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