RockMelt: Netscape's Andreessen Backing Stealth Facebook Browser
Netscape founder Marc Andreessen is backing a new browser dedicated to browsing Facebook, called RockMelt, according to rumors we've heard from reputable sources. A semi-independent desktop client for Facebook? Doesn't seem far fetched at all.
The software isn't publicly available or being discussed yet, but we've gotten our hands on an early build and had a look at the front door after download. Robert John Churchill, who was the principal engineer for Netscape Navigator, is the principle engineer for RockMelt as well.
The project is surrounded by a team of engineers from Andreessen's last giant sale, infrastructure company Opsware, and from HP, which bought Opsware for $1.6 billion in 2007. Andreessen and Opsware co-founder Ben Horowitz launched a new venture fund for web startups last month. Andreessen has not personally invested in Facebook but is the fourth member of the Facebook Board of Directors, along with two of the company's earliest investors and founder Mark Zuckerberg.
We haven't confirmed Andreessen's involvement in RockMelt, but we hear he's backing it and all signs point to him. He hasn't responded to our inquiries yet, but we'll update this post if he does.
The project is actively recruiting staff but we're hearing rumors that current Facebook staff may be working on it as well, including Firefox creator Blake Ross and Facebook iPhone app developer Joe Hewitt. Ross and Hewitt came to Facebook two years ago when their secret project called desktop/web project Parakey was hire/acquired by Facebook. (See also VentureBeat for good coverage of that project and deal.) Ross and Hewitt's participation is the least verified part of this story so far, but it sure would be great if they are pitching in. (Update: Dan Frommer caught a denial by Hewitt on Twitter yesterday, so there you go.)
RockMelt also has its own URL shortener, me.lt, though mention of the new browser was removed from that page earlier this week.
Why does the world need a Facebook browser? A cynical and sarcastic answer would be "because Facebook is the internet and the internet is Facebook." It's a little harder to be too cynical, though, when you look at the team of people who appear to be working on the project. These are people who have done a lot for the open web. Hopefully RockMelt will be a game changer in the same spirit, but we'll keep you posted as we learn more. It might seem outlandish, but desktop software dedicated to serving Facebook and perhaps integration of other sites with Facebook, could go over very well with millions of people. We'll have to wait and see what RockMelt has planned.
RockMelt could be a way to browse the web with Facebook ever-present, as well, instead of being a client for Facebook. We just don't know yet. This may be part of but could instead be contrary to the growing storm of support building for a distributed framework for social networking.
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Yup you're right there are so many millions of people who would go for this, it's a no-brainer.
On the other hand, it's a throwback to an earlier era -- AOL also had its own browser. Helps cement Facebook's position as the AOL for this decade.
The silo gets cushier, but it's still a silo. :-)
Wow. Didn't think it was possible for Facebook to be even more of a walled garden than it already is - but, apparently, I was wrong.
Mandatory use of a proprietary browser, for content already locked up behind firewall, from a company notorious for sucking in content but never letting it out. Nice.
References:
Music industry's CMX and Apple's proprietary "Cocktail" audio file formats
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2351445,00.asp
I think the question in your last paragraph is key. Unless Rockmelt is taking a leaf from the Twitter clients such as TweetDeck and Seesmic Desktop (which do a lot *more* than the very basic Twitter.com), what's the point?
Unlike Twitter, Facebook.com has a zillion things going on. I'm not sure how you could do much more than a lite version, which of course will compete directly with Facebook's own plans. And a lite version has less appeal, because like it or not most people use Facebook for the apps.
Oh now, you two! Give the thing a chance already.
Wow. The world needs a Facebook browser like a fish needs a bicycle.
Everybody is a speculator. :) Fair enough. That said, I think Facebook announcing their entry into the *real* web browser market would be far more of a zinger. Then we'd really have to pay attention to their plans for world domination.
