Version 3.0.0.4117 of the Flock browser hybrid has arrived and while the original versions were rehashed from Mozilla's Firefox, this latest edition takes the foundations of Google Chrome in order to produce a unique browsing experience in which social networking is privileged above all else. The results are compelling if not entirely revolutionary, but if you have an interest in how browsers are evolving it is definitely worth a look.
Flock 3 has native support for various social media and networking experiences including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and more. It does not offer excessively deep compatibility with these platforms but what it does offer is speed and cohesiveness, allowing new users to quickly appreciate just what this browser is all about.
Flock 3 is based on the same WebKit tools as Chrome and indeed Apple's Safari browser, but the look is very much based in Google's camp. You get tabs arranged cleanly along the top with no dropdown menu options to clutter the view and by default the homepage is set to the Flock account manager, which will let you control which of your social networking profiles are linked to the browser. The links with Google continue when you note the search bar powered by the giant firm, which itself pays testament to the fact that Flock's developer has partnered with it in order to further monetise the browser.
URL shortening is all the rage nowadays as people are consistently forced to stick within Twitter's 140 character limit when they want to share something. With Flock 3, this functionality is integrated into the browser. When you find a site you want to spread around to your friends and followers, you can click a button which sites alongside the Favourites and will not only compress the link into a bitesized form but then bring you to a page which will let you pass it on via your social networking site of choice.
Flock 3's sidebar is the area which will act as the lifeline to your social networking accounts. You can modify it to your specifications and hiding it when you want a clearer view of the website you are visiting is easy. It is nice to be able to use the sidebar as a means of checking on the latest Twitter and Facebook feeds, without having to open up a separate tab and launch the sites themselves. The feed will not be updated without discretion, as you can choose which of your contacts are the focus of its attention. This level of customisation is welcome and means you can sift through the social detritus with ease.
Because the key functions of Facebook and Twitter are at the core of Flock 3, there is no real reason to download it if you do not have an account that you regularly use with at least one of these sites. Of course the browser will still run effortlessly, if you do not have your profiles jacked in, but without these tools, you may as well stick with whatever browser you currently use, provided it is one of the contemporary front runners.