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{{short description|Discontinued web browser integrating social networking and Web 2.0 features}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox software
{{Infobox software
| name = Flock
| name = Flock
| logo = [[File:Flock icon.png|64px|Flock icon]]
| logo = Flock icon.png
| screenshot = [[File:Flock Screenshot.png|300px]]<br />Flock 3.5.3 running on [[Windows 7]] displaying the Flock's new tab page.</br>
| screenshot = Flock Screenshot.png
| caption = Flock 3.5.3 running on [[Windows 7]] displaying its new tab page
| developer = Flock, Inc.
| developer = Flock, Inc.
| released = {{start date and age|2005|4|11}}<ref name=released>{{cite web |accessdate=2010-08-02 |url=http://news.cnet.com/Start-up-wants-to-improve-on-Firefox/2100-1032_3-5663798.html |title= Start-up wants to improve on Firefox |publisher=CNET |date=2005-04-11 |author=Festa, Paul }}</ref>
| released = {{start date and age|2005|4|11}}<ref name="released" />
| discontinued = yes
| discontinued = yes
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|reference|edit|Q488886|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| frequently_updated = No <!-- Release version update? Don't edit this page, just click on the version number! -->
| latest release date = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|Q488886|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| programming language = [[C++]], [[XUL]], [[XBL]], [[JavaScript]]
| operating system = [[Windows]], [[OS X]], [[Linux]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Flock Global Page|url=http://flock.softpedia.com/|work=[[Softpedia]]|publisher=SoftNews|access-date=15 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215052715/http://flock.softpedia.com/|archive-date=December 15, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
| operating system = [[FreeBSD]], [[Linux]], [[Mac OS X]] (Intel), [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
| language = Catalan, Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), English (US, Australian, British, Canadian), Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal + African Portuguese Speaking Countries and Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin American and Spain)
| language = Catalan, Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), English (US, Australian, British, Canadian), Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal + African Portuguese Speaking Countries and Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin American and Spain)
| genre = [[Web browser]]
| genre = [[Web browser]]<br/>[[Feed reader]]
| status = Discontinued - April 2011.<ref name="Flockweb">[http://flock.com/ Flock website] Accessed April 11, 2011</ref>
| license = [[Freeware]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Flock (Discontinued) 3.5.3.4641 / 2.6.1|url=http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Browsers/Flock-for-Windows.shtml|work=[[Softpedia]]|publisher=SoftNews|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>
|website =[https://web.archive.org/web/20110325151017/http://www.flock.com/ Official website archives]
| license = [[Proprietary Software]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} and [[GNU General Public License|GPL]], some components also [[GNU Lesser General Public License|LGPL]]+[[Mozilla Public License|MPL]]
| website = {{URL|flock.com}}
}}
}}
'''Flock''' was a [[web browser]] that specialized in providing [[Social network service|social networking]] and [[Web 2.0]] facilities built into its [[user interface]].<ref>[http://www.flock.com/mozilla Flock Browser - Built on Mozilla's Firefox]</ref>
'''Flock''' is a discontinued [[web browser]] that specialized in providing [[Social network service|social networking]] and [[Web 2.0]] facilities built into its [[user interface]].<ref>[http://www.flock.com/mozilla Flock Browser – Built on Mozilla's Firefox] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309195026/http://www.flock.com/mozilla |date=March 9, 2008}}</ref>
Earlier versions of Flock used the [[Gecko (layout engine)|Gecko]] [[Web browser engine|HTML rendering engine]] by [[Mozilla]].
Earlier versions of Flock used the [[Gecko (layout engine)|Gecko]] [[Web browser engine|HTML rendering engine]] by [[Mozilla]].
Version 2.6.2, released in July 2010, was the last version based on Mozilla.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flock.com/release-notes/2.6.2 |title=Flock 2.6.2 Release Notes |publisher=Flock |accessdate=December 9, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flock.com/mozilla |title=Powered by Mozilla |publisher=Flock |accessdate=December 9, 2010}}</ref>
Version 2.6.2, released on January 27, 2011, was the last version based on Mozilla Firefox.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flock.com/release-notes/index.html |title=Flock 2.6.2 Release Notes |publisher=Flock |access-date=September 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222081043/http://www.flock.com/release-notes/index.html |archive-date=February 22, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flock.com/mozilla/ |title=Powered by Mozilla |publisher=Flock |access-date=September 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030035227/http://www.flock.com/mozilla/ |archive-date=October 30, 2010}}</ref>
Starting with version 3, Flock was based on [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] and so used the [[WebKit]] rendering engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10926024|title=Flock Browser Gets Faster, Friendlier With Upgrade|accessdate=June 17, 2010|date=June 16, 2010|author=Iedtke, Michael|publisher=ABC}}</ref><ref name="infoworld">{{cite web|last=Wayner|first=Peter|title=Top 10 specialty Web browsers you may have missed|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/top-10-specialty-web-browsers-you-may-have-missed-026?page=0,2#flock|publisher=[[InfoWorld]]|accessdate=28 October 2010|page=2|date=19 October 2010}}</ref>
Starting with version 3, Flock was based on [[Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] and so used the [[WebKit]] rendering engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=10926024|title=Flock Browser Gets Faster, Friendlier With Upgrade|access-date=June 17, 2010|date=June 16, 2010|author=Iedtke, Michael|publisher=ABC}}</ref><ref name="infoworld" />
Flock was available as a free download, and supported [[Microsoft Windows]] and [[Mac OS X]] platforms (previously also [[Linux]]).
Flock was available as a free download, and supported [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Mac OS X]] and, at one time, [[Linux]] as well.


