Top Ten Alternative Browsers

With just shy of half of all Internet traffic being done using Internet Explorer, other browsers are still considered alternative. There are many other browsers out there, and their resource usage, features and interface are surprisingly diverse. They will all get you to your destination web page, but they can each provide a very different user experience. You probably use your browser for hours a week, why not do it with a browser that suits your surfing? If you haven't tried a new browser in years (and definitely if you have never used anything other than Internet Explorer), it might be time to try out something new to surf with. Here's my top 10 alternative browsers, listed (naturally) :




10. iCab






Supported Platforms: Mac OS

Web Page: http://www.icab.de/

Why You Should Use It: Advanced browsing on a Mac

Why You Might Skip It: One man dev team makes for a few bugs and slow updates


If your using a mac and looking for a change, give iCab I try. Some notable features are a detailed and sortable history panel, web page archiving, saving/loading of sessions (open tabs), and automatic checks for bookmark for address changes.


9. K-Meleon






Supported Platforms: Windows
Web Page: http://kmeleon.sf.net/
Why You Should Use It: Completely customizable for the obsessive
Why You Might Skip It: You couldn't care less about your tool bar and menus


If you're a control freak who likes to have their screen look exactly a certain way, K-meleon is for you. Making those customizations isn't exactly easy, but there are many pre-made derivatives that may already suit you.



8. Camino





Supported Platforms: Mac OS
Web Page: http://www.caminobrowser.org/
Why You Should Use It: It's tweaked to integrate and run smooth on Mac OS
Why You Might Skip It: You don't use a mac


If you're apple geek and want a pure mac alternative to your default, Camino is for you. Camino is tuned to work well on your machine, and it integrates with many mac features.


7. Netscape Navigator





Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Web Page: http://browser.netscape.com/downloads/archive/
Why You Should Use It: Nostalgia
Why You Might Skip It: It's d-e-a-d, DEAD!


My first Internet experience (oh, zombo.com, you haven't changed a bit) was using Netscape, and I bet it was the first browser for many other people too. 2008 marks the final release ever of Netscape Navigator (as well as it's final security update and support). Enjoy it now before it's entirely irrelevant.



6. Flock



Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Web Page: http://www.flock.com/
Why You Should Use It: Social networking and media are a big part of your web experience
Why You Might Skip It: You're a loner (or you only have meatspace friends)


If you're into social networking, blogging, sharing photos, or sharing articles: good news -- your experience just got a whole lot easier. Flock can integrate the functions of many popular sites, and also makes communication between you and your friends easy. One thing -- It works much better when everyone is in. Are you in?


5. Konqueror





Supported Platforms: Linux (& Unix-like), Windows & Mac OS (sort of...)
Web Page: http://www.konqueror.org/
Why You Should Use It: To embrace the ever-blurring line between your local machine and the web
Why You Might Skip It: For power-users only



Konqeror is a file browser, web browser, and a universal viewing application. It's a new perspective on computing -- if you are interested in that kind of thing, give it a try, but most people should pass.


4. Safari

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS

Web Page: http://www.apple.com/safari/

Why You Should Use It: You're a closet Apple Geek using a PC

Why You Might Skip It: It's ugly as sin

The standard Mac web browser, now on for windows too. In fact, if you have itunes installed, it will insist upon safari being installed as a "recommended update". It's got a pretty good bookmark system, and a "snap-back" back button for when you get lost out there on that wild web (even if you figure out how it works, you'll never use it).

3. Opera








Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Web Page: http://www.opera.com/
Why You Should Use It: It's sleek, fast, & feature rich
Why You Might Skip It: Some features might get in the way of day-to-day browsing


Opera has been around for a long time now, but the new version is rich with innovative features, so even if you are familiar with Opera, it may be time to revisit it. It features built in functionality for: torrents, irc, password management, widgets, mouse gestures, frequently visited sites, image-less loading, and more!


2. Firefox

Supported Platforms: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Web Page: http://www.firefox.com
Why You Should Use It: Lean, mean, & it can be tailored to your needs
Why You Might Skip It: Add-ons & plugins can be a hassle if you just want to surf

With the 2nd largest market share, firefox can hardly be called an alternative. It has good reason to be in such a high standing, it's a great browser. Using relativly little system resources, it gets the job done fast. The best part about Firefox is that it comes barebones, and lets you customize your browsing experience with any of thousands of user created add-ons. With that kind of flexibility, it's hard not to like it (because if you don't, you can just change it.)

1. Chrome

Supported Platforms: Windows (For now..)
Web Page: http://chrome.google.com
Why You Should Use It: Because it is how a browser should work
Why You Might Skip It: You shouldn't

It's about time sometime sat down and designed a browser from scratch, and google has done just that (more or less). It addresses common user behavior in its design that most major browser developers have just ignored until now. The majority of users use the search bar to enter a url rather than the address bar, so why have both? After using chrome's single omnibar for a while, you'll wonder why it took so long to combine the bars in a browser design. And why has it taken so long for a browser with tabs to include the ability to have more than 1 homepage? Google designed chrome to be in tune with users and to be in tune with how the web actually works. It's a beta, so it still has a bug or two, and web developers are just starting to include chrome in their testing. Because of this, you may want to keep another browser at hand in case a feature of a website isn't working in chrome; but, this phase will soon pass. Chrome may be a bit of a change, but use it exclusively for two weeks, and you won't go back.

