Reducing dependency on the browser Aug01 '07
I used to have Firefox set to open 10-15 tabs on startup. The sites loaded in those tabs were various communication or organizational tools, such as email, RSS reader, calendar, etc. I needed these sites open at all times, so I'd have quick access to them.
As we continue the shift of maintaining our lives through web-based tools, it becomes increasingly evident that the browser plays the most important role. I spend nearly 90% of my day inside a browser window.
I'd like to cut that down as much as possible.
Lately I've been looking for alternatives to physical web sites, that have to be loaded in a browser window. For example, instead of having my Gmail window open 24/7, I now use the handy Gmail Dashboard widgets for Mac OS X.
Dashboard is a great solution for "porting" existing sites to a much more convenient and comfortable interface.
Not all sites are available as a Dashboard widget, but the collection is growing, as "information at our fingertips" becomes a greater need.
Another way to reduce dependency on the browser is to use instant message or SMS. This is a somewhat premature concept, but services like Twitter are already taking advantage of instant message and SMS as notification options. Rather than constantly refreshing the browser window, I have my friends Twitter updates sent to me directly as instant message or SMS.
All in all, it's one less browser window I have to keep open.
In the very near future, we'll be seeing many more tools that access the internet without the need for a browser.
Categories: Browsers 
, Workflow
Add Feedback (view all)
Leave feedback
is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago.
Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.
- Not interested in "The Simpsons Movie"
- Grouping RSS feeds by priority and frequency
- Football weekly blame game
Similar Entries
- Send SMS with a browser? Isn’t that email? (127 recent visits)
- Browser "back" button and Google Docs (40 recent visits)
Stats
1 unique visit since September 2008