KDE 4.x default web browser is Konqueror, I'm not sure, but I think it used to be the only web browser for KDE (if there were others, I apologize with you for the omission), until now. Rekonq is based on Arora (which is a pure Qt application), Arora itself is quite good and fast, Rekonq is as good, as fast but more integrated.

It's still on early development, but I would, sincerely, love to see an official K browser which could be... just that... a WB. Because it simplifies a lot the interface, and this will mean more development on the Browser and WebKit parts I assume...

Let's have a quick look at it ;-):

It renders the pages beautifully (webkit godness):

Tabs, unlike Konqueror... Firefox... Safari... Opera... and pretty much all web browser except for Google Chrome (and Chromium obviously), open extremely fast, the transitions are perfect, aka instantly (if you use Bespin, fade in and out between tabs will look plain gorgeous):

It handles flash quite well too (thanks to Qt-Webkit):

Somebody asked for something more complex than Youtube, so here it goes: Vimeo with HD ON, fullscreen works well too:

Bookmark editor:
It also follow the KDE 4.x HIG. The configuration dialogs are very easy and straight forward (and I hope devs can keep it this way (simple) even when they start adding more options) 100% self-explanatory:

Of course, this alpha software, it lacks many features; like remembering passwords, or adblock, and so on) , it has many little bugs too, like extremely small fonts or, sometimes, when you click on a link it would look as it isn't loading (even if it is).


Anyway, congrats to the Rekonq (and Arora and Qt-Webkit) developer(s). I'm looking forward to this application! I'm truly falling in love here (it's already my default K Web Browser).


4 comments:

Bastien said...

Which version are you using? I tired 0.0.4 but I don't have as many features as you (like bookmarks and flash)...

Luis Augusto said...

The same version. Flash depends on your version of Qt.

Anonymous said...

Now posting comments does seem to work, a few days ago clicking the link with Spanish text to post a comment did nothing?

Anyway, thank you very much for your blog post and giving so much screenshots! Does anyone have an idea if there are already plans to replace Konqueror as the default browser with a simple WebKit-based browser like ReKonq?

I hope it happens soon, Konqueror is one of the more serious problems holding me back from switching to KDE 4 from GNOME. I don't want to be using an un-integrated Firefox with KDE.

Luis Augusto said...

"Now posting comments does seem to work, a few days ago clicking the link with Spanish text to post a comment did nothing?"

Nope, it didn't work, my bad XD.

"Anyway, thank you very much for your blog post and giving so much screenshots!"

I'm glad you liked it :-)

"Does anyone have an idea if there are already plans to replace Konqueror as the default browser with a simple WebKit-based browser like ReKonq?"

There doesn't seem to be any plans, tough, I agree with you.

"I hope it happens soon, Konqueror is one of the more serious problems holding me back from switching to KDE 4 from GNOME. I don't want to be using an un-integrated Firefox with KDE."

I can understand this :-/ But, I think the integration issues aren't that bad.