Maxthon

Maxthon

Maxthon 3 displaying Wikipedia page on Windows 7
Developer(s)	Maxthon International Limited
Stable release	3.2.2.1000  (17 November 2011; 3 days ago (2011-11-17)[1]) [+/−]
Preview release	3.2.1.600  (October 2011, 27; 24 days ago (27-10-2011)) [+/−]
Operating system	Microsoft Windows
Size	25 MB
Type	Web browser
License	Freeware
Website	maxthon.com

Maxthon (formerly known as MyIE2) is a free web browser for Microsoft Windows. The latest release, Maxthon 3, supports both the Trident and the WebKit rendering engines.^[2]

Maxthon has developed a growing user base since its initial release in 2003, especially in China, so that in 2006, Maxthon 2.0 gained support of several sponsors.^[3] In January 2006, Maxthon developers partnered with Microsoft in its booth at the Consumer Electronics Show.^[4]

Maxthon won a WebWare 100 Award in 2008^[5] and 2009.^[6]

History

According to Maxthon International CEO Ming Jie "Jeff" Chen, Maxthon was based on MyIE, which was originally created by Changyou, a Chinese programmer who wanted to customize the Internet Explorer web browser.^[7][8] Changyou posted most of the source code^[9] for MyIE on his Bulletin board system before leaving the project in 2000. Chen continued developing MyIE and in 2002 released a new version, MyIE2.^[10] MyIE2 grew quickly, with users around the world contributing plugins and skins, and assisting with debugging. It was renamed Maxthon in 2003.^[7][11]

Chen founded Mysoft International Limited in Hong Kong in 1999 to distribute the MyIE browser.^[12] In 2005 the company received seed funding from venture capital firm WI Harper Group and Morten Lund, the first Skype investor, and Chen moved the company to Beijing.^[13][14] In 2006 Maxthon received further investment from the US-based venture capital firm Charles River Ventures.^[11]

On April 10, 2007, TechCrunch reported that Google had invested at least US$1 million in Maxthon;^[15] this was denied the following day by Chen.^[16] However, in an interview with the Chinese portal Sina.com, Chen did not rule out future "co-operation" between the two businesses.^[17]

Maxthon was one of the twelve browsers Microsoft presented in 2010 at BrowserChoice.eu, a website that allows users of Microsoft Windows residing in the European Economic Area to choose which default web browser they would like to use on their computer.^[18]

Features

• Tabbed document interface
• Saves open tabs in case of program shutdown or system crash
• Undo for any tabs accidentally closed
• AD Hunter - an ad-blocking utility that blocks pop-ups, Web banner and floating ads in webpages
• Adobe Flash, Java applet and ActiveX blocker
• Skinnable
• Customizable tabs and interface
• Programmable mouse gestures and mouse chording
• External utility bar - toolbar that allows you to open third-party programs
• RSS reader
• Supports many Internet Explorer plugins as well as plugins of its own
• Partial Gecko engine support with the use of a third-party program
• A search toolbar with 8 different search engines (user extensible)
• Automatic updating service
• Groups - the ability to bookmark & open multiple pages simultaneously
• URL aliases - open URLs by just typing a word in the address bar
• Simple collector - a small notepad-like utility, used to collect any text from web pages. You can write scripts in it and run them in the current web page
• Integrated web services - user extensible, but by default includes translators, Google's cached version of pages, Whois and anonymous web proxies
• Enhanced security - Even if a security hole has not yet been corrected in the underlying web rendering engine, Maxthon browser prevent most of the well-known exploits to run.

Version 1.x

Maxthon version 1, which continued version 0 of MyIE2, was an Internet Explorer shell that implemented a tabbed browser using the Trident layout engine which Microsoft introduced with Internet Explorer 4.^[19] As such, version 1 was compatible with every version of Windows from Windows 95 to Windows 7.^[20] Development of version 1 stopped in 2010 with so-called Maxthon (Classic), version 1.6.7.35;^[20] earlier releases are available from Maxthon,^[21], and version 1.6.7.35, which fixed a bug in selecting the default search engine, is still available at other download sites.^[22][23]

"Classic Version Features: Use less system resources, more stable, better compatibility, Mouse Gesture, Super Drag&Drop, Ad Hunter, Undo List, Simple Skin Support, Plugins Support..."^{[citation needed]}

The latest release of the Classic Version is 1.6.7.35. It functions properly with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8 on Microsoft Windows XP Home, XP Professional, all releases of Windows Vista and Windows 7.

There are a number of add-ons available for Maxthon Classic on their dedicated add-on site^[24] and even more are available on their discussion forums.^[25] Specific threads may provide direct download links as well.^[26] Some add-ons are build specific, but when that is the case, a clear indication of compatibility can often be found. Downloads of earlier releases are available for testing and/or general use should issues with the latest releases arise.

Version 2.x

The latest release version of Maxthon 2.5.16.1000 is currently available for download on the official website.

