Throbber

A vintage user interface element for your modern browser.

Extension stats

This extension was removed from Chrome Web Store on 2023-04-15
Users: 371
Rating: 4.17 (6)
Version: 0.2 (Last updated: 2017-11-02)
Creation date: 2017-11-02
Risk impact: Very low risk impact
Risk likelihood: High risk likelihood
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • storage
Size: 1.04M

Other platforms

Not available on Firefox
Not available on Edge
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Extension summary

Relive the 90s with the Throbber extension! Choose to go Netscape style or Netscape-killer style, depending on your mood.


As far back as the first web client, NCSA Mosaic, there has been a need to convey that the browser is not frozen and pages are, in fact, loading.
This is where the first such activity indicator came in.

It was believed to gain the name "throbber" when Netscape 1.0 was released with a pulsing "N" logo. This animation was actually a last-minute choice, since the animation the Netscape team wanted to use was based on the name "Mosaic," a name they were no longer allowed to use for legal reasons.

This lead Netscape to hold an animation contest to replace the throbbing N, and the winner was a monolithic N standing on a planetary object as meteors rain. Netscape tweaked it to the recognizable animation that lasted for years through many Netscape versions with little modification.
Two of those N variants are included in this extension.

When Microsoft came to town to compete in the browser-space against Netscape, they developed their own throbber featuring a globe rotating through the Internet Explorer icon.
One of the most popular variants of that animation is also included in this extension.
See more

User reviews

I wish the IE animation is more smoother but overall pretty neat for old school goodie!
by Pote Pcy, 2022-09-28

With this extention I could remember mi childhood
by Luis Cárdenas, 2021-10-16

I don't get it what does it do (Opera User)
View all user reviews

Extension safety

Risk impact

Throbber does not require any sensitive permissions.

Risk likelihood

Throbber may not be trust-worthy. Avoid installing if possible unless you really trust this publisher.

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Promo images

Throbber small promo image
Small promo image

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