View Through the Prism

Mozilla Labs has released Prism as beta. While I am usually reluctant to encourage folks to check out a beta project – I would encourage you to give this one a try.

To put it simply, Prism allows you to access a website without the need for going through a browser. So what’s the big deal?  How different is this from having a favorite or bookmarked site as a shortcut on your desktop?

Prism helps you convert the website into an application on your computer. In plain speak; you do not have to open

Prism snapshot

your browser to open the site. So, if there is a site you visit frequently, you can save it as either a desktop icon, in the start menu or within the status bar (my favorite). So, just click on the icon and presto, your site opens up in a dedicated window.

One thing you will notice is that the window is a lot sparser – you are spared the toolbars that typically accompany the browser. I was amazed at how much more value that little bit of the real estate along the top adds to the space.

Because this is now an app, it runs automatically as the computer starts – very useful for sites such as Gmail or Facebook.  And because it is separate from your browser, if Firefox locks up – you do not have to close the app. Very convenient if you are like me and usually have a number of windows open – you do not have to close all of them and restart.

This is another small step as we moved towards more cloud-based applications. If the term is confusing – it just means that we using more internet-based applications beyond just browsing and using web sites.  And as we start moving more advanced business and consumer use to the Web we can see how how designers and developers are freeing themselves from the interface of the browser – which in turn allows for greater control on the user experience and functionality.

So how can I try out Prism? I would recommend just downloading the Firefox extension. Restart Firefox and you are ready to go.  All the websites you add to Prism are displayed under ‘Webapps’ in your Start Menu.

Give Prism a look – the view can’t hurt and you might just enjoy the view!