Latest news with #alternatives
Android Authority
11 hours ago
- Android Authority
5 browsers you should use instead of Chrome
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Google Chrome dominates the browser market, holding an almost 70% market share globally, according to StatCounter. This widespread adoption is often attributed to its pre-installation on nearly every Android phone, leading to an effortless default for many users. Being a Google product also lends it a certain level of perceived trust – for better or worse. However, Chrome isn't without its critics or its flaws. I'm not the biggest fan of the browser, as I think it lacks a lot of great features offered by its rival. For users seeking enhanced privacy, greater personalization, or cutting-edge AI integration, several alternatives offer a compelling departure from the Google default. If you're ready to explore what else is out there, this list of Google Chrome alternatives has you covered. Which of the following is the best Chrome alternative in your opinion? 0 votes Samsung Internet NaN % Brave NaN % Firefox NaN % Vivaldi NaN % Opera NaN % Other (let me know in the comments) NaN % 1. Samsung Internet: Not just for Samsung phones Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Despite popular belief, Samsung Internet isn't exclusive to Samsung devices. This robust browser is readily available on the Google Play Store and can be downloaded onto virtually any Android smartphone. I personally used it for years and became quite fond of it for several reasons. One of its standout features is the bottom-positioned toolbar, a user-friendly design choice that contrasts with Chrome's traditional top placement. However, it's worth noting that Chrome has recently begun to implement a similar bottom toolbar feature, which you can learn more about here. Samsung Internet's toolbar is also far more customizable. Users can select from approximately 25 different buttons to add, including quick access to Downloads, History, Bookmarks, and many other useful functions. The ability to open Incognito mode with a single tap further streamlines the browsing experience. Samsung's browser truly boasts a thoughtful and well-designed interface, making it one of the top Chrome alternatives available. 2. Brave: Privacy by default Megan Ellis / Android Authority What sets Brave apart is its unwavering commitment to privacy and security. The browser proactively blocks intrusive elements like advertising networks and trackers that commonly monitor and identify users on most other browsers. Crucially, this enhanced privacy isn't something you need to configure; it's activated by default, out of the box. The company claims Brave is faster than Chrome. Beyond its privacy advantages, Brave also claims significant speed improvements over its competition. According to the company's internal testing, Brave can load specific websites up to six times faster than Chrome, Safari, and other mainstream browsers, providing a noticeably snappier experience. Like its rivals, Brave offers an incognito mode for an even more private browsing session. However, Brave elevates this by integrating Tor connectivity. This provides several additional benefits, most notably masking your IP address from the websites you visit, adding an extra layer of anonymity. 3. Mozilla Firefox: Open source and independent Andy Walker / Android Authority Firefox is a fantastic browser that I've used extensively, and it continues to be a favorite among many. A significant draw for users is the fact that the company behind it is a non-profit organization, proudly stating it's 'still not owned by any billionaires.' Its core philosophy centers on speed, extensive customizability, and user privacy. Similar to Brave, Firefox features built-in ad-tracking protection by default, eliminating the need to delve into settings to enhance your privacy. The browser offers a vast array of customization options, allowing you to tailor its appearance and functionality to your exact preferences. It also includes a convenient built-in Reading Mode, perfect for decluttering web pages when you're focusing on news articles or lengthy reads. A key differentiator for Firefox is its rendering engine. Unlike Chrome and the majority of other browsers that rely on the Chromium open-source project, Firefox is built on its own rendering engine, Gecko. This is a crucial distinction as it promotes web diversity, preventing a single company (Google, in this case) from holding too much control over web standards and how content is displayed. 4. Vivaldi: Customization for power users Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority Vivaldi stands out as another privacy-focused browser that grants users an exceptional degree of control. During the initial setup process, you can precisely customize what you allow and disallow from being tracked. Its home page features a highly customizable speed dial, providing quick access to your favorite websites, and you can even change the background to personalize your overall experience. Vivaldi incorporates desktop-style tabs at the top of the interface. Based on Chromium, Vivaldi offers a fast browsing experience and uniquely incorporates desktop-style tabs at the top of the interface. While this might create a slightly more cluttered appearance compared to some minimalist rivals, it makes switching between tabs far more intuitive and efficient for many users. Beyond tab management, Vivaldi offers