Support for Flock was discontinued in April 2011.<ref name="OMG" /><ref name="Archive" />
Support for Flock was discontinued in April 2011. A year later in April 2012 the old Flock website was back and carried a vague indication that the project might be resurrected, inviting readers to sign up for e-mailed future news.<ref name="OMG"> {{Cite news|url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/04/end-of-the-line-for-flock-social-browser/|title = End of the line for Flock social browser|accessdate = 15 April 2011|last =Sneddon|first = Joey|authorlink = |year = 2011|month = April| work = OMG Ubuntu}}</ref><ref name="Archive">{{cite web|url = http://www.flock.com/|title = Support for Flock browsers has been discontinued.|accessdate = 10 April 2012|last = Flock Inc|date = 15 April 2012 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20110429020200/http://www.flock.com/ |archivedate = 29 April 2011}}</ref><ref name="Flock26Apr12">{{cite web|url = http://flock.com/|title = Flock|accessdate = 26 April 2012|last = Flock.com|date = undated}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==


Flock was the successor to Round Two, who raised money from [[Bessemer Venture Partners]], [[Catamount Ventures]], [[Shasta Ventures]], and other [[angel investor]]s. [[Bart Decrem]] and [[Geoffrey Arone]] co-founded the company.<ref>[http://www.flock.com/company-info Flock Browser - Company Info]</ref>
Flock was the successor to Round Two, who raised money from [[Bessemer Venture Partners]], Catamount Ventures, Shasta Ventures and other [[angel investor]]s. [[Bart Decrem]] and [[Geoffrey Arone]] co-founded the company.<ref>[http://www.flock.com/company-info Flock Browser - Company Info] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314185726/http://www.flock.com/company-info |date=March 14, 2008}}</ref> Flock raised $15 million in a fourth round of funding led by [[Fidelity Ventures]] on May 22, 2008, for an estimated total of $30 million, according to CNET. The company's previous investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, and Shasta Ventures, also participated in the round.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | title = Flock draws $15 million for social browsing | publisher = CNET | access-date = 2012-08-06 | archive-date = November 16, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111116151014/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Flock raised $15 million in a fourth round of funding led by [[Fidelity Ventures]] on May 22, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} The company's previous investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, and Shasta Ventures, also participated in the round. "The company plans to use the funds to expand its research and development, marketing, and global expansion efforts. To date, the company has raised an estimated $30 million", according to its press release.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9950303-7.html?dlbk | title = Flock draws $15 million for social browsing | publisher = CNET | accessdate = 2008-05-23}}</ref>


