Welcome to What's the Apps, the new app review segment here at TechnoBuffalo! I'm John Q, and I'm excited to share with you my first episode of reviewing a Safari replacement for iOS called Maven. Since the beginning of iOS, Apple has introduced a revolutionary little application that helped fortify the bridge between the desktop experience and the mobile experience. This app stood alone and stood the test of time, making features like pinch to zoom and flick to scroll something users have grown to love.

Over the years, companies and developers have created and released browser alternatives such as Opera Mobile for iOS. Although they had some nifty features, they always kind of felt like a complementary application rather than a standalone Safari replacement. This is because unless you really like Robin, then you know good on you now! The year is 2011, and technology has evolved to the point where there are many different Safari alternatives allowing users to choose how they want to experience their mobile internet.

One of these alternatives is an application oddly named Maven. At first, I was a little hesitant to download Maven mainly because it wasn't free. However, the design of the icon wasn't up to the standards of its vibrant competitors. But I decided to give it a shot and man, I am so glad I did! One of the reasons why I started browsing for alternatives was to increase the default font size of Safari. Personally, I think it's a little bit small; my eyes are okay minus the glasses part, but still, I think it's a little small.

It would be great if Apple provided an option to increase Safari's text size, just like their email application. Two great features of Maven are its ability to view web pages in full screen and control font sizes. Granted, these features plus many others such as social sharing and visible tabs are present in other Safari alternatives. There is also a feature unique to this humble browser called reader or readability, which simplifies the text on screen giving you a more newspaper or magazine experience. It's definitely awesome but seems to only work well in singular article pages.

The final feature that probably makes Maven stand out is its red joystick thingy called a trackpad. At first glance, it looks like a ridiculously super tacky feature reminiscent of the trackpads from older IBM laptops. However, the second I used it, the thought immediately went through my mind was "oh my goodness, every browser no no no!" This trackpad eliminates the need to constantly swipe and scroll all you have to do is hold and move. The movement is very smooth, and it's similar to the control experience you might get from games like Minigore.

The only downside of this trackpad is that it gets a little clunky when you do want to swipe and scroll because you might accidentally move it. This happens to me more often than not, but I think only after experiencing the app can you really understand the design of the icon, the red trackpad, and the jog dials. All these unique features are visible on the icon still, which I think could have been done better.

Something else I should point out is that the UI graphics aren't as slick as those found on other browsers like Mercury or even Safari. Maybe it's because that brushed metal look kind of went away with the older Mac OS versions. A possible downside to all Safari alternatives is the lack of the add-to-home screen feature, which I love and would have loved to see from Maven.