New features include:^[27]

• New layout
• New customization options
• New default icons
• Maxthon Security Updates
• Multi-user support
• Content blocker
• Improved Performance & Stability
• Maxthon Smart Accelerator
• Magic Fill
• Link validator
• Improved favicon support
• Improved favorite search
• Favorite + Feed manager
• Automatic online favorite & feed synchronization
• Page find tool
• Plugin installer
• Improved proxy support
• Tab manager
• Frameless mode
• New Configuration Interface
• Anti-Freeze

Version 3.x

Maxthon 3 has both Trident engine and a Webkit engine, otherwise called "Dual Display Engines". It currently features:

• Ad Hunter
• Online Favorites
• Trident and Webkit engines
• Muting a page
• Magic Fill
• URL Safety
• Video Popup/Save buttons
• Multi Search
• Mouse Gesture
• Super Drag & Drop
• Smart Address Bar
• Private Browsing
• New Work Space Window
• Split Screen
• Snap feature(Screen capture with tools)
• Rss Feed Reader(Beta)
• Online Notepad
• Translation Tool
• Sync System(Now options & Quick Access only)
• Customize UI
• URL Short Key & URL Alias
• Enhanced Resource Sniffer
• New App Frame
• Group Feature(add all tabs to favorites/groups)
• Sync Center
• Sidebar
• Subscribing AdHunter Rules and Global Rules
• Spell Checker
• Auto Refresh
• Calendar View For History
• Allowed to share AdHunter rules with other Maxthon users
• Reader mode

As of 30 June 2011, it is at version Maxthon browser (3.1.3.600.beta)

Maxthon Mobile for Android 1.x

Maxthon recently announced a new version of Maxthon for Android users,^[28] which has features like:

• RSS Feed Reader (Widget)
• A downloader with the ability to resume
• Quick-Access
• Super Gestures

See also

• List of web browsers
• Comparison of web browsers

References

1. ^ Maxthon Changelog
2. ^ "Maxthon 3.0 Browser". Maxthon International Limited. http://go.maxthon.com/web/mx3/welcome/overview.htm. Retrieved 8 February 2011. "The only browser designed for the whole web. Dual display engines (powered by Trident and Webkit) and [~snip~]" 
3. ^ Olsen, Stefaie (22 June 2006). "Maxthon: China's hip browser". CNet News. CBS Interactive. http://news.com.com/Maxthon+Chinas+hip+browser/2100-1032_3-6086632.html. Retrieved 1 January 2008. 
4. ^ "Maxthon Browser Exhibits with Microsoft at CES in Las Vegas". Newswire Today PR. Limelon. 4 January 2006. http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/2744/. Retrieved 8 February 2006. 
5. ^ Shankland, Stephen (21 April 2008). "Webware 100 winner: Maxthon". CNET. CBS Interactive. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13546_109-9913352-29.html. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
6. ^ "Webware 100 winner: Maxthon". CNET. CBS Interactive. 19 May 2009. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13546_109-10236948-29.html. Retrieved 8 February 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Lipskas, Vygantas (2011-10-24). "Interview With Jeff Chen, The CEO Of Maxthon Ltd.". FavBrowser.com. http://www.favbrowser.com/interview-with-jeff-chen-the-ceo-of-maxthon-ltd/. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
8. ^ "General FAQs - Maxthon Wiki". Maxthon International Limited. http://wiki.maxthon.com/index.php/General_FAQs#What_is_MyIE.3F. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
9. ^ "MyIE Original Visual C++ Source Code Download...". http://www.angelfire.com/fang/myiesource/. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
10. ^ "About Maxthon". http://www.maxthon.com/about-us/. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
11. ^ ^{a b} Lu, Gang (31 December 2006). "Maxthon Goes to Global Market - A New Way to Surf The World in 2007". Mobinode. http://www.mobinode.com/?p=122. Retrieved 1 January 2008. 
12. ^ "MyIE Tabbed Browser". Mysoft International Limited. http://www.myie2.com/. Retrieved 2011-11-12. "Copyright © 1999-2011 Mysoft International Limited" 
13. ^ "Angle Subscriber Exclusive: WI Harper & Skype Co-Founder To Invest In Chinese Browser/Search Play". Pacific Epoch. 2005-05-30. http://pacificepoch.com/china-investment-research/articles/angle-subscriber-exclusive-wi-harper-skype-co-founder-to-invest-in-chinese-. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
14. ^ Schonfeld, Erick; Yen, Yi-Wyn. "It's a Web, Web, Web 2.0 world". CNNMoney.com. Cable News Network. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/biz2/0707/gallery.web_world.biz2/10.html. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
15. ^ Arrington, Michael (10 April 2007). "Google Takes Partial Ownership Of Maxthon Browser". TechCrunch. http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/04/10/google-takes-partial-ownership-of-maxthon-browser/. Retrieved 1 January 2008. 
16. ^ "Maxthon founder:Google don't own our share". 11 April 2007. http://ya.iyee.cn/2007/04/maxthon-foundergoogle-dont-own-our.html. Retrieved 1 January 2008. 
17. ^ "Maxthon浏览器创始人否认谷歌入股传言". Sina.com. 10 May 2007. http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2007-04-10/17481458287.shtml. Retrieved 1 January 2008. 
18. ^ BBC, Microsoft offers browser choices to Europeans, 1 March 2010
19. ^ Spanbauer, Scott; Bass, Steve (2005-01-03). "The New Web Challengers". PCWorld. http://www.pcworld.com/article/118794-3/the_new_web_challengers.html. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
20. ^ ^{a b} "Maxthon (Classic) specifications". CNET.com. CBS Interactive. http://download.cnet.com/Maxthon-Classic/3010-2356_4-10136776.html. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
21. ^ "Maxthon Browser 1.x Series". Maxthon International Limited. http://dl.maxthon.com/mx1/. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
22. ^ "Download Free Maxthon, Maxthon 1.6.7.35". Brothersoft. http://www.brothersoft.com/maxthon-59753.html. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
23. ^ "Maxthon (Classic) 1.6.7.35 (Windows)". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. http://downloads.zdnet.com/abstract.aspx?docid=1652821. Retrieved 2011-11-12. 
24. ^ Addons for Maxthon 1.x and 2.x
25. ^ Maxthon Forum
26. ^ More Options 1.6.x on Maxthon forum
27. ^ Maxthon Browser changelog
28. ^ http://maxthon.com/maxthon-mobile

External links

• Maxthon official website
• Czech Maxthon website