⚫
In January 2011, Flock Inc. was acquired by [[Zynga]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wasserman|first=Todd|title=Zynga Buys Social Web Browser Flock|url=http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/zynga-buys-flock/|work=Mashable|date=2011-01-07|access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> The browser has been discontinued, with support ending April 26, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Van Grove|first=Jennifer|title=Flock Shutters Social Web Browser|url=http://mashable.com/2011/04/12/flock-folds/|work=Mashable|date=2011-04-12}}</ref>
Flock was one of the 12 browsers offered to [[European Economic Area]] users of [[Microsoft Windows]] in 2010.<ref>BBC, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8537763.stm Microsoft offers browser choices to Europeans], 1 March 2010</ref>

⚫
In January 2011, Flock Inc. was acquired by [[Zynga]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Wasserman|first=Todd|title=Todd Wasserman 27 minutes ago Todd Wasserman 0 Zynga Buys “Social Web Browser” Flock|url=http://mashable.com/2011/01/07/zynga-buys-flock/|work=Mashable|accessdate=7 January 2011}}</ref> The browser has been discontinued, with support ending April 26, 2011.<ref name="Flockweb" />


==Features==
==Features==
Flock 2.5 integrated social networking and media services including [[MySpace]],<ref name="2.0 release">[http://flock.com/node/64027 Official release announcement on Shawn Harding's blog]</ref> [[Facebook]], [[YouTube]], [[Twitter]], [[Flickr]], [[Blogger (service)|Blogger]], [[Gmail]], [[Yahoo! Mail]], etc.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advpeop.html | title = Activate Services and Unite Your Social Networks in the People Sidebar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref> Notably, when [[Logging (computer security)|logging into]] any of the supported social services, Flock can track updates from friends: profiles, uploaded photos, and more. Flock's latest 2.5 version added [[Twitter]] Search functionality, multi-casting of status updates to multiple services, and the introduction of [[instant messaging]] via [[Facebook Chat]] in the browser.
Flock 2.5 integrated social networking and media services including [[MySpace]],<ref name="2.0 release" /> [[Facebook]], [[YouTube]], [[Twitter]], [[Flickr]], [[Blogger (service)|Blogger]], [[Gmail]], [[Yahoo! Mail]], etc.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advpeop.html | title = Activate Services and Unite Your Social Networks in the People Sidebar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081020062119/http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advpeop.html | archive-date = October 20, 2008 | df = mdy-all}}</ref> When [[Logging (computer security)|logging into]] any of the supported social services, Flock could track updates from friends: profiles, uploaded photos, and more. Flock 2.5 added [[Twitter]] Search functionality, multi-casting of status updates to multiple services, and the introduction of [[instant messaging]] via [[Facebook Chat]] in the browser.


