Last time out, I gave a brief overview of the main players in the world of internet browsing, with some generalised pros and cons for the objective user. This time it gets personal. Here I recommend the browser that works best for me, Flock, and explain why. Using my own extensive experience of using Flock, I’ll also be giving some hints and tips as to how it can help you as you begin to think about job hunting. Of course, there’s no foolproof way of judging the best browser – aside from individual user needs, some work better on older/newer computers, for example – so feel free to wade into the debate yourselves below.

The Basics

Although it’s a relative newcomer to the web-browsing game, founded in 2005, Flock has nonetheless shrewdly asserted itself on the market. The smart use of the basic Mozilla architecture (also employed by Firefox, amongst others) has allowed it to focus on providing useful additional features elsewhere. It doesn’t just sound good on paper either – Flock’s browsing expertise has been recognised by a plethora of awards and accolades, including Product of the Year at 2009’s Viatec Tech Awards.

Blogging

As I’ve previously suggested, blogging can be an invaluable tool for personal and professional development. Flock is hands down the most blog-friendly web browser I have used. Whilst using the blog editors provided by hosting sites (such as the irritatingly clumsy Blogger tool) can be a chore, Flock counters this by providing their own editor which links into your blog and posts directly to it. Not only is this tool more reliable, it also has far nicer formatting options. Meanwhile, the picture uploading tool also provided from within the browser makes it simple to add personal photos from your PC.

Social Networking Integration

We all know how important social networking is to average student. Flock is billed as “the social web browser”, and it doesn’t disappoint. The first time you use it, you will be invited to link up with sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Bebo. Doing so means that these can be active within your browser without you even having to go to the individual sites themselves. It’ll also link up to your email service and inform you when you receive a message, basically eschewing the tiresome need to keep half a dozen tabs open in your browser in order to keep on top of your social networking. It’s surely only a matter of time before LinkedIn is also integrated.

Jobs

Making a blog is all well and good, but what about actually finding a job? Flock’s ‘MyWorld’ homepage system makes it a piece of cake to keep an eye on movements in the job market. Open up a new Flock window and you are taken to your personalised homepage, including your ‘Favourite Feeds’. This essentially means users can add as many RSS feeds from job websites to their homepage, and cast an eye over these in one place as and when they desire. Also found on the ‘MyWorld’ homepage is a Twitter Search and a Favourite Media bar, plus a feed of Facebook ‘Friend Activity’. It’s the browsing equivalent of never having to leave your bedroom for food, water and personal interaction

So Where Can I Find It?

Sign you up, right? Flock can be downloaded here or here, whilst a whole host of useful add-ons and toolbars can be found here.

Prefer a different browser? We’d love to hear about why you have chosen the particular browser you use, so why not leave a comment below.

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