Maxthon
TL;DR
Maxthon
Origins and Early Years
The precursor to Maxthon was MyIE, a browser shell built on Internet Explorer’s engine (Trident), developed by a Chinese programmer known as Changyou. It allowed more customization over Internet Explorer. Changyou posted much of the source code publicly on bulletin board systems but left the project around 2000.
Around 2002, Jeff Chen (Ming Jie “Jeff” Chen) picked up the development, creating MyIE2 which added many enhancements: tabbed browsing, skins, plugin support, etc.
In 2003 MyIE2 was renamed to Maxthon (Chinese name 傲游, Ào Yóu) — “Max” signifying peak/excellence, “thon” taken (some say) from marathon, implying endurance.
Growth, Funding, and Expansion
In 2005, the team secured seed funding from WI Harper Group and Morten Lund (also early investor in Skype). Jeff Chen moved operations to Beijing.
In 2006, additional investment came from Charles River Ventures (USA) to support further development.
In 2007, there was a report by TechCrunch that Google had invested ~US$1 million in Maxthon. The founder denied this, though not ruling out future cooperation.
Product Evolution & Versions
Maxthon’s browser went through many versions. Some key milestones:
Version / Time
Major Changes / Features
Maxthon 1 (early 2000s)
Built largely on MyIE2; using Trident (IE) engine; user-customizable, skins, plugin support.
Maxthon 2 (2007)
Enhanced UI, stability; further development of core features.
Maxthon 3 (2010)
Dual-core browser (Trident + WebKit), improved rendering, modern web standards support.
Maxthon for mobile / cross-platform versions
Over time versions were made for Android, iOS, Mac, etc. Cloud sync features (“Maxthon Passport”) added.
Maxthon 4 / “Cloud Browser” (2012)
Emphasis on cloud features; syncing across devices; more integration; cross-platform presence stronger.
Maxthon 5 (around 2016)
Further cloud-centric features: Maxnote (notes/bookmarks), Passkeeper (password management), UUMail (virtual email / spam filtering) etc.
Maxthon 6 (2020 onwards)
Switched to being based fully on Chromium (while maintaining some compatibility with Trident / dual engines initially), giving improved compatibility with modern web, extension support etc.
Maxthon 7 (recent)
According to their “About Us” page, Maxthon 7 introduced features such as built-in AI chat assistant, improved plugin compatibility (especially Chrome extensions), stronger support for video download, etc.
Geographic / Corporate Structure
Although often associated with China, Maxthon was founded in Singapore. Its corporate headquarters is (or has been) in Hong Kong, with major operations and R&D in Beijing. Offices also in San Francisco and sometimes other places.
The team is distributed; many remote workers globally.
Achievements, Recognition
Maxthon has won several awards. For example, CNET’s WebWare 100 in 2008 and 2009.
It achieved large download numbers. In 2009, downloads had exceeded 100 million; by 2010, ∼500 million downloads.
It participated in Microsoft’s BrowserChoice (in Europe) when users needed to choose their default browser under competition law constraints.
It has been particularly strong in China in terms of usage (second only to Internet Explorer for a time) and has built up a loyal user base globally as well.
Controversies & Criticisms
Google investment claim: The 2007 report that Google invested was denied by Jeff Chen. Whether Google ever made a formal investment is unclear.
Privacy / data sending: In 2016, security researchers reported Maxthon was sending sensitive user data (e.g. which websites visited, system/application details, ad-blocker status) to remote servers in Beijing without full user knowledge.
Decline in visibility/popularity: While it had strong early momentum, over time its market share in many non-Chinese markets seems to have declined, especially against Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and others. Some users report that new versions are less stable or slower to update. (Though this is more anecdotal than in formal source data.)
Technical / Feature Evolution
Maxthon has used dual engines (Trident + WebKit) in the past to improve compatibility (Trident for IE-type pages, WebKit for modern rendering).
The cloud features (sync bookmarks, settings, history) became central. The “Maxthon Passport” system is their cross-device account/sync solution.
Features like tab management, built-in ad blocking, resource sniffer (to download media), video-playback enhancements (e.g. Fast-forward through ads) were added over time.
With the move to Chromium (v6+), better compatibility with modern web standards and Chrome extensions.
Recent Status
As of circa 2023-2024, Maxthon claims usage in 55 languages across many countries, with continuous updates.
They are pushing further into features like privacy tools, AI-chat assistants (within the browser), video download/snapshot tools, integrated password management, etc.
Their official site emphasizes Web3 era trends, plugin compatibility (Chrome ecosystem), etc.
The Full History of Maxthon
Maxthon’s story is one of early innovation, rapid rise to prominence, and a gradual decline into niche status, reflecting the intense competition in the web browser market.
Phase 1: The Pioneer Era - MyIE and MyIE2 (2002-2005)
Origin (2002): Maxthon’s story begins not as Maxthon, but as MyIE. It was developed by a Chinese developer named Changyou (Jeff) Chen. MyIE was not a browser built from scratch; it was a shell built on top of the rendering engine of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE).