Other features include:
Other features include:
* native [[file sharing|sharing]] of text, links, photos and videos;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advshar.html | title = Share Pictures, Text, Audio and Video | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>
* Native [[file sharing|sharing]] of text, links, photos and videos<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advshar.html | title = Share Pictures, Text, Audio and Video | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}</ref>
* a "Media Bar" showing preview of online videos and photos as well as subscription to photo and video feeds;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advmdia.html | title = View and Share Media through the Media Bar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref><ref name="infoworld" />
* A "Media Bar" showing preview of online videos and photos as well as subscription to photo and video feeds<ref name="infoworld" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advmdia.html | title = View and Share Media through the Media Bar | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}</ref>
* a [[feed aggregator|feed reader]] supporting [[Atom (standard)|Atom]], [[RSS]], and [[Media RSS]]<ref name="2.0 release" /> feeds;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advfeed.html | title = Track Feeds | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>
* A [[feed aggregator|feed reader]] supporting [[Atom (standard)|Atom]], [[RSS]], and [[Media RSS]]<ref name="2.0 release" /> feeds<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advfeed.html | title = Track Feeds | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}</ref>
* a blog editor and reader, allowing direct posting into any designated blog;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advblog.html | title = Activate and Manage Blogs | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref>
* A blog editor and reader, allowing direct posting into any designated blog<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advblog.html | title = Activate and Manage Blogs | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}</ref>
* a [[Webkit]]-mail component allowing users to check supported [[web-based email]] off site, compose new messages, and [[drag-and-drop]] pictures and videos from the "Media Bar" or webclipboard into a new email message;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 | title = Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge | publisher = The Associated Press | accessdate = 2008-06-26 }}</ref>
* A [[Webkit]]-mail component allowing users to check supported [[web-based email]] off site, compose new messages, and [[drag-and-drop]] pictures and videos from the "Media Bar" or webclipboard into a new email message<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 |title=Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge |agency=Associated Press |access-date=2008-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628164451/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02 |archive-date=June 28, 2008}}</ref>
* support for [[Third-party software component|third-party]] add-ons, including a number of [[Add-on (Mozilla)|Firefox extensions]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advextd.html | title = Get or Build Add-ons for Flock | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | accessdate = 2008-10-22 }}</ref><ref name="infoworld" />
* Support for [[Third-party software component|third-party]] add-ons, including a number of [[Add-on (Mozilla)|Firefox extensions]]<ref name="infoworld" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.flock.com/user-guide/2.0/advextd.html | title = Get or Build Add-ons for Flock | work = User guides | publisher = Flock | access-date = 2008-10-22}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
*''[[Download.com]]'' rated it 5 out of 5 <ref name="awards" />
*''[[Download.com]]'' rated it 5 out of 5 <ref name="awards" />
*Ranked no. 6 on [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'s list of the 100 best products of 2008 <ref name="best2008" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,146161-page,12-c,electronics/article.html | title = The 100 Best Products of 2008 | publisher = [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]] | accessdate = 2008-06-17 }}</ref>
*Ranked no. 6 on ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'s'' list of the 100 best products of 2008 <ref name="best2008" /><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pcworld.com/article/146161/best.html?page=2 | title = The 100 Best Products of 2008 | date = May 26, 2008 | publisher = [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]] | access-date = 2015-06-28}}</ref>


In December 2007, Flock won the [[Mashable]] [[Open Web Awards]] for Applications and Widgets<ref>[http://mashable.com/2007/12/21/open-web-awards-winners/ Open Web Awards Winners]</ref> and in March 2008, Flock won the [[SXSW|South By Southwest]]<ref>[http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ Web Awards]</ref> Web Award for Community.<ref>[http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html Oh wait! SXSWi had Web Awards, too]</ref>
In December 2007, Flock won the ''[[Mashable]]'' [[Open Web Awards]] for Applications and Widgets<ref>{{cite web|author=Adam Hirsch 86 |url=http://mashable.com/2007/12/21/open-web-awards-winners/ |title=Open Web Awards Winners |publisher=Mashable.com |date=21 December 2007 |access-date=2012-05-21}}</ref> and in March 2008, Flock won the [[SXSW|South By Southwest]]<ref>[http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ Web Awards] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323112549/http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/web_awards/winners/ |date=March 23, 2008}}</ref> Web Award for Community.<ref>{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Caroline |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html |title=Oh wait! SXSWi had Web Awards, too |publisher=cnet.com |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110809203735/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-9890955-36.html |archive-date= August 9, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


[[CNET]] gave the Mac OS X version of Flock 1.0 the title of "Best Mac Software of 2007".<ref>[http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html Best Mac Software of 2007]</ref> [[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'s [[Harry McCracken]] reviewed Flock as his "New Favorite Web Browser".<ref>[http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html I Have A New Favorite Web Browser: Flock]</ref>
''[[CNET]]'' gave the Mac OS X version of Flock 1.0 the title of "Best Mac Software of 2007".<ref>{{cite web |last=Parker |first=Jason |url=http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html |title=Best Mac Software of 2007 |publisher=Download.com |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-date=February 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215080514/http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-9835869-12.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'s'' [[Harry McCracken]] reviewed Flock as his "New Favorite Web Browser".<ref>[http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html I Have A New Favorite Web Browser: Flock] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071108205626/http://blogs.pcworld.com/techlog/archives/005768.html |date=November 8, 2007}}</ref>


