Comodo promises faster Dragon browser updates
Several browsers based on Chromium came out shortly after Google released its Chrome web browser. Most had in common that they modified or removed privacy related information or modules.
Comodo Dragon was one of the browsers and while it did indeed remove privacy related information in the port, it did became clear fast that development of the browser was lagging behind in a serious way.
Comodo released version 36 of Comodo Dragon yesterday and with it comes a promise to dedicate more resources to the development to shorten the time it takes to release the browser after a new official Chrome release.
With that promise comes a controversial change that Comodo is criticized for heavily: an interface that looks now very similar to that of Google Chrome.
Comodo is not the first company to face criticism for that though. Mozilla, makers of Firefox, were criticized recently for it as well when Firefox 29 launched with a new interface that resembled Chrome's interface in many regards.
Below you find two screenshots of the interface. The first the old interface with its iconic round menu icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
The second is a screenshot of the new Comodo Dragon interface that launched in version 36 of the web browser.
As you can see, the main menu button was changed into a Hamburger menu and moved to the right side in the exact same location that Chrome displays the menu in.
There are still differences when you compare Chrome's interface to the interface in Comodo Dragon. One is the Comodo title, another the color scheme which is different as well.
You are probably wondering why Comodo made the change. The reason given is to speed up further development. Maintaining a different menu and button position requires resources which Comodo wants to spend on bringing updates faster to users and to concentrate on privacy and security features and improvements.
A positive side effect of the change is that the change introduces full support for Chromium themes which was not the case previously.
Comodo Dragon is still three versions behind Chrome Stable which is currently available as version 39. It will be interesting to see if Comodo can close the gap further. Considering that each new release fixes vulnerabilities in the browser accelerating releases is definitely a welcome change.
Comodo Dragon users who don't like the new interface cannot really do anything about it. Staying on version 33 may work for them but it leaves the browser vulnerable to attacks and since Chromium-based browsers are not as customizable as Firefox is, there is no option to create a browser extension or theme to revert those changes again.
Additional information about Comodo Dragon are available on the Comodo website.
Martin, I’ve been using Chromium (not Chrome) as my second browser for a few months already. I know I can’t expect from it the same level of features and customization as with Firefox (my first browser), but with a few extensions added to it, Chromium is really not bad.
Anyway, since using Chromium is not as seamless as using Google’s Chrome, I thought I would share some information about getting and updating Chromium that may be useful to others.
The first issue you come across if you want to use Chromium instead of Chrome is finding an installer for a recent and stable release. I’ve found this website: http://chromium.woolyss.com/ where its author lists the latests Chromium installers for all Operating Systems. There’s also a simpler version of the website (http://chromium.woolyss.com/download/) aimed at Windows’ users.
After you download and install Chromium from those sources, you come across the second issue: updating it. To do that the best Chromium updater I’ve found is this one: http://sourceforge.net/projects/crupdater/ It’s a great little program that allows for manual or automatic updates of Chromium. You can even set it to update Chromium periodically and silently, so the updates are as seamless as those of Google’s Chrome.
With the help of those two sources, using Chromium is truly “set it and forget it”
Thank you city_zen. I am honored. This is my site! ;)
Like you, my favorite browser is Firefox. I “love” it (with the Classic Theme Restorer add-on ^^. I hate its default UI).
About Chromium, sure it was difficult to easily find installers and portable versions. The site was born! I like free and open-source stuff and do not know why people use Comodo browser. This browser is completely closed-source like Google Chrome and Opera. On Chromium, you can simply change the default settings and add few extensions to make the browser as “secure” as Comodo browser. I explain that on my site.
Martin, you’re site is really great! Thanks a lot for all.
I’m using Chromium Updater as well to keep it up to date.
Curious how Superbird fares in comparision to Dragon or Citrio among Chromium Browsers. I prefer 64 bit versions only.
In terms of security, Dragon is great. It’s my second favorite Chromium browser (Citrio is first because of the fast downloader), which I use for bank-related browsing.
I like the new interface and I hope they’ll manage to close the gap with Chrome.
Updated my portable install.
I do NOT like the fact that both the home page and default search were changed from my personal choices to Yahoo
I know there would be financial reasons for Comodo to do this, but I’m not happy that they overrode the existing homepage/search setting.
Or maybe it was just a quirk of the way I update? But then, I can’t remember it resetting the homepage before?
Seems good on the surface. but either you believe there are no security risks in using a browser that is 2 major versions behind Chrome (38) and 3 behind Chromium (39), or you’re an idiot.
Since the 36.1 update, my master password for the browser password store does not seem to be working. They changed the prompt to a pop-up window and my pswd is no longer recognized.
Other questions:
1. Is there a status bar add-on for Dragon? I can’t find one in the add-on list.
2. Is there an add-on or parm change that will make Dragon jump to a new tab after it is opened by a link click? (like I can do in FF with tabmix +).
Since it is based on Chromium, I doubt that you get these kind of add-ons for the browser.
Comodo Dragon is by far the best browser for my needs… i was happily using version 33.1 and was delighted to see that version 36 is available… beginning of issues… installation page is uninteresting… download link downloads version 33.1 again… when i install it i get another issue… i had enabled ‘Start browser in incognito mode’ option with multiple pages under ‘Open a specific page or set of pages.’ before this installation… it was slow, but those two things worked together… after installation both DO NOT work together… surprisingly Comodo Dragon now starts instantly and visibly faster than before, even though i just installed the same version!!
what m i missing here? why am i not able to download version 36?
That’s actually a good question. I had to run an update check in version 33.1 to get the 36.1 update.
thanks @Martin… i get ‘Unexpected error’ when i try to update from update check… as seen on the screenshot on your post… you may want to download ‘latest’ version from the official website… it still shows v33.1… if i download from which claims to let you download v36.1, you’ll be left disappointed again…
can you also check if multiple pages at startup and incognito mode work together?
whats going on??
[UPDATE] newer and apparently more secure Comodo Chromium Secure 36.1.1.3 is now available for download from the following link: https://www.comodo.com/home/browsers-toolbars/chromium-secure-internet-browser.php
same here
I downloaded new package from Comodo page, but it was 33.1, and then asked me to update it to new version
they also published Chromium Secure (CS) in the meantime (couple of months ago).
That was probably some middle version between switching to full Chrom UI…
I like Dragon.
It always worked smoother on my pc than Chrome, with full support for extensions and apps
ps. poratble version is big plus for Dragon