Over the past few weeks, Microsoft began offering a “Web browser choice screen” to Internet Explorer users in Europe, as required by the European Commission. They began to roll-out around the beginning of March, a couple of weeks ahead of schedule.

First, a little background. In December, the European Commission and Microsoft arrived at a resolution of a number of long-standing competition law issues. Microsoft made a legally binding commitment that PC manufacturers and users will continue to be able to install any browser on Windows, to make any browser the default browser, and to turn access to Internet Explorer on or off. In addition, Microsoft agreed to use Windows Update to provide a browser choice screen to Windows users in Europe who are running Internet Explorer as their default browser. This browser choice screen will present a list of browsers, with links to learn more about them and install them. The design and operation of this choice screen was worked out in the course of extensive discussions with the Commission and is reflected in the commitment that Microsoft made. Users who get the choice screen will be free to choose any browser or stick with the browser they have, as they prefer.

Below is the screen with the various different options . . . . 

Of all the browsers offered, one stood out. Flock. This is an amazing piece of software. Its made keeping the 'social networker' as its main audience. Everything is well organized, browser panel, media panel, facebook/myspace/whatever social networking site panel. Its a whole new way of exploring the web, suited to todays web more so than other browsers which are hanging onto to the early nineties idea of web browsing. A truly innovative way to surf the web!! Below is a screenshot that shows a bit about how it looks. I'm using this and it truly makes sense. But then its not my default browser . . . yet ; ) Enjoy!!