In February 2008, [[AOL]] announced that it would discontinue support for the [[Netscape (web browser)|Netscape browser]], and recommended Flock and [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox]] as alternative browsers to its userbase of [[Netscape|Netscape 9]] users.<ref>[http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ Netscape 9 Users: Time to Flock or Firefox]</ref> For the Netscape 8 userbase, [[AOL]] recommended only the Flock browser to its users.<ref>[http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too/ Netscape 8 Update Forthcoming: You Can Flock Too!]</ref> In March 2008, Flock announced that they had seen "nearly 3 million downloads" and a 135% percent increase in active users in the first two months of 2008. They also announced "more than 70 percent of Flock users making it their default browser of choice".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 Flock Browser Use Growing Dramatically]</ref>
In February 2008, [[AOL]] announced that it would discontinue support for the [[Netscape (web browser)|Netscape browser]], and recommended Flock and [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox]] as alternative browsers to its userbase of [[Netscape|Netscape 9]] users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ |title=Netscape 9 Users: Time to Flock or Firefox |publisher=Blog.netscape.com |date=20 February 2008 |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813091008/http://blog.netscape.com/2008/02/20/netscape-9-users-time-to-flock-or-firefox/ |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> For the Netscape 8 userbase, [[AOL]] recommended only the Flock browser to its users.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too/ |title=Netscape 8 Update Forthcoming: You Can Flock Too! |publisher=Blog.netscape.com |access-date=2012-05-21 |archive-date=July 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110730182204/http://blog.netscape.com/2008/03/19/netscape-8-update-forthcoming-you-can-flock-too |url-status=dead }}</ref> In March 2008, Flock announced that they had seen "nearly 3 million downloads" and a 135% increase in active users in the first two months of 2008. They also announced "more than 70 percent of Flock users making it their default browser of choice".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503081434/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS121331+10-Mar-2008+BW20080310 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-05-03 |title=Flock Browser Use Growing Dramatically |publisher=Reuters.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}</ref>


In May 2008, Flock won the Social Networking category of the [[Webby Awards]].<ref>[http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=CURRENT_SEASON#webby_entry_social 2008 Webby Award Winners]</ref><ref>[http://flock.com/node/62014 Flock Wins a Webby Award for Best in Social Networking]</ref> Flock was nominated for this award along with [[Facebook]], [[Bebo]] and [[Ning.com|Ning]].
In May 2008, Flock won the Social Networking category of the [[Webby Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=CURRENT_SEASON#webby_entry_social |title=2008 Webby Award Winners |publisher=Webbyawards.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}</ref><ref>[http://flock.com/node/62014 Flock Wins a Webby Award for Best in Social Networking] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510122257/http://flock.com/node/62014 |date=May 10, 2008}}</ref> Flock was nominated for this award along with [[Facebook]], [[Bebo]] and [[Ning.com|Ning]].


In April 2011 when Flock's discontinuation was announced, reviewer Joey Sneddon of ''[[OMG! Ubuntu!]]'' offered the analysis: "Whether this was down to poor implementation design wise (one needs only glance at ‘Rockmelt’ for an example of a social browser done right) or just general apathy towards having alerts from twitter, flickr, facebook, digg et al in your face all of the time is moot: Flock has flocked off and for all its innovation it never quite lived up to its own hype."<ref name="OMG" />
When Flock's discontinuation was announced in April 2011, reviewer Joey Sneddon of ''OMG! Ubuntu!'' offered the analysis: "Whether this was down to poor implementation design wise (one needs only glance at '[[Rockmelt]]' for an example of a social browser done right) or just general apathy towards having alerts from twitter, flickr, facebook, digg ''et al.'' in your face all of the time is moot: Flock has flocked off and for all its innovation it never quite lived up to its own hype."<ref name="OMG" />


==Awards==
==Awards==
Upon exiting beta Flock has won a number of awards:<ref name="awards">{{cite web
Upon exiting beta, Flock won a number of awards:<ref name="awards">{{cite web |url=http://flock.com/press |title=Flock's press}}</ref>
|url=http://flock.com/press
|title=Flock's press
}}</ref>


