Beam Browser: The Knowledge-Gathering Web Browser

Do you recall Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer? These applications from the 1990s employed vivid metaphors in their names to describe a straightforward action – exploring the internet. Presently, it would be unusual to refer to Google Chrome as a web explorer.

Navigating the web has evolved into a seamless – and frequently automatic – activity. You simply reach for your phone or computer, initiate a new tab, and enter a few keywords into the address bar.

Beam, a new company established by Dom Leca and Sébastien Métrot, is developing a novel application that functions as both a web browser and a note-taking tool. Dom Leca previously created Sparrow, an email application for macOS and iOS which Google acquired in 2012. Sébastien Métrot has contributed to Apple for a number of years.

“Many people express concern that platforms like Instagram and Facebook are mentally draining and lead to wasted time,” Leca explained. However, web browsers offer access to limitless knowledge and a vast array of opportunities.

If you possess a strong interest in a specific subject, you likely have the potential to learn a great deal through reading articles, watching videos, participating in forums, and more. But once you close your browser window, that information is lost.

Certainly, there is a web history feature – but it’s often an extensive list of links lacking context. Similarly, you can save pages or create notes in a separate application – but this can be an inconvenient process.

Crucially, you may not immediately recognize what information is valuable and what is not. Many personal projects begin with seemingly unimportant searches.

Beam intends to provide significance to your browsing history. Each time you conduct a search, it generates a new note card. Beam observes your activity as you click on links, open new pages, and spend time viewing content.

Upon closing a tab, a new card is created – your search query serves as the card’s title, and all associated links are displayed within that note. You can then add your own text, remove irrelevant links, and so on.

By integrating automatic note creation with a subtle prompt when you close a tab, you are encouraged to consider your online activity. This offers a method for gaining deeper insights into yourself and your interests. You might discover areas where you spend excessive time, but you could also realize a greater passion for topics like cooking or Russian classical music.

“From a particular perspective, I am designing this for individuals who do not typically take notes,” Leca stated.

Even if you already utilize a note-taking application, it can disrupt your workflow as you need to switch between different programs. Leca has invested in Roam Research and appreciates its functionality. However, he believes it doesn’t fully address the issue of information loss when browsing the web.

The company is already exploring potential expansions beyond this core concept. One possibility is the ability to interact with content directly from your notes – for example, clicking a YouTube link to watch the video within your card, or a podcast link to view an automated transcript.

In the future, Beam could enable you to share cards with other users. You could explore other user profiles based on shared interests.

Beam is utilizing WebKit as its browser engine and is currently focused on developing a Mac application. A public release is anticipated within a few months, and it promises to be a company worth watching.

The company has secured $3.5 million (€3 million) in funding from Spark, Alven, C4V, Amaranthine, Tiny Capital (Andrew Wilkinson), Tiny vc, Secret Fund, Antoine Martin, Simon Dawlat, Nicolas Cohen and Spetses. Loren Brichter (known for Tweetie for Mac?) and Oliver Reichenstein (iA Writer) are serving as advisors to the company.