14 DAY TRIAL // Stainless is a free web browser built with the Mac user in mind, which also borrows some functionality from Google's Chrome. Mesa Dynamics has released a new version of the application, enhancing it quite a bit.
The lightning-fast web browsing application now adds a saved bookmark manager, as well as edit bookmark attributes. Stainless recently added something called a “bookmark shelf,” which allows you to drag in tab icons for quick access in the future. Users also have the option to save page as saved bookmark (not on shelf). A parallel sessions manager has been added. Lastly, Sparkle has also been updated. Stainless, like many other applications, uses the Sparkle framework to look for updates on the web.
As noted above, the free web browser supports some of the features found in Google's web browser, Chrome. Released in September 2008, Stainless featured a unified address and search bar, draggable tabs between windows, and a private stealth browsing mode. However, since it was still being heavily tested, the folks at Mesa Dynamics revealed that Stainless should be used with caution, or at least should not be relied upon entirely. The web browser came short of several features you'd expect to find in a production-ready web browsing app, such as a bookmarks manager, font and text handling, page search, view source, and others. The development team emphasized Stainless' multi-process feature, which has individual tabs - processes working inside the browser side by side, increasing its stability.
Mesa Dynamics admitted it developed Stainless because building a multi-process browser for OS X was “a cool way to leverage the multi-processing technology” the company had developed for Hypercube, another Mesa Dynamics app.
However, now Stainless has all those missing features, including a super useful page search feature. Just hit Command + F and search for your terms. Stainless literally puts the spotlight on the results. Bookmarks and downloads are a go, while Private Browsing mode remains one of the most useful features for security-aware users. The respective mode disables global history, page caching and storing of AutoFill information. Windows spawned from this window, as well as new tabs are also private and can only be dragged between other private windows.
Stainless requires an Intel or PPC Mac and OS X 10.5 Leopard to run. Use the link below to get the web browser now.