Heatseek is a pornography focused browser that quietly launched today. The point of this software is to make porn browsing more efficient and more secure. The browser is available on Windows machines only, and is built on top of Internet Explorer.
They’ve clearly thought this through. Every feature is aimed at either making porn consumption easier or making it less likely that others will know what you are up to. I’ll walk through some of the features first and save my editorial for the end.
On the security side: Credentials are needed just to open the browser. Downloaded files are encrypted and viewable only through Heatseek. They do their best to eliminate popups, spyware and viruses. Finally, they’ve even included a panic button to shut down the application immediately.
On the ease-of-consumption side: Downloading of images and videos is assumed, and can be accomplished with a single click. As mentioned above, these files are encrypted and can only be opened within Heatseek. Downloaded files can be organized in, well, playlists, and can be dragged and dropped to reorganize. They’ve included a bookmark feature that allows users to quickly jump to their “favorite” scene (see last screenshot below).
Heatseek is also guaranteeing that their software contains no spyware.
The basic version of Heatseek is free, with a premium version available for a one time fee of $20. The main feature of the premium version is that it allows the user to unencrypt downloaded files and move them directly to the hard drive for use in other browsers and media players. The premium version also allows users to access “special content”.
The Heatseek team is making significant efforts to remain anonymous, although there is at least one tie to another browser startup - the Mozilla-based media browser Songbird. Rob Lord, the founder of Songbird, is also a shareholder and board member of Heatseek.
A note to would-be users: Many employers (and spouses) install monitoring software on computers that Heatseek will not bypass.
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Hot brunettes eh? LOL
I know a very high level internet marketing executive at a large company who has always told me that Porn leads the way in technology. Could the porn industry be beating the mainstream film industry to the web 2.0 party? The features on that browser seem pretty damn cool.
Justin — In the case of this it looks like Flock lead the way.
As I say all the time - there is never a bear market in PORN
Digg Story Here:
http://www.digg.com/software/P.....k_Launches
I am not surprise. When you look at usage and search terms, the reality is that porn is the leader in one form or another. Despite some aversions individuals may have, the reality is there is a ton of mooney to be made there.
Michael since when have you started to write so heavily on porn? Is this how shallow web 2.0 is? What does it have to do with web 2.0 anyway? I mean gimme a break, agree that this is a “new browser” but don’t think its worth enough to be featured on a place like TechCrunch where elite services from companies like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft are profiled. Please go look out there and profile companies which really are worth rather than writing about some browser which is targeting the sick porn audience… Sheesh!!!
I have to agree with you Howard. This is an interesting niche play.
I’ve read estimates that 40%+ of porn consumption is done by women. Thought we’d see a few scantily-clad men up there to dispel the myth that porn is a dudes-only affair.
damn, that blonde chick has an ugly smile
That’s not porn! That’s a swimming suit model browser. Boring!!
Rammy: Dude, Michael knows his audience. Clearly you do not.
Peter: Can you imagine what we’d say in the comments if he included some men?
Michael: Is it true that you started reviewing this site three weeks ago, but distractions kept you from finishing?
I agree with Rammy. This is such a turn-off. I have enough hassle shoveling through e-porn daily, why do I have to read about getting it “efficiently” on Techcrunch as well? And I thought I liked reading Techcrunch.
I’m sure they didn’t have a problem with beta testers:)
Nick - thanks for you comments as always. Sadly Heatseek is for Windows machines only and I am on a Mac. I’m also in London. I actually had to call my office manager back in the U.S. to test this for me. She was ecstatic.
Stop your moaning, bitching, and complaining…if you have an aversion for it then don’t read it..u freak!
Does no one else find it ironic that a guy with a porn star name is complaining about porn references?
@Shelley: don’t see what the big problem is. brand new Web 2.0 browser. nuff said.
Great…since itas based around IE, I surely hope its a little more secure. But great find by the way. I mean what kind of tech industry would it be, if we weren’t driven by beautiful young women who are willign to expose themselves for you, me, and Joe-Schmoe int he office next door, right?
cool stuff!
