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I just downloaded this Japanese web browser. Some of it's neat features are: Tab Expose, Safari and Firefox bookmark importing, open url with feature, user agent setting, and some Tiger optimizations - and it's free. It works with 10.3.9 and later and is only a 2.5mb download.

Shiira web browser

[viruscool]

I've just checked that browser out at the site and looks like it could become a serious contender in the browser war in the future, just wondering, how compatible is it with the standards, you had any problems yet?
I wonder how long it will be before someone else like maybe apple will use the Tab Expose feature?

[glyph]

Originally Posted by viruscool

I've just checked that browser out at the site and looks like it could become a serious contender in the browser war in the future, just wondering, how compatible is it with the standards, you had any problems yet?
I wonder how long it will be before someone else like maybe apple will use the Tab Expose feature?

I really like this browser so far. The web pages I've browsed so far looked fine, though I noticed a small difference on one page. The horizontal scroll bar needs to be fine tuned so it will appear when it should. (it clips about 75 pixels before the scroll bar appears, but I only notice it on this MacNN site so maybe it's the web page.) The expose feature works by pressing f8. It comes with 7 sets of icons and a choice between Aqua and Metal for window texture, and a private browser mode. Kewl.


Any window not opened as a tab won't show with the Shiira expose feature. You'll have to use the Apple expose to find windows opened otherwise.

[Targon]

Nice little browser, has potential but has been removed from my system until URL Auto Complete works and operates on the list of bookmarks and also the History List. Would be nice to see a preference to enable Auto Complete on Bookmarks, or History and Both.

AutoFill Forms, currently there is nothing in this department, would like this in the same implementation as Safari which uses Keychain for passwords, AddressBook and Other forms.

Needs support for PithHelmet.

Current bug, disable plugins, click on a link containing a .mp3 or .mov the media file loads inside the browser. In older Safari versions, in this case the file would just automatically be downloaded to disk, however current Safari since 10.3.7 seems to try to load the entire file in the web page so this doesnt get downloaded in the downloads window and does not even take on the actual name of the file in the cache. pretty fsckin annoying!!!

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by Targon

Needs support for PithHelmet.

Uh, what? It's his job to support third-party hacks?

[monkeybrain]

Yeah it's nice. It renders the same as Safari since it uses the same engine.

The interface is nice, but for me to switch from Safari it would take some improvements:

1. Forms autofill.
2. Spell checking.
3. The history, bookmarks, and downloads into a side bar rather than drawer (drawers are dying, see Mail).
4. Some bigger interface elements in the toolbar, why are they using the smallest one? Maybe an option for that.

[[APi]TheMan]

I haven't used Shiira in a few months, but some other nice things to note:

• Has had draggable tabs for nearly 6 months. (much like Adium's draggable tabs)
• The download manager is Growl-ready. Very neat.

I'd also like to point out that the DeerPark Alpha2 was released a few days ago. I believe DeerPark is the branch of Firefox that is slated more towards 2.0 than the current Firefox, which are focused on 1.x releases. Check this one out for sure.

[Targon]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

Uh, what? It's his job to support third-party hacks?

Don't put words in my mouth!

Shiira needs pith support for me to use it, i imagine many others would not use it either unless there is some form of add blocking/stripping.

[Targon]

Originally Posted by monkeybrain

Yeah it's nice. It renders the same as Safari since it uses the same engine.

The interface is nice, but for me to switch from Safari it would take some improvements:

2. Spell checking.

>> Ah, never used it long enough to notice spelling was absent, agree this is also essential for me.

4. Some bigger interface elements in the toolbar, why are they using the smallest one? Maybe an option for that.

>> I agree, an option for that would be the ideal solution. On the 15" Powerbook i wish i had the ability to enable the smallest widgets in EVERY application systemwide. Im sure the opposite would be appreciated by those using hi res displays on desktops.

Would be great if every application, including the Finder, offered the 3 user interface widget sizes and this was enforced by Apple .

[Targon]

Originally Posted by [APi]TheMan

I haven't used Shiira in a few months, but some other nice things to note:

• Has had draggable tabs for nearly 6 months. (much like Adium's draggable tabs)
• The download manager is Growl-ready. Very neat.

I'd also like to point out that the DeerPark Alpha2 was released a few days ago. I believe DeerPark is the branch of Firefox that is slated more towards 2.0 than the current Firefox, which are focused on 1.x releases. Check this one out for sure.

Hrm a nice start for an alpha. Nice to see small UI elements. The preferences are far nicer than Firefox. Although the on page widgets are of the same hideous PC like variety you see in Firefox. Inline with all other Mozilla browsers however (which i HATE) URL AutoComplete does not use the Bookmarks, only History, so its pretty useless after your delete history. This alone is enough for me not to use it. In line with other Mozilla browsers, there is no option to load an empty page if u have a Home Page set.

No ability to disable plugins like Firefox, never did understand what they were thinking for leaving this out, i always browse with plugins disabled, only enable them if absolutely have to because a site doesnt have a html version.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by monkeybrain

2. Spell checking.

Shiira has this.

3. The history, bookmarks, and downloads into a side bar rather than drawer (drawers are dying, see Mail).

I like the drawers.

4. Some bigger interface elements in the toolbar, why are they using the smallest one? Maybe an option for that.

Huh? They're using the standard NSToolbar; you can set it to use small or large icons.

Originally Posted by Targon

Don't put words in my mouth!

You said it needs support for PithHelmet. That's not correct. An application does not need to provide "support" for a third-party hack. It's the other way around.

Shiira needs pith support for me to use it, i imagine many others would not use it either unless there is some form of add blocking/stripping.

You know, what would be really clever would be if it had some form of subtract blocking.

But anyway, the source is available.

[selowitch]

Private browsing is great for discreetly viewing porn.

[monkeybrain]

Yeah my bad, Shiira does have spell checking - it's just not in the Edit menu.

Been playing with it more, very impressed. Scrolling is just as quick as Safari. With a unified toolbar it looks lovely. Oh but despite using a smaller element size (CharlesS, it does. I mean the location bad and search field, they are using the smaller size, not the toolbar icons) if you use just icons on the default size it uses more space than Safari; I don't really mind, but some might, you can always use small icons too.

Just a couple of things:

This tab-expose thing, it doesn't seem to work on my Mac. I set the key to F15, but nothing happens.

My Safari bookmarks are not carried over, despite the fact it's set to in the prefs.

What are people using as an app icon? That fish is just a bit silly.

[brutal]

Is it just me, or is Shiira noticeably slower than Safari 2.0?

[Angus_D]

Originally Posted by [APi]TheMan

I'd also like to point out that the DeerPark Alpha2 was released a few days ago. I believe DeerPark is the branch of Firefox that is slated more towards 2.0 than the current Firefox, which are focused on 1.x releases. Check this one out for sure.

Deer Park is the codename for FireFox 1.1

[hyperb0le]

Originally Posted by Targon

Don't put words in my mouth!

Shiira needs pith support for me to use it, i imagine many others would not use it either unless there is some form of add blocking/stripping.

Just use a custom UserContent.css file

[[APi]TheMan]

Originally Posted by Angus_D

Deer Park is the codename for FireFox 1.1

I stand corrected.