Flock (web browser)

Infobox Software
name = Flock



caption = Flock 1.2.3 running on GTK+/X11 displaying the Wikipedia main page.
developer = Flock, Inc.
released =
frequently_updated = Yes
programming language = C++, XUL, XBL, JavaScript
operating system = Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
language = Catalan, English (US), Finnish, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin American and Spain)
genre = Web browser
license = MPL
website = [http://www.flock.com www.flock.com]

Flock is a web browser built on Mozilla’s Firefox codebase that specializes in providing social networking and Web 2.0 facilities built into its user interface. [ [http://www.flock.com/mozilla Flock Browser - Built on Mozilla's Firefox] ] On June 16th 2008, the latest version of the browser, Flock 2 (based on Mozilla's Firefox 3), went into open beta. [ [http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080617-hands-on-flock-2-steps-up-the-social-browser-game.html ars technica review of the Flock 2 beta] ]

The Flock browser is available as a free download, and supports Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms.

Features

Flock 1.1 integrates social networking and media services including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Blogger, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, etc. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advpeop.html | title = 2.4 Bring Your Social Network Together | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ] When logging into any of the supported social services, Flock automatically activates these services within its features:
* Flock can indicate when friends have updated their profile, uploaded photos or other items.
* Flock has internal features that allow sharing of text, links, photos and videos. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advshar.html | title = 2.5 Share Pictures, Text and Video | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ]
* Flock has its own "media bar" allowing preview of online videos and photos, and subscription to photo and video feeds. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advmdia.html | title = 2.3 Preview and Access Media with the Media Bar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ]
* Flock's Feed Reader organizes Atom and RSS feeds. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advfeed.html | title = 2.7 Track Feeds | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ]
* Flock's Blog Editor allows direct posting into a designated blog, along with being a blog reader. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advblog.html | title = 2.6 Activate and Manage Blogs | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ]
* Flock's web-mail component allows users to check supported web-based email without going to the site, compose new messages, and drag-and-drop pictures and videos from the mediabar or webclipboard into a new email message. [cite web | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 | title = Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge | publisher = The Associated Press | accessdate = 2008-06-26 ]
* Flock also allows for third-party add-ons, including a number of Firefox extensions. [cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/1.0/advextd.html | title = 2.8 Get or Build Add-ons for Flock | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ]

Reception

In December 2007, Flock won the Mashable Open Web Awards for Applications and Widgets [ [http://mashable.com/2007/12/21/open-web-awards-winners/ Open Web Awards Winners] ] and in March of 2008, Flock won the South By Southwest [ [http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ Web Awards] ] Web Award for Community. [ [http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html Oh wait! SXSWi had Web Awards, too] ]

Flock 1.0 was reviewed by CNet as "Best Mac Software of 2007." [ [http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html Best Mac Software of 2007] ] PC World's Harry McCracken reviewed Flock as his "New Favorite Web Browser." [ [http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html I Have A New Favorite Web Browser: Flock] ]

In February 2008, AOL announced that it would discontinue support for the Netscape browser, and recommended Flock and Firefox as alternative browsers to its userbase of Netscape 9 users. [ [http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ Netscape 9 Users: Time to Flock or Firefox] ] For the Netscape 8 userbase, AOL recommended only the Flock browser to its users. [ [http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too/ Netscape 8 Update Forthcoming: You Can Flock Too!] ] In March 2008, Flock announced that they had seen "nearly 3 million downloads" and a 135% percent increase in active users in the first two months of 2008. They also announced "more than 70 percent of Flock users making it their default browser of choice." [ [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 Flock Browser Use Growing Dramatically] ]

In May 2008, Flock won the Social Networking category of the Webby Awards. [ [http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=CURRENT_SEASON#webby_entry_social 2008 Webby Award Winners] ] [ [http://flock.com/node/62014 Flock Wins a Webby Award for Best in Social Networking] ] Flock was nominated for this award along with Facebook, Bebo and Ning. On July 22, 2008 Linux distributor PC/OS [ [http://www.pc-os.org PC/OS] ] announced that the Flock browser would replace Firefox as its primary browser on its workstation releases.

Criticism

The most common criticisms of Flock are that it is buggy and has a complicated User Interface .cite web
last = R.
first = Douglas
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Flock Browser: Much Ado Over Nothing
work =
publisher = WordPress.com
date = 2006-07-18
url = http://douglasr.wordpress.com/2006/07/18/the-flock-browser-much-ado-over-nothing/
format = Technical Blog Entry
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-07] While the user interface is seen by its own community as a strength,cite web
last = Stamatiou
first = Paul
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Flock, Under Those Feathers
work =
publisher =
date = 2005-10-21
url = http://paulstamatiou.com/2005/10/21/flock-under-those-feathers
format = Technical Blog Entry
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-07] some believe that there is feature and interface overkill.cite web
last = Wheeler
first = Colin
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Every Browser Sucks! (in at least 1 area)

work =
publisher = Blogspot
date = 2008-07-17
url = http://macsamurai.blogspot.com/2007/08/every-browser-sucks-in-at-least-1-area.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-07] This has been attributed to the failure of Flock to adhere to Human Interface Guidelines. The large number of features may also cause sluggish performance.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sorry, but new version sucks!
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://flock.com/node/11762
format = Forum Thread
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-07] One user expressed concern that Flock sends data back to its developers. This led some users to accuse Flock of being spyware, but a Flock Community Ambassador immediately disputed this, saying that "Like other browsers, Flock collects limited, non-personally identifying information." cite web
last = R.
first = Douglas
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Tell Tale Browser or Is Flock Spyware?
work =
publisher = WordPress.com
date = 2006-07-21
url = http://douglasr.wordpress.com/2006/07/21/the-tell-tale-browser-or-is-flock-spyware/
format = Technical Blog Entry
doi =
accessdate = 2008-08-07]

Company

Flock is the successor to Round Two who raised money from Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, Shasta Ventures, and other angel investors. Bart Decrem and Geoffrey Arone cofounded the company. [ [http://www.flock.com/company-info Flock Browser - Company Info] ]

Recent funding

Flock raised $15 million in a fourth round of funding led by Fidelity Ventures on May 22, 2008. The company's previous investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, and Shasta Ventures, also participated in the round. The company plans to use the funds to expand its research and development, marketing, and global expansion efforts. To date, the company has raised an estimated $30 million. [cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | title = Flock draws $15 million for social browsing | publisher = CNET | accessdate = 2008-05-23 ]

Awards

Upon exiting beta Flock has won a number of awards:cite web
url=http://flock.com/press
title=Flock's press]

*"Webby Award" in social networking, 2008cite web | url = http://flock.com/node/62277 | title = Flock Named As One of PC World's "100 Best Products of 2008" | accessdate = 2008-06-17 ]
*"SXSW" community Award, 2008
*"Open Web Award" for Applications and Widgets, 2007

Ratings

*"Download.com" top rated, 5 out of 5
*Ranked #6 on PC World's list of the 100 best products of 2008 [cite web | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,146161-page,12-c,electronics/article.html | title = The 100 Best Products of 2008 | publisher = PC World | accessdate = 2008-06-17 ]

See also

*List of web browsers
*Comparison of web browsers

References

External links

* [http://flock.com Flock homepage]
** [http://flock.com/user-guide/1.2/ 1.2 User Guides]
* [http://flock.com/on-the-web Flock Community]
* [http://developer.flock.com/ Flock Developer Wiki]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/factoryjoe/sets/1082355/ Unofficial Flock screenshots]
* [http://extensions.flock.com/addons List of Flock Extensions]