*''[[Webby Award]]'' in social networking, 2008<ref name="best2008">{{cite web | url = http://flock.com/node/62277 | title = Flock Named As One of PC World's "100 Best Products of 2008" | accessdate = 2008-06-17 }}</ref>
*''[[Webby Award]]'' in social networking, 2008<ref name="best2008" />
*''[[South by Southwest|SXSW]]'' community Award, 2008 <ref name="awards" /><ref name="best2008" />
*''[[South by Southwest|SXSW]]'' community Award, 2008 <ref name="awards" /><ref name="best2008" />
*''[[Mashable|Open Web Award]]'' for Applications and Widgets, 2007 <ref name="awards" />
*''[[Mashable|Open Web Award]]'' for Applications and Widgets, 2007 <ref name="awards" />
⚫
*"Eddy Winner": Flock 2.0 24th Annual Macworld Editors' Choice Awards <ref>{{cite web|last=Michaels |first=Philip |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/137269/2008/12/eddyawards_flock2.html |title=Eddy Winner: Flock 2.0 |publisher=Macworld.com |access-date=2012-05-21}}</ref>

⚫
*"Eddy Winner": Flock 2.0 24th Annual Macworld Editors' Choice Awards <ref>[http://www.macworld.com/article/137269/2008/12/eddyawards_flock2.html Eddy Winner: Flock 2.0]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==

{{Portal|Software|Free software}}


* [[Comparison of feed aggregators]]
* [[Comparison of feed aggregators]]
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* [[List of feed aggregators]]
* [[List of feed aggregators]]
* [[List of web browsers]]
* [[List of web browsers]]
* [[RockMelt]], competitive social web browser
* [[RockMelt]], a competing social web browser
* [[Push technology]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
{{Reflist|30em}}
<ref name="2.0 release">[http://flock.com/node/64027 Official release announcement on Shawn Hardin's blog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018110317/http://flock.com/node/64027 |date=October 18, 2008}}</ref>
<ref name="Archive">{{cite web|url = http://www.flock.com/|title = Support for Flock browsers has been discontinued.|access-date = April 10, 2012|last = Flock Inc|date = April 15, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429020200/http://www.flock.com/ |archive-date = April 29, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="best2008">{{cite web | url = http://flock.com/node/62277 | title = Flock Named As One of PC World's "100 Best Products of 2008" | access-date = 2008-06-17}}</ref>
<ref name="infoworld">{{cite web|last=Wayner|first=Peter|title=Top 10 specialty Web browsers you may have missed|url=http://www.infoworld.com/d/applications/top-10-specialty-web-browsers-you-may-have-missed-026?page=0,2#flock|publisher=[[InfoWorld]]|access-date=October 28, 2010|page=2|date=October 19, 2010}}</ref>
<ref name="OMG">{{Cite news|url = http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/04/end-of-the-line-for-flock-social-browser/|title = End of the line for Flock social browser|access-date = April 15, 2011|last =Sneddon|first = Joey|date=April 2011| work = OMG Ubuntu}}</ref>
<ref name="released">{{cite web |access-date=2010-08-02 |url=http://news.cnet.com/Start-up-wants-to-improve-on-Firefox/2100-1032_3-5663798.html |title= Start-up wants to improve on Firefox |publisher=CNET |date=11 April 2005 |author=Festa, Paul}}</ref>
}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325151017/http://www.flock.com/ |date=25 March 2011 |title=Official website archives}}<!--- WWW is required! --->

*[http://flock.com Flock Web site]


{{Webby Awards|year=2008|cat=social networking|type=Winner}}
{{Webby Awards|year=2008|cat=social networking|type=Winner}}
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[[Category:Gopher clients]] <!-- Mozilla-based version (through 2.x) -->
[[Category:Gopher clients]] <!-- Mozilla-based version (through 2.x) -->
[[Category:POSIX web browsers]]
[[Category:POSIX web browsers]]
[[Category:Mac OS X web browsers]]
[[Category:MacOS web browsers]]
[[Category:Windows web browsers]]
[[Category:Windows web browsers]]
[[Category:Free web browsers]]
[[Category:Free web browsers]]
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[[Category:Software based on WebKit]]
[[Category:Software based on WebKit]]
[[Category:2005 software]]
[[Category:2005 software]]
[[Category:News aggregator software]]

