The Next Web

Finally! Here’s Plainview, a full screen browser for the Mac

When you’re a PC user, this post isn’t relevant for you. Why? Because your Firefox browser has a full-screen mode. Mac users though, could only dream of this feature.

If you’re a Mac user, you might have missed that your dreams came true last on June 2, 2008. That’s when the Barbarian Group launched Plainview – a full-screen web browser.

During BLOG08 – an international blog conference I organized last October -, moderator Patrick and I were searching for a way to show blogs full screen. We installed some add-ons, which did just one thing: making Firefox crash.

Plainview already existed. Should we have known better?

Finally! Heres Plainview, a full screen browser for the MacNo! We were not alone. A quick search on software tracker Wakoopa finds that only 13 early adopters have discovered Plainview. So I guess it’s safe to say that we’re gonna make a lot of people happy with this post.

Download Plainview (zip file), drag it to your dock, bookmark the sites you need for a presentation, and browse through them by hitting a hot key. And don’t forget to enjoy the experience you’ve waited for such a long time.

Extra tip for writers

If you’re a blogger, get a load of this: open your post editing screen in Plainview and avoid any possible computer-related distraction.

Ernst-Jan Pfauth editor in chief
Ernst-Jan is blogger and co-organizer of BLOG08, who previously worked in New York to cover news at the United Nations. Next to writing, he's also a singer in the band Christina Five. Follow him on Twitter or read his personal blog Dutchproblogger.com .

  • Mukura
    This is awesome. Just having a little trouble using "Webpage Helper" with it.

    Otherwise top marks. Properly macin'
  • Surfing full-screen on my Mac using Plainview http://is.gd/eCF9 You can even create presentations with it.
  • the app seems not to be stable, hope they fix it fast.
    another "full-screen" browsing option for osx is build in fluid http://osx.iusethis.com/app/fluid

    keep on your awesome work, greetings from germany
    dotdean
  • Ah, now the application crashed on me! Second try
  • Ah, the Kiosk mode is actually... a kiosk mode! (plain browser, no interaction with desktop etc.) I had to reboot and remove the preferences to get back to normal!
  • I love it I love it I love it I love it! My mac looks even better in the Starbucks now :-)
  • Trying out a full screen browser called Plainview – Great! Macbook feels like big iPhone. Try it for yourself http://tinyurl.com/7cbv2h
  • Finally! Here’s Plainview, a full screen browser for the Mac ! http://is.gd/eCF9
  • hilgo
    Fantastische tip dit maakt een pitch zo veel mooier!
  • I have download it and tried it... Nice info... Just what I needed, when I needed. Thanks for sharing this!
  • Weird.. I've got two monitors and it works fine. And yeah, I know, where's the plugin?!?! But so far, Plainview seems like a good solution.
  • Igor
    Just tried it. But is misbehaves with multiple monitors: getting stuck on the wrong monitor.
    Also I'm not fond adding yet another webbrowser to my lineup. Firefox should be able to do this. Why isn't there a plugin or something...
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