flock (web browser)

{{short description|Discontinued web browser integrating social networking and Web 2.0 features}}

{{Infobox software

| name = Flock

| logo = Flock icon.png

| screenshot = Flock Screenshot.png

| caption = Flock 3.5.3 running on Windows 7 displaying its new tab page

| developer = Flock, Inc.

| released = {{start date and age|2005|4|11}}

| discontinued = yes

| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|reference|edit|Q488886|P348|P548=Q2804309}}

| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|Q488886|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

| operating system = Windows, OS X, Linux{{cite web|title=Flock Global Page|url=http://flock.softpedia.com/|work=Softpedia|publisher=SoftNews|access-date=15 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052715/http://flock.softpedia.com/|archive-date=December 15, 2013|df=mdy-all}}

| language = Catalan, Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), English (US, Australian, British, Canadian), Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal + African Portuguese Speaking Countries and Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin American and Spain)

| genre = Web browser
Feed reader

| license = Freeware{{cite web|title=Flock (Discontinued) 3.5.3.4641 / 2.6.1|url=http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Flock-for-Windows.shtml|work=Softpedia|publisher=SoftNews|access-date=15 December 2013}}

|website =[https://web.archive.org/web/20110325151017/http://www.flock.com/ Official website archives]

}}

Flock is a discontinued web browser that specialized in providing social networking and Web 2.0 facilities built into its user interface.[http://www.flock.com/mozilla Flock Browser – Built on Mozilla's Firefox] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309195026/http://www.flock.com/mozilla |date=March 9, 2008}}

Earlier versions of Flock used the Gecko HTML rendering engine by Mozilla.

Version 2.6.2, released on January 27, 2011, was the last version based on Mozilla Firefox.{{cite web|url=http://www.flock.com/release-notes/index.html |title=Flock 2.6.2 Release Notes |publisher=Flock |access-date=September 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222081043/http://www.flock.com/release-notes/index.html |archive-date=February 22, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flock.com/mozilla/ |title=Powered by Mozilla |publisher=Flock |access-date=September 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030035227/http://www.flock.com/mozilla/ |archive-date=October 30, 2010}}

Starting with version 3, Flock was based on Chromium and so used the WebKit rendering engine.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10926024|title=Flock Browser Gets Faster, Friendlier With Upgrade|access-date=June 17, 2010|date=June 16, 2010|author=Iedtke, Michael|publisher=ABC}}

Flock was available as a free download, and supported Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and, at one time, Linux as well.

Support for Flock was discontinued in April 2011.

History

Flock was the successor to Round Two, who raised money from Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, Shasta Ventures and other angel investors. Bart Decrem and Geoffrey Arone co-founded the company.[http://www.flock.com/company-info Flock Browser - Company Info] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314185726/http://www.flock.com/company-info |date=March 14, 2008}} Flock raised $15 million in a fourth round of funding led by Fidelity Ventures on May 22, 2008, for an estimated total of $30 million, according to CNET. The company's previous investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, and Shasta Ventures, also participated in the round.{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | title = Flock draws $15 million for social browsing | publisher = CNET | access-date = 2012-08-06 | archive-date = November 16, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111116151014/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | url-status = dead }}

In January 2011, Flock Inc. was acquired by Zynga.{{cite web|last=Wasserman|first=Todd|title=Zynga Buys Social Web Browser Flock|url=http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/zynga-buys-flock/|work=Mashable|date=2011-01-07|access-date=2012-08-06}} The browser has been discontinued, with support ending April 26, 2011.{{cite web|last=Van Grove|first=Jennifer|title=Flock Shutters Social Web Browser|url=http://mashable.com/2011/04/12/flock-folds/|work=Mashable|date=2011-04-12}}

Features

Flock 2.5 integrated social networking and media services including MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Blogger, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc.{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advpeop.html | title = Activate Services and Unite Your Social Networks in the People Sidebar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081020062119/http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advpeop.html | archive-date = October 20, 2008 | df = mdy-all}} When logging into any of the supported social services, Flock could track updates from friends: profiles, uploaded photos, and more. Flock 2.5 added Twitter Search functionality, multi-casting of status updates to multiple services, and the introduction of instant messaging via Facebook Chat in the browser.

Other features include:

Native sharing of text, links, photos and videos{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advshar.html | title = Share Pictures, Text, Audio and Video | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}
A "Media Bar" showing preview of online videos and photos as well as subscription to photo and video feeds{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advmdia.html | title = View and Share Media through the Media Bar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}
A feed reader supporting Atom, RSS, and Media RSS feeds{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advfeed.html | title = Track Feeds | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}
A blog editor and reader, allowing direct posting into any designated blog{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advblog.html | title = Activate and Manage Blogs | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}
A Webkit-mail component allowing users to check supported web-based email off site, compose new messages, and drag-and-drop pictures and videos from the "Media Bar" or webclipboard into a new email message{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 |title=Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge |agency=Associated Press |access-date=2008-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628164451/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 |archive-date=June 28, 2008}}
Support for third-party add-ons, including a number of Firefox extensions{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advextd.html | title = Get or Build Add-ons for Flock | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}