numerous other customization options that I particularly appreciate, including the ability to add a variety of shortcuts for easy access. For instance, I find the translation shortcut in the toolbar incredibly useful, allowing me to translate an entire page to my native language with just a single tap. 5. Opera: AI integration, VPN, and more Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority I used Opera for a considerable period before eventually exploring other options on this list. There's genuinely a lot to love about it: it's fast, highly customizable, and now even features an integrated AI chatbot named Aria, powered by ChatGPT. This is a fantastic addition for quickly conducting basic research or asking specific questions directly within the browser, eliminating the need to open a separate AI chatbot. Opera also comes equipped with a built-in VPN and an integrated ad blocker, offering enhanced privacy and a cleaner browsing experience right out of the box. Additional features like 'Data Saver' (great for those on limited data plans) and 'Night Mode' (for improved reading in low light) further enhance its utility. Being based on Chromium, Opera benefits from compatibility with all Chrome extensions, making the transition from Chrome remarkably seamless for users accustomed to a wide array of browser add-ons. However, it's important to note that Opera was acquired by a Chinese consortium in 2016. This ownership may be a point of consideration for some users due to general privacy concerns sometimes associated with products and services tied to Chinese companies. These five browsers represent excellent starting points if you're looking to move away from Google Chrome, but the browser ecosystem is rich with other compelling options worth exploring. Among these are emerging AI-powered browsers like Dia and Comet, though neither is currently widely available on Android. Did I miss any major alternatives that you swear by? Let me know in the comments below. Follow
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Four alternatives to Spotify: swapping is easier than you think
How do you switch over from Spotify to another music service? What are the options? The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The music industry has long held mixed feelings about Spotify's extensive influence over artists – and these feelings have intensified amid ongoing controversy over Spotify's chief executive, Daniel Ek, leading a €600m (A$1.07bn) investment in Helsing, a German defence technology company specialising in AI-driven autonomous weapon systems. Ek is also chair of Helsing, having joined the board in 2021 when his investment fund Prima Materia put €100m into the then-startup. In response to Ek's investment, artists and listeners have been seeking alternatives. 'Fuck Spotify,' the prolific Australian psychedelic rock group King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard said in a social media post on Saturday, announcing that they would be removing their catalogue from the streaming service. They followed US bands Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof, who made the same decision in recent weeks. Whether you're motivated by joining artists in leaving Spotify, or you're just interested in seeing the alternatives, it can seem daunting to make the switch after years of being with the service. But it is really easy. Streaming services tend to not have lock-in contracts, so if you're looking to switch, the first step would be cancelling your existing subscription through the account settings. Depending on when you subscribed, you'll be able to keep the premium features until the next payment is due. So what are the options? When Apple Music launched, it felt clunky and limited. But it has come a long way in the past few years, with vast improvements to its functionality, music selection (over 100m songs), radio, playlists and other features like music videos which Spotify doesn't have. The user experience now seems much closer to Spotify. Apple also has launched lossless and spatial audio for a better listening quality. Lossless audio is something Spotify promised in 2021 but has not launched. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem this is definitely the best option, but there is also an Android app. Apple offers one month for free to new users but after that subscriptions are A$12.99 (£10.99) a month, with family plans at A$19.99 (£16.99) a month. There are also bundled subscription deals with Apple's other services, such as iCloud storage and Apple TV+. If you pay for a YouTube premium subscription – A$16.99 (£12.99) a month – you get YouTube Music for free. It has over 100m songs and you get access to ad-free YouTube videos along with it. It also has playlists and radio stations and other features you would see elsewhere. As with Apple Music and its ecosystem, if you're already an Android user, this is an easier option for you. Amazon Music is included in Amazon Prime for A$9.99 (£8.99) a month. This tier comes with over 100m songs, podcasts and playlists, but users who want a more deluxe experience may opt for the pricier category, Amazon Music Unlimited, for A$12.99 (£11.99), separate from Prime membership. Unlimited comes with lossless and spatial audio tracks. If you want to avoid giving three of the largest tech companies your money, though, there are a growing number of other options. Tidal has always been pitched as the service that compensates artists the best