Michael,
You said you would review the features and then editorialize… I don’t see you going into detail if this thing actually works well or problems you see with this piece of software.
Anonymouse
I’m sure all those old farts running major companies with nothing to do all day in their offices are just downloading this browser like crazy and can’t wait to use it…
hahahahah
I have to agree with all of you. None of you are right, and all of you are wrong
Actually, I love the idea of a tool like this - perhaps now when my friends ask me to fix their computers I won’t have to deal with looking at their browsing habits. Hell yes - hide all that shit from me!
Its not like a porn based browser would ever install malware. rofl.
“perhaps now when my friends ask me to fix their computers I won’t have to deal with looking at their browsing habits. Hell yes - hide all that shit from me!” -kr8tr
LOL…. so true.
Great, now when we run a managed services report, under the “added software” section, we will be able to tell all the porn freak users cause this little dandy will be listed there.
yeah, i can definitely agree with the “40%+ of porn consumption is done by women” thing, cuz me and my friend wwere at this other guy’s house (the other guy has a really hot sister) and she had left herself logged in on the computer, and since autocomplete was turned on, we typed in “h” into google, and a whole list of different porn related searches came up, like “hot nude men” etc…
It actually has a lot of interesting features. It’s an all around great multimedia browser.
What a (fucking) killer app. Perfect software for a perfectly legitimate use that is a bigger market than the hilarious prudes would imagine.
I suggest that ‘Rammy’ store his nasty freaky porn on it ’cause his “I’m so horrified” schtik isn’t fooling anybody here.
BTW “I Got U Now” if you bothered to download the free version you’d see that it does a remarkable job masking itself by running, minimizing and sitting in your Start menu as whatever you want to call it. The icons that represent the app are also up to you.
So, I know you’re the world’s hottest MCSE-certified desktop support guy, but you don’t know zit.
“The point of this software is to make porn browsing more efficent and more secure. The browser is available on Windows machines only, and is built on top of Internet Explorer.”
More secure? Built on top of Internet Explorer? err…. pardon?
Internet Explorer is probably the most exploited piece of software in the history of computing. MS are still finding security holes FIVE YEARS after 6.0 was released. If security was indeed the goal then the Firefox code base would be what you’d use.
But…
…. then you’d have to open up your source code and everyone could see all the nasty spyware you were installing.
I’m suprised that their choice of IE rendering didn’t raise any red flags.
This is great stuff! lol!!!
From the software license (you can view it at the beginning of an install):
– snip
“8. USE OF INFORMATION. By installing the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, You grant LICENSOR permission to collect and use certain information relating to You. You acknowledge that You have reviewed LICENSOR’s Privacy Policy that describes LICENSOR’s practices with respect to the collection, use and disclosure of information in connection with Your Use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT. A copy of LICENSOR’S Privacy Policy is available at . LICENSOR reserves the right to change the provisions of its Privacy Policy from time to time. LICENSOR will post any changes to its Privacy Policy at the web address in the preceding sentence. You should periodically check said posted Privacy Policy from time to time to determine if there have been any alterations. Your Use of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT following the posting of such changes to LICENSOR’S Privacy Policy will constitute Your acceptance of any such changes.”
– end
First off, “LICENSOR reserves the right to change the provisions of its Privacy Policy from time to time” is scary as heck for a product like this.
Secondly, http://www.heatseek.com/privacy.php doesn’t even exist!. There is a page at http://www.heatseek.com/privacy_policy.php but it seems to be the privacy policy for the heatseek.com web site and not the software itself.
So there is no privacy policy and even if there were, they can change it at will.
*NOTE RE: ABOVE POST
Sentence four should read:
“A copy of LICENSOR’S Privacy Policy is available at http://www.heatseek.com/privacy.php”
(When I copy and pasted, I didn’t realize that the url was enclosed in angled brackets, which apparently made wordpress strip it out.)
