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Puffin Browser is a web browser developed by CloudMosa. It uses cloud servers to process and compress web pages, with the aim of speeding performance and reducing bandwidth usage. It is available on various platforms, including Android, iOS (limited availability), and Windows.

Features

Puffin Browser primarily relies on remote servers to pre-process and render web pages, a design that aims to:

• Shrink page load times by offloading heavier processing tasks to the cloud.
• Save data bandwidth through server-side compression.

The browser has been noted for its built-in support for Adobe Flash (on older versions), although newer platforms abandoned Flash. Some versions include features such as an on-screen trackpad and a gamepad for browser-based games.

History

CloudMosa introduced Puffin Browser in 2010 as a faster alternative to native browsers on mobile devices, positioning it to handle resource-intensive scripts using cloud computing technology. Over time, the browser expanded to multiple platforms, offering free and paid (Pro) versions.

iOS and Android Releases

Puffin gained attention on iOS for its remote Flash rendering at a time when native Flash was not supported on Apple devices. On Android, it competed with well-established browsers by touting faster load times for graphic-intensive sites.

Windows Version

A version for Microsoft Windows was released in beta form to test how cloud-based browsing would perform on desktop environments. However, adoption rates and update frequency varied, with limited overall mainstream traction.

Privacy and security

Because Puffin Browser processes data through remote servers, some users and privacy advocates raised concerns about data protection and encryption. CloudMosa stated that all traffic between the device and its servers is encrypted, but details about data handling beyond initial transmission remained a topic of debate. Users noted that Flash support may introduce potential security vulnerabilities when not updated in sync with Flash security patches.

Reception

Critical reception

Reviews of Puffin Browser were mixed:

• Positive feedback accompanied its cloud-based acceleration, making page loads comparatively faster on slower networks.
• Criticism related to privacy concerns, reliance on remote servers, and compatibility issues with certain websites.

Usage and rankings

Puffin Browser claimed millions of downloads on the Google Play Store. On iOS, its presence has fluctuated due to Apple’s policies on browsers and third-party rendering engines.

Controversies

Some users and sources questioned whether Puffin’s performance metrics reflect real-world browsing speeds or were limited to certain websites. Critics also argued that routing web traffic through external servers could pose privacy risks if those servers are compromised or if logs are retained.

See also

• Cloud computing
• Comparison of web browsers
• List of web browsers
• Opera Mini

References

1. "Puffin Browser Overview". TechExample. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
2. "Five Features of Puffin Browser". Example Tech Source. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
3. "Puffin Supports Flash". Engadget. 12 May 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
4. "History of Puffin Browser". Official CloudMosa Blog. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
5. "Puffin on iOS". CNET. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
6. "Puffin Browser Arrives on Windows". The Verge. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
7. "Privacy Discussion: Puffin Browser". Ars Technica. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
8. "Puffin Browser Performance Review". PCMag. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
9. "Puffin Browser Download Stats". App Annie. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
10. "Concerns over Puffin Browser's Remote Servers". Security Now. 11 March 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2025.

External links

• Official Puffin Browser Website (Archived versions available at the Wayback Machine)
• Google Play – Puffin Browser
• Apple App Store – Puffin Browser

• Android (operating system) software
• Client/server split web browsers
• Discontinued iOS software
• JavaScript
• Mobile web browsers
• Web browsers
• 2010 software