The death of the browser?

Unknown

According to figures released last week by 'Nielsen//NetRatings', most Internet users connect up using non-browser applications such as instant messenger clients and media players. Some have speculated this is the beginning of the end for the web browser, I myself however just consider these figures an interesting illustration of the healthy growth of the Internet's overall functionality.

[blockquote]The internet is increasingly working its way into applications outside the browser, blurring the lines between the desktop and the online world, according to Nielsen//NetRatings.

Nielsen//NetRatings analyst Abha Bhagat said in a statement: "With 76 per cent of web surfers using internet applications, functionality has grown beyond the browser to become a fundamental piece of the overall desktop."

The most popular application in December was Windows Media Player, reaching 34 per cent of internet users; AOL Instant Messenger (20.27 per cent); RealNetworks' players (19.76 per cent); MSN Messenger (19.31 per cent) and Yahoo! Messenger (12.26 per cent).

The web browser Mosaic, introduced a decade ago, made the internet more accessible to non-technical users by adding a graphical user interface, but industry observers say the spread of internet applications is taking the IT industry into a post-web world.
[/blockquote]
Source - [link=http://uk.news.yahoo.com]Yahoo[/link]

Shorty

Nah... it's only until they all start logging into here each day

Enverex

Is it me, or is the "Source -" font getting bigger in every post...

Necropolis

Nope its just for you.

If user=Enverex then fontsize=+1

;D;D

Spinner

Font fixed, the main page font selections don't quite translate from the main page to the forums.

TheSmJ

All I think it means is that other apps like AIM are becoming more widespread. Browsers will always, ALWAYS be there because you cant use Windows Media Player, AIM, Netmeeting, or any other app to access websites (like that nifty Short-Media one).

Dexter

I think an important thing to factor in is that many users have apps like MSN Messenger or Real Player that they never tweak the options on. Thus, the default options of "Start up with Windows" and "Log on if Internet Connection Detected" means that these apps connect every time they boot up / log in to their profile. So even if they start their computer to type a Word doc or do their accounting, and never "went on the internet" by launching a browser, their apps have logged them into the net anyways, and the ISP's record the traffic info as an IM or media playback app, but no port 80 traffic. I think if you discount a huge percentage of "connections" based on this reasoning, you will find that the good old browser will still be here this time next year.

Dexter...

EyesOnly

Well more and more apps do use the internet but as stated earlier there's no way to browse websites in mediaplayers or im:s. That's what browsers are for hence the name browser.

RWB

This just reminds me that they really are watching us without permission.

Enverex

RWB wrote:

This just reminds me that they really are watching us without permission.

Actually they don't need your permission to log incomming requests. Do you see a disclaimer on any websites stating that they are logging your IP, Browser, Referer, etc without your permission?

Basically, if you are using someone elses service, they have certain liberties.

panzerkw

I wish some disclaimers were as prominent and clear as this one.

Enverex

I'm not sure why everyone is so bitchy on the subject. The information compiled to get these stats is pretty basic stuff which people should take for granted.

Panzer: You think that's good? Try logging on to the NASA FTP....