Harry Doernberg & Jeff Chen’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Online Dating”—Jim P’s evaluate

Today’s theme solutions are acquainted(ish) phrases that embrace phrases which can be additionally names of internet browsers. The clues allude to historic occasions (and a tough timeframe) which explains the revealer BROWSER HISTORY (51a, [Surfing records, and what 20-, 25- and 46-Across are part of?]).

Wall St Journal crossword resolution · “Online Dating” · Harry Doernberg & Jeff Chen · Wed., 8.31.22

• 20a. [Eric the Red, for one (10th century)] ARCTIC EXPLORER.
• 25a. [Developing invention (late 19th century)] MONOCHROME FILM.
• 46a. [Concern for Flat Earthers (6th century)] EDGE OF THE WORLD.

Hmm. I’m not offered on this one. The revealer clue says that every of those entries is a part of BROWSER HISTORY, however attempt as I would, I can’t make the time period ARCTIC EXPLORER (or the others) match into that description. Explorer is unquestionably part of BROWSER HISTORY (particularly since nobody makes use of it anymore), however ARCTIC EXPLORER is just not. It’s extra just like the entries have a browser plus a facet of historical past.

Oh, and I don’t get the date for the Flat Earthers. Surely individuals thought the Earth was flat effectively earlier than that. In truth, based on the Smithsonian, some knew the Earth was spherical because the sixth century B.C.E., so certainly others earlier than them assumed it was flat. I’m simply not clear what the clue is getting at.

Lastly, the theme affords up two Microsoft merchandise and a Google product. I’d’ve favored  to have seen one thing else in there as an alternative of two Microsoft entries. Opera and Safari look like first rate potentialities for this theme.

For some precise BROWSER HISTORY, take a look at this video chart I lately noticed on Reddit displaying the market share of every browser up to now 28 years.

Top fill contains “I’M ALL FOR IT!” and ODE TO JOY in addition to FESS UP and HARLEM. Didn’t know correct names LILA Wallace (co-founder of Reader’s Digest) nor RAY J [R&B singer with the 2008 #3 hit “Sexy Can I”]. (Seemed just like the grid was heavy on correct names, as effectively.) PAEAN is a phrase I’ve heard earlier than, although I couldn’t have instructed you it meant [Triumphant hymn] earlier than I did this grid.

Clue of notice: 17a. [Cell feature]. BARS. I suppose the clue is referring to cell telephones and sign energy. If it was referring to a cell in a jail, then I’d say it wanted to be plural.

Maybe I’m being dense, however the theme felt off for me. Three stars.