Method and apparatus for enhanced browsing

A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of enhanced browsing of electronic content, the method comprising:

• within a first browser window displaying a first electronic content item, detecting placement of a cursor in proximity to a link to other electronic content without clicking on the link;
• in response to said detecting placement, displaying an enhanced browsing window comprising the other electronic content;
• and
• in response to user activity within the enhanced browsing window, converting the enhanced browsing window into a second browser window.

A computer-implemented method of previewing content linked to a first electronic document, the method comprising:

• in a first browser window displaying the first electronic document, detecting user interest in a link to the content, wherein the content comprises primary content desired by the user and one or more secondary objects that would be displayed with the primary content if the content were retrieved into the first browser window;
• initiating retrieval of the primary content;
• and
• displaying in an enhanced browsing window the primary content without the one or more secondary objects.

A computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of previewing content linked to a first electronic document, the method comprising:

• in a first browser window displaying the first electronic document, detecting user interest in a link to the content, wherein the content comprises primary content desired by the user and one or more secondary objects that would be displayed with the primary content if the content were retrieved into the first browser window;
• initiating retrieval of the primary content;
• and
• displaying in an enhanced browsing window the primary content without the one or more secondary objects.

An apparatus for facilitating previewing of electronic data, the apparatus comprising:

• a first browser configured to display a first page of electronic data comprising links to other pages;
• an enhanced browsing window configured to display a second page of electronic data while the first browser displays the first page;
• and
• a user interface configured to:
• detect the positioning of a cursor on or proximate to a link to the second page;
• construct the enhanced browsing window;
• display the enhanced browsing window only after said detection of the positioning of the cursor;
• and
• convert the enhanced browsing window into a second browser in response to predetermined user activity within the enhanced browser window.

A graphical user interface for facilitating enhanced browsing of electronic data, comprising:

• a fetcher configured to fetch a second page of electronic content linked to a first page of electronic content displayed in a first browser window;
• an enhanced browsing window configured to display content from the second page of electronic content after a cursor is placed adjoining a link from the first page to the second page but without requiring a click within the first browser window;
• a customizer configured to remove one or more visual objects from the second page of electronic content prior to displaying the second page of electronic content in the enhanced browsing window;
• and
• a converter configured to convert the enhanced browsing window into a second browser window in response to predetermined user activity within the enhanced browsing window.