Top Ten Ways to Improve Your Jack-o'-lantern

After candy and costume parties, the best part of Halloween, for me, has to be designing and carving a Jack-o'-lantern. Every year, as fun as it is to see so many assorted, lit-up pumpkin faces in windows and on porches, couldn't some of the designs be a little more, well... inspired? Instead of carving out the usual Oogly-Boogly face this year, why not be a little more creative and make your pumpkin stand out! Here's the top ten ideas for a new and improved jack-o-lantern:

10. Colored Lights

Image Source: Robot Room

A simple candle may be classic, but a colored light source can add an eerie effect. At the very least, it's a simple way to make your pumpkin stand out. The right color could even complement your design (glowing red eyes?). There's other non-standard lighting ideas you could consider too (strobe light pumpkin? black light pumpkin?). You can find these kind of lights at pumpkinlights.com (wow, the Internet is really comprehensive.)


9. Painted Pumpkin

Image Source: Julevision

If your pumpkin is for an office Halloween party, or for some setting where it won't have the chance to be lit up, painting it instead of carving it might be the way to go. It's certainly the less messy way to go. Let's be honest though, without carving, it's not really a jack-o-lantern, and you fail at Halloween.

8. External Additions

Image Source: Mr_Stein

Seeds & scrap pieces need not go to waste, and your jack-o'-lantern need not be constrained by its natural symmetry. Scrap pumpkin can make protruding horns, arms, genitalia -- you name it.


7. Pumpkin Gore

Image Source: betseymaebite

The inside of a pumpkin can be gross and, well, scary. What an opportunity to include a little extra fright into a design! The pumpkin guts work well for vomit (pictured above), as it does for gun shot wound gore and brain goo.



6. Skin Deep Carving

Image Source: Bob Zimmerman

Instead of carving all the way through the pumpkin wall, thinning the wall and removing the skin can make some cool effects. Shading using different wall thicknesses for different areas can also be achieved. Just make sure you have a strong light source.



5. Squash Switch-a-roo

Image Source: Joel

If you want a unique shape or color, why not carve one of many different varieties of squash? Loads of interesting designs could take advantage of this (green and wart covered witch or troll?) Yes, this is cheating too, but it's still not as bad as painting on a design.




4. Pumpkin Sculpting

Image Source: Villafane Studios

If you are really skilled and ambitious, you could actually sculpt the flesh of your pumpkin. Assuming you manage to finish the job before your pumpkin rots, this could be the most rewarding experience of your October (or life). Many more pro examples of this @ Villafane.


3. Stem-tacular

Image Source: Fidgital

Incorporating the stem into the design can be an interesting twist on the usual jack-o'-lantern. For that matter, the bottom of the pumpkin or the creases might be creatively employed. Work with what ya got.

2. Complementing Designs

Image Source: Crystal

Multiple pumpkins all involved in the same design can make for a clever Halloween decoration. Making jack-o'-lanterns interact is limitless, or if you are really ambitious, you could set up an entire scene. Pumpkin Hamlet anyone?

1. Pumpkin Torch

Image Source: Geekus

Topping the list, engulfing the entire freaking jack-o'-lantern in flames. How bad ass is that? Sure it probably shortens the lifespan of your orange little friend, but it certainly makes a statement.

Top Ten Poutine Dishes

Photo Courtesy of Sjschen

This iconic Canadian food is arguably one of the the tastiest (and unhealthiest) foods available. At its simplest, it consists of cheese, gravy, and fries, but there have been many variations spawned over the years. Here's my top ten types of poutine dishes, listed for your pleasure:

10. Greek Poutine

This Mediterranean twist on the classic replaces the mozzarella cheese with salty morsels of feta cheese. Sometimes, it even includes red onions, olives, or other things that restaurants think make food "greek". Feta was never meant to be melted with gravy. ever.

9. Steak Poutine

Take your normal recipe for poutine. Add steak. Voila. And lets be honest: what foods wouldn't be improved by adding steak? I thought so.

8. Italian Poutine

Deviating from the original recipe even more, Italian poutine removes gravy all together in favor of Bolognese sauce (marinara with ground beef). The marinara adds a pleasant bit of sweetness to the traditionally savoury dish. No ketchup required. Magnifico.

7. Stuffed Poutine

Perhaps the most bizarre entry on this top ten list. Stuffing is usually reserved for fringes of thanksgiving dinner plates, but for some reason it found its way into a union with this favourite food. This variation simply consists of a liberal amount of stuffing added to the top of the poutine (before the gravy is poured on). This tasty combo will forever stay in our hearts (and stomachs).

6. Donair Poutine

A great man-made meat like donair makes a great addition to any poutine. If you're particularly adventurous, you can get donair sauce on top as well.

5. Hamburger Poutine

Already slathered in gravy, hamburger seems like a logical poutine progression. Sometimes crossed with stuffed poutine.

4. Chicken Poutine

Why stop at chicken gravy? Chunks of rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken breast make #4 a worthy addition to the top poutine entrees.

3. Wedges Poutine

A subtle substitute, potato wedges can change up the consistency of a tasty poutine. Who ever chooses fries when you can have wedges, anyway?

2. Pepperoni Poutine

Yet another meaty addition, pepperoni poutine is one of the more commonly available variations. Sometimes this spicy meat is paired with donair meat too (see #6): Dubbed "Hero" poutine.

1. Classic Poutine

Sometimes a classic is best unaltered. To be true poutine, it has to be mozzarella curds (not a white chedder cheese, shredded or chunked), chicken gravy (not another kind of gravy or sauce), and french fries (deep fried, and not shoe stringed).