via Slashdot -

“InfoWorld reports a new web browser designed to protect users privacy is available for download. Called Browzar, it ‘automatically deletes Internet caches, histories, cookies and auto-complete forms.’ It also boasts a search engine, which the company will use to generate income. The 264KB application is the brainchild of Ajaz Ahmen, known for creating the U.K.’s first ISP Freeserve. The forthcoming version is for Windows only, but Mac and Linux versions will be available eventually.”

Yeay!:
~ Loving the GUI
~ True to their word, I have no trace of my own visit to my site. Viva la privacy!

Boo:
~ Search for “maigh” and maigh.com ranks 13th? Psha.
~ Doesn’t like my favicon
~ True to their word, I have no trace of my own visit to my site. How to track traffic without violating privacy?
~ Unlike all other SW in the known world, “Run” doesn’t install, and “Save” just throws a shortcut on your desktop. Groovy, but not well documented/explained.

This post has 9 comments.

  1. Ace
    31 Aug 06
    10:58 am

    I am puzzled also as to why you rank 13th, You are much more interesting than those “other” Maighs. They also do not bring the daily joy of new words to us. However Browzar does look like a new addition to my pc. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Maigh
    31 Aug 06
    11:04 am

    That’s what I’m shizzayin.

    Use any other engine - Google, MSN, Dogpile, Yahoo and they tell the true story. I’m #1.

    Somebody pooted in development.

  3. Greg
    31 Aug 06
    11:13 am

    Urgh, looks like Vista, which ruins my XP classic theme

  4. Greg
    31 Aug 06
    11:14 am

    And I’m number 2 for Scam City, not cool, I won’t even mention my namewhore search

  5. Maigh
    31 Aug 06
    1:07 pm

    So bogus.

  6. Maigh
    02 Sep 06
    1:24 am

    Con’t - conclusion: NAWT! See related article on http://www.techcrunch.com/

  7. Oliver
    05 Sep 06
    2:24 pm

    Browzar is getting widely panned by just about everyone now. It’s actually just a wrapper for IE and forces the search to an Overture engine which is why you weren’t getting your desired ranking. Even worse, it doesn’t really work as advertised as many of the local files it claims to delete or not store are still recoverable.
    I know you put up that NAWT! comment and vague link, but it’s kind of buried and Browzar still almost looks like it’s being endorsed to the casual observer. I certainly don’t intend to tell you how to run your blog, but if you think this thing is a piece of poo, like I think you discovered, you might make that more obvious to your loyal readers. Here’s another link http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/3380?source=NLT_AM&nlid=1
    that has several different takes on the thing.

  8. Maigh
    05 Sep 06
    2:28 pm

    Right-o, I intended for it to the perma link: *real linkage* which says (in part)

    Contrary to earlier coverage, Browzar appears to be nothing but a simple shell to IE which forces Overture ads on its own users. The creators didn’t write a cache or history function, calling this a feature, and users are unable to change the search function or home page to anything other than Browzar ad results. Furthermore, some users are complaining that URL auto-complete is not working properly and also redirects to the Browzar home page, with ads, when it shouldn’t.

    Wev2.0log concludes by saying “There was time when badware developers tried to install ad pages as homepage or searchpage in user’s IE by any possible means. Nowadays users install adware voluntarily and write news about it. True web2.0 style!”

    Make your own decision on Browzar if you like, just make sure you know what it is you are downloading before you pull the trigger.

    Browzar
    This entry was posted on Friday, September 1st, 2006 at 7:33 pm and is filed under Company & Product Profiles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  9. Ace
    05 Sep 06
    3:08 pm

    Thanks for the update and maikng me aware before I did anything with this “crap in sheeps clothing”.