When Amazon announced the new Kindle Fire tablet, they also introduced the Amazon Silk browser, which is designed to be a much faster browser. We saw a video of it in action yesterday compared to the iPad, and it looks quite fast.
Details have been released on what is behind the Amazon Silk browser, and it turns out that it is powered by one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, as the recent list of the world’s 500 fastest supercomputers has revealed.
Number 42 on the list is Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) service, which is used to power Amazon’s Silk browser, and it features 17,024 processing cores, and 66,000GB of memory.
How Amazon Silk Works
Amazon Silk is designed to leverage the power of Amazon’s cloud computing infrastructure to deliver a faster and more efficient browsing experience. The browser uses a split-architecture approach, where some of the processing is done on the device itself, while the heavy lifting is handled by Amazon’s EC2 servers. This allows for quicker page loads and smoother performance, especially on resource-intensive websites.
The Silk browser preloads pages based on user behavior and predictive algorithms. For example, if you frequently visit a particular news site, Silk will start loading the page in the background before you even tap on the link. This predictive loading significantly reduces wait times and enhances the overall user experience.
Advantages of Using Amazon Silk
One of the key advantages of using Amazon Silk is its ability to compress web content before it reaches your device. This not only speeds up browsing but also reduces data usage, which is particularly beneficial for users with limited data plans. The browser can compress images, videos, and other multimedia content without compromising quality, making it ideal for streaming and media-rich websites.
Another significant benefit is the enhanced security features. By routing traffic through Amazon’s secure servers, Silk can offer better protection against malicious websites and potential cyber threats. This added layer of security is crucial for users who frequently engage in online transactions or access sensitive information.
Moreover, the integration with Amazon’s ecosystem means that Silk is optimized for use with other Amazon services like Prime Video, Kindle eBooks, and Amazon Music. This seamless integration provides a cohesive and unified user experience, making it easier to switch between different Amazon services without any lag or performance issues.
Amazon Silk also supports a wide range of web standards and technologies, ensuring compatibility with most modern websites. This makes it a versatile browser that can handle everything from simple text-based sites to complex web applications.
The Amazon Silk browser is a significant advancement in web browsing technology, leveraging the power of one of the world’s fastest supercomputers to deliver a superior user experience. With its split-architecture design, predictive loading, data compression, and enhanced security features, Silk sets a new standard for what users can expect from a mobile browser. Whether you’re streaming videos, reading articles, or shopping online, Amazon Silk offers a faster, safer, and more efficient way to browse the web.
Source Gizmodo
Image Credit: Kosheahan / Flickr
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