Maxthon Browser 3.4.2 Update released
The Maxthon browser has received some bad press lately over allegations that its operators were cheating on the HTML5test to artificially inflate the score of the browser. It became known that the browser scored points in tests for technologies that it did not support, and while Maxthon was quick to react and blame early code for that which should have made it into the final version of the browser, the damage was done.
A new version of Maxthon has been released today to the public. It still appears to be a beta version of the upcoming next version of the browser, as it has not been announced officially on the web page but only in the support forum. The changelog on the other hand lists the new version without beta handle.
The new version gives us a chance to look at one of the first versions of the browser after the HTML5test fiasco. When you run the test in the new version, you will notice that it scores 3 points less than version 3.4.1 of the browser. It is not really clear if this is because it is still a beta version, or if it has something to do with the company's efforts to remove code that artificially inflated the browser's score in the test. The 419 points score still means that Maxthon comes first in the HTML5test, followed by Google Chrome with 414 and Opera 12 with 385.
When you look at beta and development versions though, you will notice that Chrome's latest Canary version scores 442 points. And Firefox? My Firefox 15 Aurora version scores 346 points currently.
So what's new in Maxthon 3.4.2? Here is a short list:
- Support for HTML5 custom search providers
- New Reader Mode
- Option to update favicons in the favorites manager
- Browser start-up speed improvements
- Auto-updating and synchronization of extensions
- Support for HTML5 color input
You can download the latest version of the Maxthon browser from the forum. If this is indeed a final version, it will be reflected on the homepage later on as well.
Update: The latest version of Maxthon is now available on the homepage of the project.
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It’s fabulous, but one thing that maxthon can’t garantee. That’s the serious crashing issue which has lasted long since the maxthon 3 came out. I’d switched to avant browser for a while. It’s much more stable and more important, it runs well with the plugins which I used to use. So it’s almost impossible for me to go back since I can’t live and work without them. Furthermore, avant browser has offered another choice, that’s firefox engine. That flatters me much as well as in my work computer, firefox engine seems run much better and roboform can be used too. I use avant’s online storage to sync online data between at home and in office. So far so good.
Opera 12 got me 400 + 9 bonus points here.
Yes, but no WebSocket, but Preferred renderer 0
That is not strange. I think Nerdebeu has enabled some html5 features in Opera which you did not. So that is the reaseon for the score difference.
For example: opera:config#UserPrefs|EnableWebSockets
Perhaps the French version of Opera is better
http://hpics.li/c610432
That is definitely strange. I’m running the same version, only difference is that I’m running the English interface version. Can’t really believe that this is the reason for the score difference.
The difference is not due to locale version but due to WebGL, in Opera 12 release, Opera Team decided to ship 12 version without enabling WebGL and Hardware Acceleration.
If you enable WebGL, you will get 15 more points on HTML5test.
This is the reason.
Also Firefox 16 Nightly, score 363 because of Micro Data API and meter element support, number element support is experimental and is behind preference but with it FF score 369.
Interesting, thanks for commenting.
I just ran the test too, and Opera 12.00: 400 + 9 points
Same score for 32 bits or 64 bits versions and 12.01 (Next version 12.01 32 and 64 bits)
Strange, I get 385 with Opera 12.00
Same here! 9 bonus points too..
Google Chrome 414 ?
I just ran HTML5test :
You are using Chrome Nightly 21.0.1180.15 on Windows 7. 442 points + 13 bonus points.
Well when I say Google Chrome it means the stable version of the browser.