[[Category:Software that uses XUL]]
[[ar:فلوك (متصفح ويب)]]
[[Category:Discontinued web browsers]]
[[ca:Flock]]
[[cs:Flock]]
[[da:Flock]]
[[de:Flock (Browser)]]
[[es:Flock]]
[[fr:Flock]]
[[ko:플로크]]
[[hi:फ्लॉक वेब ब्राउज़र]]
[[id:Flock]]
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[[hu:Flock]]
[[mr:फ्लॉक (वेब न्याहाळक)]]
[[nl:Flock]]
[[ja:Flock]]
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[[pl:Flock]]
[[pt:Flock]]
[[ro:Flock (browser)]]
[[ru:Flock]]
[[simple:Flock]]
[[sk:Flock]]
[[fi:Flock]]
[[sv:Flock (webbläsare)]]
[[th:ฟล็อก]]
[[uk:Flock]]
[[vi:Flock (trình duyệt web)]]
[[zh-yue:Flock]]
[[zh:Flock]]

Latest revision as of 12:27, 18 May 2023

Flock
Developer(s)Flock, Inc.
Initial releaseApril 11, 2005; 19 years ago (2005-04-11)[1]
Final release
3.5.3.4641 Edit this on Wikidata / 1 February 2011; 13 years ago (1 February 2011)
Preview releasenone (n/a) [±]
Operating systemWindows, OS X, Linux[2]
Available inCatalan, Chinese (both Traditional and Simplified), English (US, Australian, British, Canadian), Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal + African Portuguese Speaking Countries and Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Latin American and Spain)
TypeWeb browser
Feed reader
LicenseFreeware[3]
WebsiteOfficial website archives

Flock is a discontinued web browser that specialized in providing social networking and Web 2.0 facilities built into its user interface.[4] Earlier versions of Flock used the Gecko HTML rendering engine by Mozilla. Version 2.6.2, released on January 27, 2011, was the last version based on Mozilla Firefox.[5][6] Starting with version 3, Flock was based on Chromium and so used the WebKit rendering engine.[7][8] Flock was available as a free download, and supported Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and, at one time, Linux as well.

Support for Flock was discontinued in April 2011.[9][10]

History[edit]

Flock was the successor to Round Two, who raised money from Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, Shasta Ventures and other angel investors. Bart Decrem and Geoffrey Arone co-founded the company.[11] Flock raised $15 million in a fourth round of funding led by Fidelity Ventures on May 22, 2008, for an estimated total of $30 million, according to CNET. The company's previous investors, Bessemer Venture Partners, Catamount Ventures, and Shasta Ventures, also participated in the round.[12]

In January 2011, Flock Inc. was acquired by Zynga.[13] The browser has been discontinued, with support ending April 26, 2011.[14]

Features[edit]

Flock 2.5 integrated social networking and media services including MySpace,[15] Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Blogger, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc.[16] When logging into any of the supported social services, Flock could track updates from friends: profiles, uploaded photos, and more. Flock 2.5 added Twitter Search functionality, multi-casting of status updates to multiple services, and the introduction of instant messaging via Facebook Chat in the browser.

Other features include:

Reception[edit]

In December 2007, Flock won the Mashable Open Web Awards for Applications and Widgets[26] and in March 2008, Flock won the South By Southwest[27] Web Award for Community.[28]

CNET gave the Mac OS X version of Flock 1.0 the title of "Best Mac Software of 2007".[29] PC World's Harry McCracken reviewed Flock as his "New Favorite Web Browser".[30]

In February 2008, AOL announced that it would discontinue support for the Netscape browser, and recommended Flock and Firefox as alternative browsers to its userbase of Netscape 9 users.[31] For the Netscape 8 userbase, AOL recommended only the Flock browser to its users.[32] In March 2008, Flock announced that they had seen "nearly 3 million downloads" and a 135% increase in active users in the first two months of 2008. They also announced "more than 70 percent of Flock users making it their default browser of choice".[33]

In May 2008, Flock won the Social Networking category of the Webby Awards.[34][35] Flock was nominated for this award along with Facebook, Bebo and Ning.

