2008-03-01 Epiphany Browser

While ago I started using Epiphany instead of Firefox. I also switched from Thunderbird to Evolution.

So what is Epiphany then? A little quote straight from the Synaptic Package Manager:

A simple yet powerful GNOME web browser targeted at non-technical users. Its principles are simplicity and standards compliance. Simplicity is achieved by a well designed user interface and reliance on external applications for performing external tasks (such as reading email). Simplicity should not mean less powerful. Standards compliance is achieved on the HTML side by using the Gecko rendering engine, as developed for the Mozilla and Firefox browsers; and on the user interface side by closely following the GNOME Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) and by close integration with the GNOME desktop.

source: Ubuntu — Epiphany Browser

Though my reasons to change were mostly * ahem * cosmetic (I wanted browser to integrate better with my desktop theme ), I soon found out that I enjoyed using Epiphany that going back to Firefox felt pointless. Surely I wouldn’t mind having few of my favourite extensions also in Epiphany but I don’t miss them enough to use Firefox again as my main browser.

Extensions and other stuff

As mentioned above I missed few of the Firefox addons. But Epiphany has some extensions too, though not billions like in Firefox. Basically you can enable all the extensions that Epiphany has if you want and see then which you need and which you don’t need. For example Epilicious is quite useless if you don’t have del.icio.us. Especially I have liked the Ad Blocker and News Feed Subscription extensions.

Bookmarking system feels a lot more easier and clearer than in Firefox by default. Smart Bookmarks I really like, so when you start typing something in address line Epiphany suggests links not just from history but also from bookmarks. Very nice and practical.

Unfortunately…

Unfortunately Epiphany is surprisingly dependable of Mozilla (it’s using the Gecko backend, but there’s is also possibility to use Webkit backend), I assume this is one of the reasons why I wasn’t able to remove Firefox (I got message: One or more applications depend on firefox. To remove firefox and the dependent applications, use the Synaptic package manager.)

I was also quite annoyed that the inline spell check wasn’t enabled by default. But I was able to solve this problem after some searching in Ubuntu Forums.

1. Write in address line:

about:config

2. Search this line:

layout.spellcheckDefault.

The default value should be 0 (if the spell check isn’t enabled), to get spell check work change the value to 1.

But then again…

Epiphany feels a lot lighter and nicer to use compared to Firefox or let’s say for example Opera (can’t really compare it to IE, because I don’t have it). It not necessarily browser for a surfer who likes having lot of addons. It’s a browser for people who like surfing on Internet.

more:
Epiphany: The web browser for the GNOME desktop
Epiphany Browser Wiki
Epiphany/WebKit – GNOME Live!

Just for your information – The Appearance

Controls: Rezlooks-pastelgreen by Doug Whiteley
Window Border: Arsen-bw by Martino Ferrari
Icons: black-white by Daniel Grimm
Wallpaper (though you don’t see it): Summerwood by Ryan Bliss