Arc browser for Windows enters beta testing

The Browser Company has finally sent out beta invites for Arc browser on Windows. The startup says it will onboard “hundreds of beta testers over the next several weeks,” and adds that starting in January 2024 that list of beta testers will be expanded to thousands. Anyone interested in joining the waitlist can sign up here. At the time of this writing there appears to be only a few people signed up, so chances are good you might get onboarded if you act quickly.

From cofounder and CTO of The Browser Company Hursh Agrawal:

For us, this period leading up to our Windows release is about crafting the very best version of Arc that we can. And that means learning from you — what you love, what’s missing, what doesn’t feel quite right.
It still feels surreal to say, but it really does all begin today.

Developed using Apple’s Swift programming language, the Chromium-based Arc browser rolled out in April 2022 for macOS and iOS. Arc breaks away from traditional browser design in a few key aspects. You’ll find the URl address/Search bars on the left side rather than at the top, with vertically-oriented tabs. Most of the browser’s functionality is within the sidebar, with the rest of the screen dedicated to the browsing window.

Arc features built-in apps including a built-in ad blocker and a virtual notebook. One feature called “Boosts” reportedly allows users to customize website cosmetics. Arc will feature integrations with Google apps like Gmail and Google Calendar, and will use Google Search as the default search engine. Extensions from the Chrome Web Store will also be supported.

Whether Arc will prove to be the Chrome-killer that some are touting it as, only time will tell.