Reception

Download.com rated it 5 out of 5
Ranked no. 6 on PC World's list of the 100 best products of 2008 {{cite web | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/146161/best.html?page=2 | title = The 100 Best Products of 2008 | date = May 26, 2008 | publisher = PC World | access-date = 2015-06-28}}

In December 2007, Flock won the Mashable Open Web Awards for Applications and Widgets{{cite web |last=Hirsch |first=Adam |url=http://mashable.com/2007/12/21/open-web-awards-winners/ |title=Open Web Awards Winners |publisher=Mashable.com |date=21 December 2007 |access-date=2012-05-21}} and in March 2008, Flock won the South By Southwest[http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ Web Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323112549/http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ |date=March 23, 2008}} Web Award for Community.{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Caroline |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html |title=Oh wait! SXSWi had Web Awards, too |publisher=cnet.com |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809203735/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html |archive-date= August 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}

CNET gave the Mac OS X version of Flock 1.0 the title of "Best Mac Software of 2007".{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Jason |url=http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html |title=Best Mac Software of 2007 |publisher=Download.com |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215080514/http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html |url-status=dead }} PC World's Harry McCracken reviewed Flock as his "New Favorite Web Browser".[http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html I Have A New Favorite Web Browser: Flock] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108205626/http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html |date=November 8, 2007}}

In February 2008, AOL announced that it would discontinue support for the Netscape browser, and recommended Flock and Firefox as alternative browsers to its userbase of Netscape 9 users.{{cite web |url=http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ |title=Netscape 9 Users: Time to Flock or Firefox |publisher=Blog.netscape.com |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813091008/http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}} For the Netscape 8 userbase, AOL recommended only the Flock browser to its users.{{cite web |url=http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too/ |title=Netscape 8 Update Forthcoming: You Can Flock Too! |publisher=Blog.netscape.com |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-date=July 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730182204/http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too |url-status=dead }} In March 2008, Flock announced that they had seen "nearly 3 million downloads" and a 135% increase in active users in the first two months of 2008. They also announced "more than 70 percent of Flock users making it their default browser of choice".{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503081434/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-05-03 |title=Flock Browser Use Growing Dramatically |publisher=Reuters.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}

In May 2008, Flock won the Social Networking category of the Webby Awards.{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=CURRENT_SEASON#webby_entry_social |title=2008 Webby Award Winners |publisher=Webbyawards.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}[http://flock.com/node/62014 Flock Wins a Webby Award for Best in Social Networking] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510122257/http://flock.com/node/62014 |date=May 10, 2008}} Flock was nominated for this award along with Facebook, Bebo and Ning.

When Flock's discontinuation was announced in April 2011, reviewer Joey Sneddon of OMG! Ubuntu! offered some analysis: "Whether this was down to poor implementation design wise (one needs only glance at 'Rockmelt' for an example of a social browser done right) or just general apathy towards having alerts from twitter, flickr, facebook, digg et al. in your face all of the time is moot: Flock has flocked off and for all its innovation it never quite lived up to its own hype."

Awards

Upon exiting beta, Flock won a number of awards:{{cite web |url=http://flock.com/press |title=Flock's press}}

Webby Award in social networking, 2008
SXSW community Award, 2008
Open Web Award for Applications and Widgets, 2007
"Eddy Winner": Flock 2.0 24th Annual Macworld Editors' Choice Awards {{cite web|last=Michaels |first=Philip |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/137269/2008/12/eddyawards_flock2.html |title=Eddy Winner: Flock 2.0 |publisher=Macworld.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

[http://flock.com/node/64027 Official release announcement on Shawn Hardin's blog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018110317/http://flock.com/node/64027 |date=October 18, 2008}}

{{cite web|url = http://www.flock.com/|title = Support for Flock browsers has been discontinued.|access-date = April 10, 2012|last = Flock Inc|date = April 15, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429020200/http://www.flock.com/ |archive-date = April 29, 2011}}

{{cite web | url = http://flock.com/node/62277 | title = Flock Named As One of PC World's "100 Best Products of 2008" | access-date = 2008-06-17}}

{{cite web|last=Wayner|first=Peter|title=Top 10 specialty Web browsers you may have missed|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/top-10-specialty-web-browsers-you-may-have-missed-026?page=0,2#flock|publisher=InfoWorld|access-date=October 28, 2010|page=2|date=October 19, 2010}}

{{Cite news|url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/04/end-of-the-line-for-flock-social-browser/|title = End of the line for Flock social browser|access-date = April 15, 2011|last =Sneddon|first = Joey|date=April 2011| work = OMG Ubuntu}}

{{cite web |access-date=2010-08-02 |url=http://news.cnet.com/Start-up-wants-to-improve-on-Firefox/2100-1032_3-5663798.html |title= Start-up wants to improve on Firefox |publisher=CNET |date=11 April 2005 |author=Festa, Paul}}

}}