Ha ha….. I actually saw that porn flick with those two girls in it… it was pretty good, the blond was a better performer.
Mark, though I doubt I can change your opinion, I can assure you that when you install the Heatseek software, that is the *only* thing that gets installed. Feel free to download various monitor apps from SysInternals, run our installer, and see what happens.
And there are plenty of valid reasons for using the IE engine. I think you would be very surprised at how many Windows applications reuse IE components to one extent or another. Our dev team was already very familiar with its usage, so experience won out. I’d imagine choosing IE was a better use of our time that trying to secure the unfamiliar codebase of a different browser (yes Firefox has bugs too, and we certainly could have caused plenty of our own).
I think its deplorable to featur porn on TechCrunch. Sheesh.
Speaking of porn and web 2.0… check out ratedp.com
Might even take the time to test that new browser out while doing it =)
Even though this is a web 2.0 application, Techcrunch should strictly stop reviewing porn related stuff, as #7 said.
Why not review porn applications? They can be web 2.0 just as well. And after all, porn is what drives the internet, right?
Pity it’s built on IE. Firefox is great for porn.
Wouter’s right. This is TechCrunch, not ContentCrunch. Michael can review tech regardless of content, pornographic or otherwise.
Legend of an idea, if only it wasnt based on IE.
The fact that you can’t take pictures and movies out of the application is just an instant turnoff(^^) and deal-breaker. They probably do that, cause they are collaboration with some content providers.
Freud was right.
OMFG PR0N IZ EV0L LETZ DIE KTHX!
Seriously. Allow me to explain something about porn, illegal content, and everything else offensive: it EXISTS. Deal with it. Saying that this shouldn’t be reviewed because its purpose is for viewing something that some may find offensive (although not illegal per se) is akin to saying that encryption programs mustn’t be reviewed because TERRORISTS USE THEM TO PLAN THEIR ATTACKS:’( The fact of the matter is that encryption can be used for other, more benign purposes, as I’m sure this browser may be (ie. viewing plans for building bombs etc. etc.;) In short: I applaud reviews of all things technical, get over it’s intended or abused possible uses, please.
mikkaworks.com: Errrrm, no, that’s so that you can pay the $20 and get the version that allows you to extract the downloaded content. Oh my word! A company that would like to make money with a pretty novel and well executed idea?! NEVER! And a WHOLE $20!! Even in South African Rands I’m going to recommend that CERTAIN CLIENTS go and splash out so I don’t have to see the rubbish they download K THX:)
Actually if some people used more their brains, you would understand that there is no such need for a “porn browser”.
I guess if I go and digg someone else’s pc and find the Heatseek browser installed, I’m sure this guy is a porn surfer.
I dont care what he/she looks at, i dont mind the cookies, urls, and caches. This guy IS my man.
so, if this pc is in his home, I dont give a dam. If this is his office pc he’s in trouble.
my solution:
Go get the Truecrypt software. free. read the faq and manual, learn to use it.
Install inside the dummy drive, Firefox or Opera, and make that you profile (contains favorites, cache, cookies and passwords) all go IN THE daummy drive.
surf the pr0n world (with firefox),
unmount the drive,
go home and sleep like a baby.
There is no porn, there is no “porn browser”, there is NO BROWSER.
leave another browser IE or Opera/Firefox installed as default browser in C drive, and useit for the “legit” sites.
So wait a minute… If you use the browser to hide your porn surfing habits, wouldn’t people still notice that you’re using the “porn browser”? Or is there a feature to hide the fact that you’re using a porn browser? LOL
Its just another “clock in a toaster” gimmick….a conglomeration of features i could easily have just using firefox and a couple nicely configured extensions….with a whole lot more safety too.
BUT….
Most people would rather buy the clock than put it in the toaster themselves, so im sure the non-savvy 95% of internet users will adore it…. I see this as nothing but more business for me in 6 months, when the browser that was considered “safe”, gets hackd and spywared to pieces, generating a whole plethora of porn-related repair business…which is always worth more than regular business for obvious reasons