Avant Browser 11.6 build 13

Publisher's description of Avant Browser

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Avant Browser allows users to browse multiple Web sites simultaneously and to block all unwanted pop-up pages and Flash ads automatically. The integrated cleaner helps users clear all traces and maintain privacy. The built-in Yahoo and Google search engines enable users to search for Web pages, images, groups, directories, lyrics, software, and news on the Internet. Avant Browser provides options for blocking the download of Flash media, pictures, video, sounds, and ActiveX components, so users can efficiently use their bandwidth and speed up page loading. All opened pages can be stopped, refreshed, closed, or arranged with one click. It also comes with built-in RSS reader. Its similar Web sites bar displays Web sites, which are related to the opened Web pages. Version 11.6 build 13 improves Vista Compabilities, and fixes bugs.

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Editor's review of Avant Browser

For those who like their customization in-house, the Avant Browser's latest update might appeal to you. Built on an IE-rendering engine, Avant takes off in a different direction--IE if it were being produced by a small firm instead of Microsoft.

The browser is sufficiently fast, preloaded with two dozen similar skins as well as tabbed browsing and modular toolbars that let you move around and hide the Status bar, Toolbar, Search window, and navigation controls. The Menu bar, though, is counterintuitively pinned to the upper-right corner, and icons for proprietary functions, such as an in-page search term highlighting toggle, aren't instantly comprehensible.

Avant can save personalized data online, making bookmarks and form content accessible from any machine. Around the same size as Firefox, Avant includes many features that are available to Firefox users only through plug-ins--such as automatic form fillers. The Full Screen view autohides all menu bars, a nice touch, but certain plug-ins--notably Flash--didn't work on Windows Vista.

Avant is a good browser with some nice built-in features and interface-customization options, but the lack of extensibility and Vista problems don't help. We recommend it to users who want a Microsoft-based engine but think that Internet Explorer 7 is a pain.

User reviews of Avant Browser

• Average user rating: out of 2543 votes
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  Avant Browser

  The Best Browser using IE engine

  by: BMENON on 30-Apr-2008 07:32:28 AM

  Pros: To those who like IE,Avant is still the best alternative.In fact it is better than IE, faster and with a lot of innovative features.In this new vn. they added 'screen capture'feature (see under File) with a choice of fullscreen,selective etc.with jpg output.

  Since it uses IE,Avant has some security issues similar to those of IE.This they can overcome if Avant can add Firefox(Gecko)engine also as an option to choose(as Netscape was once).

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  Avant Browser

  Still my favorite browser!

  by: InsertCleverUserNameHere on 04-Apr-2008 11:17:11 AM

  Pros: Avant has always been light-years ahead of IE, and it has a lot of handy little features that I can't duplicate in Firefox. Some examples: tab management -- do you want a tooolbar search result to open in the current window, or a new window? Avant lets you choose. URL alias -- I can type "wik" in the address bar, and it opens Wikipedia. I can temporarily disable flash animations with a button on the toolbar. Lots more little features that I use constantly.

  Cons: 1) Avant's ad blocking feature doesn't stop as many ads as Firefox's AdBlock Plus, which blocks practically everything.

  2) I've never been able to get McAfee Site Advisor to work with Avant.

  3) Avant can be snippy about executing some Java scripts. For example, to navigate Verizon's site to get prices for DSL service, I had to use IE.

  Overall, though, the pros far outweigh the cons. This is still the best browser out there.

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  Avant Browser

  Good!

  by: jeff.114 on 14-May-2008 02:16:24 PM

  Pros: It's faster than IE7 & Firefox, and it uses less memory than them!

  Cons: What's a con?

  :P

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  Avant Browser

  It's Better Than IE7

  by: tehahn1 on 30-Apr-2008 03:10:21 PM

  Pros: It's simple and easy to use

  Cons: Better skins

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  Avant Browser

  A Great Browser!

  by: croupier04 on 11-Apr-2008 12:53:28 AM

  Pros: I like to use this browser when a site requires IE 7 like Microsoft for example for download updates and Sirius Satellite Radio Player is optimized with this or IE 7. Although I prefer Firefox 3 beta 5 or Opera 9.27 for their speed and security, I must admit this is a handy browser to have around and it's much quicker than IE 7 with nice features.

  Cons: Because it relies on the IE 7, I do not feel as secure when browsing but otherwise it's very useful.

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