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Browsers

If you're looking for browsers or browser extensions, CNET Download.com has you covered. We feature all the latest versions of Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and more, as well as Firefox extensions, Internet Explorer add-ons, even RSS readers. If you want to surf the Web, CNET Download.com is the place to start. See all 55 products in this category.

for the week of: January 04Visits
  1. 1.
    Pageflakes

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers6

  2. 2.
    Alesti

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers3

  3. 3.
    FeedLounge

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers3

  4. 4.
    Friends Name Alphabetical

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  5. Speed up your PC
    Diskeeper defrags guaranteeing top PC speeds.
    Download Now
    Intel(r) TBB for Mac OS* v1.1
    C++ library simplifies parallel programming for multi-core
    Download Now
  6. 5.
    Meta Search Alerts

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  7. 6.
    Amazon Books: Most Wished For

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  8. 7.
    Social Sites 2.0

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  9. Multi-Core Read?
    Intel(r) Thread Profiler tunes threaded C, C++ and Fortran apps
    Download Now
    PaltalkScene 12.61
    See, hear, and chat live in video rooms.
    Download Now
  10. 8.
    Amazon Item Search

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  11. 9.
    FeedBlitz

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers2

  12. 10.
    BLoglines

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers1

See all most popular software

  1. Yahoo Toolbar
    Search the Web, block pop-ups, get to your mail.
    Download Now
    Intelinet Spyware Remover 3.1
    Remove and block all types of spyware and PC errors on your computer.
    Download Now
Release date
  1. Reddit Jun 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  2. Smashing Feeds Jun 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  3. Techsted Jun 23

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  4. Social Sites 2.0 Jun 10

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  5. FeedzZ Jun 10

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  6. Alltop Jun 10

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  7. New York Times Thru Flickr Jun 02

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  8. Amazon Books: Most Wished For Jun 02

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  9. Amazon Books: Movers and Shakers Jun 02

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

  10. Bestselling Books Jun 02

    Newsreaders & RSS Readers

See all new releases

  1. 1.
    Feedity

    Create RSS feeds for Web pages easily.

  2. 2.
    Feed2Podcast

    Convert your RSS feeds into Podcasts.

  3. 3.
    EarFeeder

    Deliver RSS enabled newsfeeds based on your favorite music.

  4. 4.
    Fluctu8

    Publish and check sources for new sound file releases and content.

  5. 5.
    Congoo

    Search and access higher level of information on any portal.

  6. 6.
    ZapTXT

    Monitor RSS-enabled sites through email, mobile devices, or IMs.

  7. 7.
    BLoglines

    Create your own blog and access it from any pc or mobile device.

  8. 8.
    Blorq

    Collect and read the latest news and articles from your favorite sites.

  9. 9.
    Podlinez

    Add, browse, and listen to podcasts on your phone.

  10. 10.
    Newsvine

    Read news from reputable news agencies and submit editorial comments.

See all editor's picks

from the download blog

Firefox in Russia dumps Google for Yandex

Posted by Stephen Shankland on Jan 09, 2009
After soliciting feedback and setting up a business partnership with Yandex, Mozilla opts for a new default search partner.

an introduction to Browsers

Browsers, often called Web browsers, are software clients that allow users to navigate to sites on the World Wide Web. The majority of these Web sites use the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), but many browsers can also interpret other protocols, including FTP, RSS, and P2P protocols such as BitTorrent. Hypertext pioneer Tim Berners-Lee created the first ever Web browser, WorldWideWeb, in 1990, but the software didn't become popular until the release of NCSA Mosaic, the first graphical client.

Browsers truly hit the mainstream with the launch of Netscape Navigator, which was later shortened to simply Netscape, though the free client's popularity was radically affected by the 1995 release of Internet Explorer, Microsoft's entry into the browser market. In the years since, IE has completely dominated the market, only recently losing ground to alternative browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera.

Aside from general Web browsers, various subsets of the category offer special services. Offline browsers cache content from the Internet for future reference when you're not connected to a network. Newsreaders manage content from Usenet newsgroups and syndicated feeds.

In recent years, the open-source browser Mozilla Firefox has earned praise for the ability of third-party developers to easily create extensions that add functionality. Among the thousands of home-brewed add-ons for Firefox, we've narrowed down our favorites in a collection of the best. The Microsoft browser also allows for IE add-ons, but its closed framework makes it a bit more difficult for developers.

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