However, for just $0.99 for both iPhone and iPad support, you really have nothing to lose. I give Maven a 4.5 out of five if it weren't for that red trackpad being a little clunky. If you're looking for a Safari alternative seriously check out Maven and thank you very much for checking out the first episode of What's the Apps! This was John Q from TechnoBuffalo, and I'll see you guys next time take care!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwell hello there it's John Q here from TechnoBuffalo and welcome to the very first episode of what's the apps a new app review segment here in techno Buffalo which has a rather fancy name don't you agree yeah and today we're going to be taking a look at a safari replacement for iOS called Maven since the beginning of iOS Apple introduced to the world a revolutionary little application that helped fortify the bridge between the desktop experience and the mobile experience this app stood alone and it stood the test of time and made trivial features like pinch to zoom and flick to scroll something as users have not only grown to love but have grown to expect from modern-day devices the app I'm talking about of course would be Safari over the years companies and developers have created and released browser Alternatives such as Opera Mobile for iOS although they had Nifty features they've always kind of felt like a complimentary application rather than a standalone Safari replacement sort of like a robin to a Batman this is of course unless you really like Robin then you know good on you now the year is 2011 technology has evolved and today there are many many different sefari Alternatives allowing the user to choose how they want to experience their mobile internets one of them is an application oddly named Maven to be honest at first I was a little hesitant to download Maven mainly because it wasn't free but still the design of the icon wasn't up to the standards of its vibrant competitors but I decided to give it a shot and man I am so glad I did one of the reasons why I started browser hunting was because I wanted to increase the default font size of safari now personally I think it's a little bit small the text size my eyes are okay minus the glasses part but still I think it's a little small it would be great if Apple provided an option to increase Safari Tech size you know just like their email application two great features of Maven would be the ability to view web pages in full screen and to control font sizes granted these features plus many others such as social sharing and visible Tabs are present in other Safari alternatives there are some features unique to this humble browser one of them would be the jog dials that can be swiped out from the side there's a jog dial for brightness and another one for social sharing and custom bookmarks the brightness one is Handy for extended viewing periods but I haven't really found a need for the social sharing one another Nifty feature would be reader or readability which simplifies the text on screen giving you a more newspaper or magazine experience it's definitely awesome but it seems to only work well in singular article Pages the final feature probably the best thing about Maven would be his red joystick thingy called a trackpad at first glance it looks like a ridiculously super tacky feature reminisent of the trackpads from the older IBM laptops but the second I used it the thought that immediately went through my mind was oh my goodness every browser no no no every application should have this thing it eliminates a need to constantly swipe and scroll all you have to do is hold and move the movement is very smooth and it's similar to the control experience you might get from games like minigore the only downside is that it gets a little clunky when you do want to swipe and scroll because you might accidentally move it which happens to me more often than not I think only After experiencing the app can you really understand the design of the icon the red trackpad and the jog dials both unique Maven features are visible on the icon still I think they could have done a better job but that's just me something else I should point out would be that the UI Graphics aren't as slick as the ones found on other browsers like Mercury or even Safari I don't know maybe maybe it's that brushed metal look that kind of went away with the older Mac OS versions a possible downside to all Safari Alternatives would be that lack of the add to home screen feature I love this feature and I would love to see it from Maven but I understand if it can't be done because of developing limitations overall for just 99s for both iPhone and iPad support you really have nothing to lose I give Maven a 4.5 out of five if you're weren't for that red trackpad being a little clunky I would have given it a solid five so if you're looking for a safari alternative seriously check out Maven and thank you very much for checking out the very first episode of what's the apps this was John Q from TechnoBuffalo thank you very much for watching and I'll see you guys next time take carewell hello there it's John Q here from TechnoBuffalo and welcome to the very first episode of what's the apps a new app review segment here in techno Buffalo which has a rather fancy name don't you agree yeah and today we're going to be taking a look at a safari replacement for iOS called Maven since the beginning of iOS Apple introduced to the world a revolutionary little application that helped fortify the bridge between the desktop experience and the mobile experience this app stood alone and it stood the test of time and made trivial features like pinch to zoom and flick to scroll something as users have not only grown to love but have grown to expect from modern-day devices the app I'm talking about of course would be Safari over the years companies and developers have created and released browser Alternatives such as Opera Mobile for iOS although they had Nifty features they've always kind of felt like a complimentary application rather than a standalone Safari replacement sort of like a robin to a Batman this is of course unless you really like Robin then you know good on you now the year is 2011 technology has evolved and today there are many many different sefari Alternatives allowing the user to choose how they want to experience their mobile internets one of them is an application oddly named Maven to be honest at first I was a little hesitant to download Maven mainly because it wasn't free but still the design of the icon wasn't up to the standards of its vibrant competitors but I decided to give it a shot and man I am so glad I did one of the reasons why I started browser hunting was because I wanted to increase the default font size of safari now personally I think it's a little bit small the text size my eyes are okay minus the glasses part but still I think it's a little small it would be great if Apple provided an option to increase Safari Tech size you know just like their email application two great features of Maven would be the ability to view web pages in full screen and to control font sizes granted these features plus many others such as social sharing and visible Tabs are present in other Safari alternatives there are some features unique to this humble browser one of them would be the jog dials that can be swiped out from the side there's a jog dial for brightness and another one for social sharing and custom bookmarks the brightness one is Handy for extended viewing periods but I haven't really found a need for the social sharing one another Nifty feature would be reader or readability which simplifies the text on screen giving you a more newspaper or magazine experience it's definitely awesome but it seems to only work well in singular article Pages the final feature probably the best thing about Maven would be his red joystick thingy called a trackpad at first glance it looks like a ridiculously super tacky feature reminisent of the trackpads from the older IBM laptops but the second I used it the thought that immediately went through my mind was oh my goodness every browser no no no every application should have this thing it eliminates a need to constantly swipe and scroll all you have to do is hold and move the movement is very smooth and it's similar to the control experience you might get from games like minigore the only downside is that it gets a little clunky when you do want to swipe and scroll because you might accidentally move it which happens to me more often than not I think only After experiencing the app can you really understand the design of the icon the red trackpad and the jog dials both unique Maven features are visible on the icon still I think they could have done a better job but that's just me something else I should point out would be that the UI Graphics aren't as slick as the ones found on other browsers like Mercury or even Safari I don't know maybe maybe it's that brushed metal look that kind of went away with the older Mac OS versions a possible downside to all Safari Alternatives would be that lack of the add to home screen feature I love this feature and I would love to see it from Maven but I understand if it can't be done because of developing limitations overall for just 99s for both iPhone and iPad support you really have nothing to lose I give Maven a 4.5 out of five if you're weren't for that red trackpad being a little clunky I would have given it a solid five so if you're looking for a safari alternative seriously check out Maven and thank you very much for checking out the very first episode of what's the apps this was John Q from TechnoBuffalo thank you very much for watching and I'll see you guys next time take care\n"