Arc Search is a new browser for iOS devices, focusing on speed and user convenience. It includes a unique "browse for me" feature that creates custom webpages for each search query. Future updates will integrate Arc Search with the Arc desktop app for a seamless browsing experience.
a little Sunday surprise for you...
meet @browsercompany's 2nd product:
🔍Arc Search🔎
it's a default browser for your iPhone ...that BROWSES FOR YOU
the origin story is a bit unusual so I wanted to give you the full backstory:
late this fall we realized...
1. we don't like using our computers on the weekend
2. arc's companion iPhone app felt like a desktop port
3. the mobile web is *so broken* & frustrating
so we gave a *tiny team* 3 months to invent the best iPhone “browser” (more on that later)
their prompt was simple – we told the team to to pretend that...
- it was Day One @browsercompany - there was no Desktop app - the goal was "the fastest way to get what you need" - what if it's not ONLY a browser?!
other than that, no constraints. go wild. reimagine.
we started by asking members what they wanted and here’s what we heard:
1. ability to set as Default browser 2. block GDPR popups 3. block Newsletter popups 4. block Ads 5. block Trackers
done, done, and done.
Arc Search cleans up the internet for you.
from there we realized that 80% of the time you open your mobile browser it’s to quickly look something up.
you want to be in-and-out as fast as possible. the fewest taps, the most fluid interactions, the least amount of time.
SPEED was our North Star. so here’s what we built:
first, Arc Search opens with the keyboard app and search box focused by default.
zero taps to look something up. just start typing.
it's 2x faster to search than in Safari & Chrome.
you'll feel twice as fast whenever you use Arc Search.
second, Arc Search BROWSES FOR YOU.
type a search query and tap “browse for me” – we'll then go read 6 webpages on your behalf…
…and create THE PERFECT TAB to answer your query. a custom webpage for every search you ever do.
feat. YouTube Embeds, Verified Quotes, and all!
third, we designed the most delightful, fluid way to quickly toggle between multiple webpages.
easily flick your way around multiple product pages or restaurant reviews without thinking.
hh, and we wouldn’t be the @browsercompany if we didn’t cleanup your tabs every night:
we auto-archive the junk so you can START FRESH every single morning.
which brings me to my last point: what about Arc for Desktop? where’s the sync experience?
now that Arc is on Windows we need to move off iCloud. So we’re rolling our own cross-platform syncing experience.
it will be called “Arc Anywhere” — and it’s almost done.
as soon as it is, you’ll be able to instantly sync tabs between this app and Arc on Mac/Windows.
when “Arc Anywhere” is finished, it will also — of course — sync all of your Spaces, Pinned Tabs, etc. to Arc Search as well.
basically, we’ll drop the “Search” word from this app name and turn it into a full-fledged “Arc” app on your iPhone (in the coming month or two). soon!
why ship now?
we wanted to build together in public WITH YOU.
no waitlist. no account creation.
we're going back to our roots of rapid prototyping and a bias to shipping early and often.
this will be a theme in our Act II, which is being unveiled this tuesday.
all credit for Arc Search goes to:
— @kasper_lahti for prototyping 50+ ideas — @adamstern_ for leading the project & eng — @karlamickens for the design & aesthetic — @nateparrott for a bit of everything above — Sika for too much to list here, incl. privacy
it was the A-Team🤌
please go give "Arc Search" in the iOS App Store a spin!
it’s Day One and will only get better from here. we promise. the entire point of releasing early and often is to learn from your feedback.
and keep your eyes peeled for "Arc Anywhere" (sync with desktop Arc) coming ASAP!
finally, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for always cheering us on from afar.
we're far from perfect and will continue making mistakes. but we're always listening and trying to get a little better every week. we couldn't do it without you <3
p.s. all sent from 10k ft on a flight to nyc so please pardon typos, grammar, etc.
and sorry I couldn't upload videos, United WiFi! but wanted to get out tonight to start the week on the right footing!!
omfg plane wifi is SO BAD I hope you all saw those in the right order
#1 problem with me being CEO is I get too excited and don't plan ahead why did I think I should do this on plane
sorry! yay! it's live tho!