Flock, the social Web browser makes a return, this time based on Google's open source Chromium browser. The original version of the browser, Flock 1.0, was released in 2007 and based on Mozilla's Firefox browser. At a time when social media was first taking shape, Flock was designed with blog publishing options and social networking functions built in. Flock's most recent build, 2.6 continued to feature strong social networking features, other browsers had gained popularity through faster load speeds and a multitude of extensions that allowed for similar functionality.

Now Flock has returned with a beta based on Chromium, rather than Firefox. The resulting browser, which is currently available only on Windows, with a Mac release to follow, features the familiar minimalist design of Chrome with added features custom to the browser.

Most notable in these features is the Sidebar, which allows users to integrate their Twitter and Facebook profiles into the browser, streaming updates from both sources at the same time. These feeds can be customized and pared down to specific friends lists as well. Naturally, it's possible to post updates to one or both accounts from within the browser as well.

Flock also uses Google's search engine to crawl Twitter and Facebook, returning related posts in the search results.

Comments

I Second, Why is this being reported here

Tuxy Jun 18, 2010 9:02pm GMT

Windows only with Mac version to follow and no indication of whether or not a Linux version will come is not good reporting for a Linux Magazine.

A couple of things...

Trevan McGee Jun 18, 2010 1:45pm GMT

First off, welcome, Slashdot readers. Thanks for stopping by.

Now, a couple of things about the article itself. There isn't any confusion between Chrome and Chromium within the story. Chromium, as it's stated in the article's first sentence, is Google's open source browser, Chrome is the proprietary browser based on Chromium. But both browsers look similar, if not identical, so the sentence that likens Flock's look and design to Chrome (the more popular therefore more recognizable browser) is a factual one.

Secondly, for those new to the site, Linux Pro Magazine and LinuxProMagazine.com cover Linux distros of all shapes and sizes, new and upcoming hardware, and news from the open source world. While, yes, the build of Flock mentioned in this story isn't on the platform we cover, it still uses open source code and is therefore newsworthy to the open source community. This also explains why the OS and beta candidacy were mentioned at the end of the story. The news wasn't about the release platform, but the codebase and the shift from Firefox to Chromium.

Thanks for reading and check back in with us sometime. We always welcome commenters.

the END of the last traces of netscape

a user Jun 18, 2010 11:45am GMT

This means that all traces of Netscape have now been eradicated permanently.

for srsly

Alexander Jun 18, 2010 9:42am GMT

Chromium is not Chrome, look it up

...

Mike Jun 17, 2010 11:17pm GMT

Because not everyone walks through life with tunnel vision?

Why is this being reported here?

srsly Jun 17, 2010 10:36pm GMT

Honestly? A windows-only program, with a promise for a mac beta? On "Linux Pro Magazine"?

Really?

Admin Magazine

Flock Appears After Year in Hiding, Now Based on Chromium