Wow, you misspelled Marc Andreessen's name at least two different ways in this article, including the headline. I don't know if it's more than twice, because I stopped reading.
Another reference to Facebook as AOL 2.0 - I'm beginning to hope Facebook as the same end...
What could the second step of the startup process, "Rockstars" be? Sounds odd.
Tools to make better use of a website...good idea. A website that needs new tools just to browse it, bad.
There is no doubt Facebook has tapped into the needs of most user online, but the usability of their website just flat out sucks. Maybe RockMelt has put some time into testing.
Message to Facebook, this is your signal your site needs help.
Rob is right: "A website that needs new tools just to browse it, bad."
is just dumb, in the case a facebook user cant find or cant share things through facebook, but thats another problem.
Facebook must open things, in order to reach cloud computing, so they can compete against AdobeWave or GoogleWave
Add Linux a la "Chrome OS" for a "Facebook OS" that runs directly on personal devices?
This doesn't seem that far-fetched. Flock (Mozilla-based "social browser") basically tried to do this without the Facebook-only component. Maybe they can get it right by focusing on integrating only with Facebook.
taking to facebook...
The fight for the Web OS is tough. But we are sure that facebook might win the game cause the users will easier stop using Google than facebook!
Because all of their friends and connections are on facebook and not on Google :-)
Thomas from http://www.spirofrog.de
I don't use social sites like Facebook, but what if Rockmelt was a means of integrating your online identity with the greater web? I think that is a much more intriguing idea than a browser for a website or company.
RockMelt: Netscape's Andreesen Backing Stealth Facebook Browser http://bit.ly/vZ2tF [you read it here first!] [from http://twitter.com/marshallk/statuses/3291558356]
Posted by: Marshall Kirkpatrick
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August 14, 2009 7:24 AM
Just a few years ago that pantload Andreesen couldn't resist condescendingly telling anyone who would listen that Americans needn't worry about the (at that time) accelerating demise of domestic jobs - particularly in the manufacturing sector - because the US was transitioning to a service economy and everyone would have employment opportunities there. And I emphasize the term "condescendingly" for this self-appointed economist. I guess he did not factor in the subsequent offshore export of even the service jobs themselves. Hey, Marc Andreesen - please just go away.
This app will not survive.
The reason is because the future of computing is no longer going to be a differential between OS and browser. Studies show that 40% of computer interaction is an internet activity. Computers are soon going to integrate with user temporal rhythms.
Technology should be designed for computer-human non-conscious time fragmented computing. We shouldn't be designing against computer-human time fragmentation, but with it.
Furthermore on the above comment, I personally believe the app has little chance of surviving because Flock (http://www.flock.com) has already tried to do similar and failed! I just don't see much point of using a browser solely for one social activity, particularly as more and more web services such as Friendfeed (http://www.friendfeed.com) are building a central social web platform to converse on, which aggregates much more data from social networks
One application too far in my opinion!
Marc too clever to popularise facebook again in some new browser.There are already too many browsers.Hope this one also doesn't end up as other one.The mname Rock melt sounds more like a rockster band.Hey do u get it!
I am excited for RockMelt but as for now, I am really curious how will it work.
Whats the point?
Do we need another browser? I would be interested to know if it will be built on webkit or at least to accomodate web standards.
why bother with this when there is the Flock browser? pointless.
This is surprising. Why can't they develop an add-on for FF instead? Now we get to enjoy security problems, updating, another architecture for developers to work with, the list goes on why this is not a great idea.
Guess people didn't learn the lesson from Chrome. Great idea but they should have simply fixed FF.
RockMelt could be a way to browse the web with Facebook ever-present, as well, instead of being a client for Facebook. We just don't know yet. This may be part of but could instead be contrary to the growing storm of support building for a distributed framework for social networking.
I saw an article today that hopes these types of devices or applications may be the saviour for the newspapers. I still have my doubts because you don't need a kindle to get your news, it's still free online.