The browser Arc - I Like It

One month ago, I had a serious problem with hoarding browser tabs. My digital workspace was a chaotic mess, with open tabs dedicated to work, a never-ending stream of Youtube links, cooking vlogs for an upcoming events, songs and music videos of Jay Chou at different concerts, and even a page with all cute cats looking at me. It felt like a never-ending game of hide and seek in the cluttered abyss of my Chrome browser, where each open tab was more elusive than the last.

Then, a ray of hope emerged in the form of Arc, a new web browser that came highly recommended by Jason Spinell, the manager of Slack's early-stage investment fund. He claimed that The Browser Company, the developer behind Arc, was not just creating another browser but was, in fact, reimagining the very core of computing.

Initially, I was skeptical, having been disappointed by numerous apps that failed to live up to their initial hype. However, I decided to give Arc a chance, making it my default browser for the past one month, and now, I'm hoping it lives up to the excitement it generated.

Tab control

Before I started using Arc, my daily routine involved opening my web browser to a barrage of links from days and even weeks ago. These tabs felt like a constant tease, reminding me of how I had fallen behind in my web surfing.

However, Arc brought a refreshing change to this chaos. By default, it automatically closes open tabs every 12 hours, and it keeps only 5 tabs in active while tab-switching. This simple feature has been a game-changer for me, significantly reducing the clutter and the resulting headaches. Now, my philosophy is straightforward: if a tab is genuinely worth keeping, I'll drag it into the pinned section for safekeeping. Otherwise, I can freely continue my browsing with a clean slate, unburdened by the weight of countless open tabs. It's like a breath of fresh air in the world of web browsing, more importantly, it feels a lot more clean on the nav, that always make my day.

Boost

Another feature I absolutely adore is "Boost." It empowers you to banish any unwanted elements from a webpage, creating a customized browsing experience tailored to your preferences. While similar Chrome plugins offer similar functionality, Boost elevates it to a whole new level. Using Boost feels as effortless as hanging out with friends at a favorite bar, where everything just clicks into place seamlessly.

You could easily focus on reading with Boost.

During my one journey with Arc as my trusted browser, I've realized that I've only just begun to explore its vast capabilities. Arc's toolkit is like a treasure trove waiting to be discovered, with features that can truly enhance your online experience.

Among these gems are "profiles," which allow you to neatly separate your work and personal browsing, ensuring a clear boundary between the two. Then there are "easels," which transform your browser into a virtual whiteboard, making it effortless to display images and sketches.

But perhaps my favorite find is the "boost" editor, which lets you unleash your creativity by customizing the colors and fonts of any website. Want to "Avatarize" your Twitter feed with a Na'vi-inspired blue background and Papyrus font? With Arc, you can bring that vision to life.

And if you're a fan of efficiency, Arc has you covered with a wealth of keyboard shortcuts—two dozen of them, to be precise. I've personally mastered five, and each one feels like a secret passageway to a smoother browsing experience. With Arc, there's always something new to discover, making each day on the web an exciting adventure.

To be continued...