re a fan of those browsers. They still cover very common tasks and familiar user interfaces may well be enough. However, Arc may be what you’re looking for if you want to customize the web to your liking.
