PowerFox Browser (for Mac OS X 10.4, 10.5, and 10.6)

[jazzzny]

Figured that a thread would be appropriate here.

PowerFox is a browser for Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, 10.5 Leopard, and 10.6 Snow Leopard for both Intel and PowerPC Macs. It is based on the Basilisk browser and features many improvements and additions for our supported operating systems.

PowerFox is supported on:
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger - PowerPC, Intel
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard - PowerPC, Intel
Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Intel 32-bit, Intel 64-bit

Do note that each combination of architecture and operating system has its own build of PowerFox - this is done in order to fully take advantage of all features provided by the OS/CPU.

Grab a build from: https://powerfox.jazzzny.me

pfox.png

Let me know if you have any support or technical questions about PowerFox, enjoy browsing!

[ownedbywuigi]

Does PowerFox work on that one weird Snow Leopard PPC beta, or no?

[jazzzny]

Does PowerFox work on that one weird Snow Leopard PPC beta, or no?

Yes, the 10.5 PPC build works great there.

[Mæstro]

Out of genuine curiosity, how is it to use OS X 10·4–6 today? Is it your primary OS, or more of a hobby?

[jazzzny]

Out of genuine curiosity, how is it to use OS X 10·4–6 today? Is it your primary OS, or more of a hobby?

I develop PowerFox purely as a hobby and my primary system is a 2022 M2 MacBook Air. When I first started working on PowerFox there really wasn't any other option for 10.6, 10.5 (apart from White Star for PPC), and 10.4, so I see it as a way to get these operating systems into a workable state again.

Regarding 10.4-6, I would say that they're decent. A good portion of open source software runs on 10.5 and even more is functional on 10.6, and even 10.4 has quite a bit of software working through TigerBrew. With a modern web browser, I would say that quite a lot is accomplishable.

I think its important to remember that these operating systems are preferred by many for various reasons - 10.6 supports Rosetta and is the last 32-bit Intel release, 10.5 is the last PPC release, 10.4 is the last PPC G3 release and supports the Classic Environment.

[Mæstro]

I think its important to remember that these operating systems are preferred by many for various reasons…

I agree, and have spoken elsewhere about how I believe people should feel free to keep using the old versions they like, even against pressure to upgrade. It is touching to see a new browser coming out for a twenty-year-oid OS. It is a rare, happy sight to see it being given this kind of respect. Windows XP (and, to a lesser degree, 2000) are the only other operating systems of similar age which I see still receiving this kind of love and care. My IT dream would be that the systems which were in place about the middle of the noughts could have been fixed as a stable standard upon which the third millennium could build while retaining backward compatibility, and you are making a small piece of that dream come true. Thank you for fighting the good fight.