Flock the social browser
This morning I’ve been invited to try out the developer version of Flock. Flock is an open source web browser based on Mozilla Technologies. Using this social browser, you can integrate the browser with various web services such as Flickr, Technorati, Del.icio.us.
Flock build 0.4.8 is available in three major platforms. Windows (7.3 MB), Mac OS X (9.4 M) , and Linux (7.8 MB). I decided to install Flock on all three platform, on my Windows XP pro, Mac OS X, and Ubuntu Linux. Installation on Windows and Mac OS X is easy. Screenshot for Windows and Mac OS X.
I had a problem when installing on Ubuntu Linux. When I run flock in Linux, it gave me an error message. There is a missing C++ Shared Library missing. I apt-get install libstdc++5, and then I re-ran flock and I did run it sucessfully. Look at the screenshot
Just like Mozilla Firefox, Flock have a Tool menu and under the Tool menu there is extension, themes, and download option. There is also some new menus called Blog Editor and Shelf. Let’s go to Blog Editor.
When I launched Blog Editor [screenshot flock blog editor], the first thing I did was to enter my blog. Unfortunately this version of flock does not work properly with Movable Type 3.2, so I decided to go and try my wordpress.com blog. The blog editor worked wonderfully using on wordpress blog. See my test post.
One of the most interesting feature of this browser is the ability to integrate the browser’s bookmark with the social bookmarks web, del.icio.us. I entered my del.icio.us information and the browser took some time to sync my online bookmark. When the syncing is done, I can see all my del.icio.us bookmark right from the Favorite Manager Tab. From now one, I can just bookmark something right from Flock, apply tags and flock will automatically sync it with del.icio.us. Screenshot of Flock Favorite Manager
What about Shelf? I don’t really know what shelf is use for, but you can drag and drop anything from text, to URL to the shelf window. Screen shot of Flock Shelf
Despite all of the cool stuff, there are still plenty of things to be done with Flock.
- Flock still does not import your Firefox or IE Favorites, even though when I ran the OS X first, it offers me to import my favorites.
- Flock doesn’t support flash.
- Firefox themes do not work with Flock.
- Clear private data does not work for history search result.
- Blogging Service: Wordpress and Blogger work, but Movable type 3.2 blog does not work.
- Closing window using cmd-w does not work in Mac OS X
Wanna try it yourself, go to Flock’s website and register your e-mail address. I should warn you though, this is not a stable product. Make sure you backup your blog entry and your del.icio.us before you try this.