The “Power User’s IE”: At a time when IE was the dominant but feature-poor browser, MyIE (and its successor, MyIE2) addressed critical user needs. Its key innovations included:
Tabbed Browsing: This was its killer feature. It allowed users to open multiple web pages within a single window, a revolutionary concept that IE lacked for years.
Mouse Gestures: Controlling the browser (e.g., going back, forward, closing tabs) by holding the right mouse button and moving the mouse in a specific pattern.
Plugin/Extension Support: An early adopter of an extensible architecture, allowing users to add functionality.
Ad Blocking: Built-in tools to block pop-ups and banner ads.
The “Why”: MyIE2 was essentially what power users wished Internet Explorer could be. It leveraged IE’s ubiquity (and its Trident engine) while wrapping it in a far superior user interface and feature set.
Phase 2: The Peak - Renaming to Maxthon and Global Ambition (2005-2010)
Rebranding (2005): In 2005, MyIE2 was officially renamed Maxthon (a portmanteau of “Max” and “thon,” from “marathon”). This signaled a shift from a hobbyist project to a serious commercial product with global ambitions.
Rapid Growth: Maxthon’s user base exploded, particularly in its home market of China, where it became the second most popular browser after IE. By the late 2000s, it claimed hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Key to Success:
Superior User Experience: It remained significantly more feature-rich and customizable than IE or the early versions of Firefox.
Cloud Syncing (Maxthon Passport): It was one of the first browsers to offer cloud-based synchronization of bookmarks, settings, and even open tabs across devices, a feature that is now standard.
Dual-Core Innovation (2009): As web standards evolved and IE’s Trident engine began to show its age, Maxthon made a strategic move. It integrated the WebKit engine (the same core as Apple’s Safari and later, Google Chrome) alongside its Trident engine. This “dual-core” architecture allowed the browser to automatically switch engines for compatibility and speed, a unique solution at the time.
Competition Heats Up: During this period, Maxthon faced its most formidable challengers: Mozilla Firefox, which championed web standards, and Google Chrome, which launched in 2008 and redefined browser performance and simplicity.
Phase 3: The Decline - Losing Ground in the Chrome Era (2011-2019)
The Chrome Juggernaut: Google Chrome’s relentless focus on speed, security, and a minimalist UI resonated with users. Its rapid release cycle and powerful V8 JavaScript engine set a new standard that was difficult to match.
Stagnation and Identity Crisis: While Maxthon continued to release new versions (like Maxthon 3 and 4), it struggled to differentiate itself. Its once-innovative features like tabbed browsing and mouse gestures became standard in all major browsers. Its dual-core system became less of an advantage as Chrome and Firefox’s single, standards-compliant engines improved.
Security and Privacy Concerns: Over the years, Maxthon faced several controversies:
Data Collection: Reports and analyses suggested that Maxthon collected a significant amount of user data, raising privacy concerns among a more security-conscious global audience.
Security Vulnerabilities: Like any complex software, it was subject to security flaws, and its smaller market share made it a less scrutinized but potentially vulnerable target.
Shrinking Market Share: Globally, Maxthon’s user base dwindled to a fraction of a percent. Its primary stronghold remained in China, but even there, it was overtaken by local competitors like QQ Browser and the global dominance of Chrome.
Phase 4: The Niche Player - Pivots and the Present Day (2020-Present)
Pivot to “Lifestyle Browser”: In recent years, Maxthon has attempted to reinvent itself. Version 6 (MX6) and the current Maxthon 7 are marketed not just as web browsers but as platforms integrating:
Built-in Crypto Wallet: Tapping into the cryptocurrency trend.
VBox: A feature that organizes downloaded files, notes, and web snippets.
Integrated Messaging and AI: Attempts to add value beyond pure browsing.
Focus on Specific Markets: Its development and marketing efforts are now almost exclusively focused on the Chinese market and specific international niches where its unique features still have appeal.
Current Status: Today, Maxthon is considered a niche browser. It is still actively developed by its team, but it no longer competes for mainstream market share against the “big four”: Google Chrome, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.
Summary: Key Reasons for Maxthon’s Trajectory
Early Innovator: It was ahead of its time with tabbed browsing, mouse gestures, and cloud sync.
Leveraged IE’s Weakness: It successfully filled the feature gap left by the stagnant Internet Explorer 6.
Failed to Adapt to a New Paradigm: When Chrome introduced a new philosophy of speed, simplicity, and security, Maxthon’s feature-heavy, dual-core approach began to feel bloated and complex.
Intense Competition: The resources and market power of Google, Microsoft, and Apple were simply insurmountable.
Privacy Concerns: Data collection practices hampered its appeal to the privacy-focused segment of users.
Maxthon’s history serves as a classic case study in the tech world: a brilliant product that captured a moment of market need but was ultimately unable to withstand the seismic shifts caused by larger, more agile, and better-resourced competitors.
