EPIC 1.1

Hidden Reflex, a Bangalore-based company had launched the first India-centric browser, EPIC, about a month ago, which is based on the Mozilla platform. Recently they have come up with the next version of it, Epic 1.1. Now, I am no geek to review something like this. But yes I can talk about it from a layman's point of view. I have been using this browser right from the day of launch and now using the version 1.1.

First of all, what's new in this? The major ones are the side bar and the built-in antivirus. Frankly after using other browsers, it took some time to be comfortable with this, you know to get that "used to" kind of feeling. But once I got used to it, was very comfortable with this. One mental hindrance with the side bar was the feeling that it took space from the viewable portion of a page, a feeling that you get by watching a 12 inch Tv after watch 32 inch regularly. But if you really see, the side bar doesn't take much space after all.

Now what does this side bar contain. It contains buttons - a one-click access to a host of applications like news, gmail, yahoo, orkut, facebook, twitter, cricinfo etc. and it is customizable. You can choose from your interest. Also there is a collection of more than 1500 India-centric wallpapers to choose from to give your browser the look you want. Of course, you can access your folders in your computer from the "My computer" button on the side bar. The browser supports 12 Indian languages. The "to do" and "timer" options on the side bar also attracted me. Next, you have a full-fledged word processing software, where you can write in English and get the text transliterated to a language of your choice. When you research online and when you find something useful, you just have to highlight the text and drag and drop it into the Epic write tab.

The anti-virus has options to scan your whole system for viruses and malware as well as automated scanning of downloaded files and provides anti-phishing protection too. It warns users when they’re about to visit a potentially dangerous website.

Then you also have a one-click private data deletion button which also deletes Flash cookies. And if you don't want to save any browsing information, you have the private browsing mode button for that. There is a zoom button on the right-hand bottom part whereby you can zoom a page that you are viewing.

And I think the rest, one can download and explore further. For I would say it's worth a thing to try out. One of thing I had felt was the time it takes to load, but even that has been rectified to an extent in version 1.1. So, go ahead and give this INDIAN product a try. JAI HIND....