and offers the highest audio quality. Like the other services, it has a catalogue of over 100m tracks. Pricing is A$12.99 (£10.99) a month, with an optional add-on for DJs offering stem separation for tracks. In addition to high-quality audio and all the expected features, Tidal has more than 650,000 videos and concert live streams. Other non-major companies offering music listening alternatives include Bandcamp, Napster (yes, the former peer-to-peer filesharing service has gone legal), Qobuz and Pandora. The biggest issue for people looking to switch is transferring your long-curated playlists. This is made easier through third-party services. If you want it to be fast you'll have to pay but if you don't have many to transfer or have the time, you can usually convert one playlist at a time for free. Popular options include the app SongShift (although it is only available on iOS) and Soundiiz (which runs in a web browser). You'll need to give whichever app you choose access to the accounts you are switching over but you can remove access once you are done. The services will usually flag if a song on the playlist can't be found. Sometimes it's as simple as a mismatch with the exact name of the song and it can be found as a different mix or title. The companies tend to keep the information about how much they pay artists for each stream a closely guarded secret but a report from industry blog Trichordist in 2020 gives us a picture of the rough payments artists can expect. According to the report, Spotify pays US$0.00348 a stream, Apple Music pays US$0.00675 a stream, Amazon pays US$0.00426, Google pays US$0.00554, and Tidal pays US$0.00876. Surprisingly, the fitness company Peloton comes out on top of the list, paying US$0.03107 a stream. Napster also rates higher than others at US$0.00916. But if you want to support artists more directly, you can buy vinyl, or digital copies of the music through iTunes or similar services, or pay directly through Bandcamp or SoundCloud.
Bloomberg
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Fidelity Pulls in More Than $700 Million for Alternatives Fund
Fidelity Investments raised a second opportunistic credit fund as the world's third-largest asset manager expands its push into alternatives. Fidelity Credit Opportunities Fund II closed at about $729 million, according to Harley Lank, the firm's head of high income and alternatives. The new vehicle will invest in both public and private credit that's considered stressed and distressed, as well as restructured debt or equity instruments, but the mix will depend on opportunities, Lank said.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quintet Private Bank integrates private markets into client portfolios
Luxembourg-based Quintet Private Bank, with operations across Europe and the UK, has integrated private markets exposure into its client portfolios. Clients with relevant portfolios can now access actively managed exposure to alternative assets, including private equity, private credit, and real assets. These are offered through selected evergreen private markets funds, complementing traditional allocations to equities, fixed income, and commodities. This integration was facilitated by a collaboration with BlackRock and the implementation of the European Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIF 2.0) framework, effective since last year. This framework reduces liquidity and operational constraints, enabling continuous capital raising, reinvestment, and flexible redemptions. This allows investors to access private markets with simplicity and efficiency similar to traditional public markets. Bryan Crawford, group head of investment & client solutions and member of the Authorized Management Committee at Quintet, said: 'Diversification is a cornerstone of portfolio resilience, especially during periods of heightened volatility. 'We are therefore delighted to partner with BlackRock to integrate exposure to private markets in client portfolios, supporting increased diversification and creating new opportunities to access long-term growth themes.' Quintet's private markets offering includes BlackRock's private markets platform, which manages over €600bn in assets pro forma across multi-alternatives and private equity strategies for investors in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. BlackRock EMEA Wealth Alternatives Specialists Team head Fabio Osta said: 'By supporting the integration of private markets into wealth portfolios, we are making investing in alternatives easier and more accessible for a broader range of investors so they can benefit from the typically higher returns and diversification the asset class offers.' This announcement follows Quintet's launch of multi-manager UCITS funds last year, also co-designed with BlackRock. These actively managed, single-asset-class funds, exclusive to Quintet clients, combine third-party managers to enhance diversification and portfolio performance. Earlier this year, Quintet introduced Future+, a sustainable investment mandate developed with BlackRock, adhering to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. "Quintet Private Bank integrates private markets into client portfolios " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
16-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Alternative beef options to have at home
Ottawa Watch The rising cost of beef has many of us looking for alternatives. We take a look at some of the options.