When Flock's discontinuation was announced in April 2011, reviewer Joey Sneddon of OMG! Ubuntu! offered the analysis: "Whether this was down to poor implementation design wise (one needs only glance at 'Rockmelt' for an example of a social browser done right) or just general apathy towards having alerts from twitter, flickr, facebook, digg et al. in your face all of the time is moot: Flock has flocked off and for all its innovation it never quite lived up to its own hype."[9]

Awards[edit]

Upon exiting beta, Flock won a number of awards:[23]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Festa, Paul (April 11, 2005). "Start-up wants to improve on Firefox". CNET. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  2. ^ "Flock Global Page". Softpedia. SoftNews. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  3. ^ "Flock (Discontinued) 3.5.3.4641 / 2.6.1". Softpedia. SoftNews. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  4. ^ Flock Browser – Built on Mozilla's Firefox Archived March 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Flock 2.6.2 Release Notes". Flock. Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "Powered by Mozilla". Flock. Archived from the original on October 30, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  7. ^ Iedtke, Michael (June 16, 2010). "Flock Browser Gets Faster, Friendlier With Upgrade". ABC. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Wayner, Peter (October 19, 2010). "Top 10 specialty Web browsers you may have missed". InfoWorld. p. 2. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  9. ^ a b Sneddon, Joey (April 2011). "End of the line for Flock social browser". OMG Ubuntu. Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  10. ^ Flock Inc (April 15, 2012). "Support for Flock browsers has been discontinued". Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  11. ^ Flock Browser - Company Info Archived March 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Flock draws $15 million for social browsing". CNET. Archived from the original on November 16, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  13. ^ Wasserman, Todd (January 7, 2011). "Zynga Buys Social Web Browser Flock". Mashable. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
  14. ^ Van Grove, Jennifer (April 12, 2011). "Flock Shutters Social Web Browser". Mashable.
  15. ^ a b Official release announcement on Shawn Hardin's blog Archived October 18, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ "Activate Services and Unite Your Social Networks in the People Sidebar". User guides. Flock. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  17. ^ "Share Pictures, Text, Audio and Video". User guides. Flock. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  18. ^ "View and Share Media through the Media Bar". User guides. Flock. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  19. ^ "Track Feeds". User guides. Flock. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  20. ^ "Activate and Manage Blogs". User guides. Flock. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  21. ^ "Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 28, 2008. Retrieved June 26, 2008.
  22. ^ "Get or Build Add-ons for Flock". User guides. Flock. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
  23. ^ a b c d "Flock's press".
  24. ^ a b c "Flock Named As One of PC World's "100 Best Products of 2008"". Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  25. ^ "The 100 Best Products of 2008". PC World. May 26, 2008. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  26. ^ Adam Hirsch 86 (December 21, 2007). "Open Web Awards Winners". Mashable.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ^ Web Awards Archived March 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ McCarthy, Caroline (March 11, 2008). "Oh wait! SXSWi had Web Awards, too". cnet.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  29. ^ Parker, Jason (December 20, 2007). "Best Mac Software of 2007". Download.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  30. ^ I Have A New Favorite Web Browser: Flock Archived November 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  31. ^ "Netscape 9 Users: Time to Flock or Firefox". Blog.netscape.com. February 20, 2008. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  32. ^ "Netscape 8 Update Forthcoming: You Can Flock Too!". Blog.netscape.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  33. ^ "Flock Browser Use Growing Dramatically". Reuters.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2008. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  34. ^ "2008 Webby Award Winners". Webbyawards.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
  35. ^ Flock Wins a Webby Award for Best in Social Networking Archived May 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  36. ^ Michaels, Philip. "Eddy Winner: Flock 2.0". Macworld.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flock_(web_browser)&oldid=1155501123"