With Fluid, you also get some neat extras like built-in Greasemonkey-powered user scripting, the ability to use URL pattern matching to create browsing whitelists and blacklists, auto-software updates of the base application framework, custom site application icons either based on the site’s favicon or an icon you specify, a JavaScript API for showing Dock badges, Growl notifications, Dock menu items, and more. There’s even a built-in plug-in which allows you to browse the web with CoverFlow or iPhoto-like thumbnail previews for links on the current page (which is fully customizable).

Todd decided to take some of the power of Fluid and build a new, standalone browser called Cruz, which is designed to enhance your browser experience of the social web. The foundation for this new social browser is the ability to build web browsing panes or panels alongside a central browser window. Links in these panes can then be configured to open in the main window (or within a new tab in that main window), letting you explore topics, news or items as they come across your radar. Take, for example, this configuration that I threw together:

On the left is Twitter Search (which I have configured, via Cruz, to default to the Mobile Stafari version), on the right is the mobile version of Twitter with my central browser pane in the middle. In that screen shot, I noticed that @panache found an interesting new toy to play with and used the Twitter Search pane to look for other mentions of it while checking out the primary link. When you move your mouse near the top of either pane, you will see that you have full navigation controls that allow you to reset the pane back to the primary page or wander off to other sites for further investigation (i.e. do quick Google search).

Cruz will also remember your settings and currently displayed sites when you quit, letting you come back right where you started.

The application is still in early development (version 0.1) so it is still a bit rough around the edges. One feature — the ability to automatically generate web page previews alongside Google search results — consistently crashed in my tests, but that is probably due to the number of default search results I let Google return. Since the real power of Cruz is “under the hood”, I can see where one could configure a very powerful setup with some some spiffy Greasemonkey scripts that would allow content in one pane to trigger content in another to make for an even more dynamic information-gathering experience.

Todd provides some walkthroughs on his site to get you started, and the 3MB download is available now (10.5 only).

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At most stores this is easy to do…except for Apple stores.

I’ve yet to actually need any help from an employee in the Apple stores. I know exactly what I want and I just want to purchase it and get back to my office to use it. But it would seem Apple doesn’t care to actually have a set checkout spot. No place to to get in line and buy stuff. Nothing. You just have to aimlessly wander around the store and hope to A) get approached by a free employee or B) randomly pick an employee that’s helping someone and follow them around until they’re done.

I honestly don’t understand how this entire setup is a good idea. Sure I get that they want you to interact with the employees so they can hopefully sell you more stuff…but what about the people like me who just need to go in and buy something? I spent almost 15 minutes the other day in fairly uncrowded Apple store just waiting for an employee to free up so I guy by an adapter.

Yes, I’m ranting a bit here. But I really am curious what benefit Apple sees in setting up the store like this. Are all Apple stores like this? Or did I just luck out with the one closest to me?

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