Comments on: Safari 4 a big step up, but not as far as rivals

The beta of Apple's new browser catches up to rivals in interface and performance. But how can an overhaul still be missing an extensions framework?

[pcfish]

"Happily, middle-clicking on a link opens the Web page in a new tab now rather than a new browser window, something that bugged me with Safari 3."

The reason it bugged you is that you didn't know you can change the behavior by changing the option in Safari 3. "Open link from applications > in new tab in the current window."

Also, although probably most of us here understand what you are referring to, but 'extensions/plug-ins' and 'add-ons' are different thing. Safari supports 'extensions/plug-ins' such as java/flash/media but they do not have 'add-ons'. What I am trying to say is, please use your words more precisely.

Moreover, it is obvious that Apple does not make Safari for windows for fun or to show off. I am sure they do not care about windows at all. The only reason I can think of for them to make a window version is to support MobileMe. There are a lot of important new standards they are pushing out from Safari, so, hopefully, all major browser will eventually support those features (e.g. CSS Effects, CSS 3 Web Fonts, ICC Color Profile, HTML Canvas, etc).

[okfalls]

Hi all. Minutes ago I d'loaded Safari 4... D-load and install went without a hitch... and ( x fingers) all seems OK at this point in time. At first glance at least on my machine.. 2.2, 4 gig ram MBP it does seem faster than before... and also faster than FF... I know that this is only an early opinion on S4 but so far so good.... of course if things change I will post that as well.....

[rphodges]

"It's still curious that Apple thinks it's worthwhile to bring Safari to Windows."

Because as you said the browser is becoming the new platform due to cloud computing.
If you put Safari on Windows it has a chance to gain more market share, making it imperative that web developers test their products on Safari as well as IE and Firefox. Additionally, it makes it easier for these web developers that might be running Windows, to perform these tests. They no longer need a an OS X box running Safari to perform simple usage tests. Its very important to Apple that web sites work on Safari because that is the browser of choice on the iphone and related devices. I believe putting Safari on Windows gives Windows users a seamless transition from browsing on their computer to browsing on their portable device. Finally, Apple may be trying to infiltrate the Windows desktop with more software to help lure Windows users over to the other side

[jlymath93]

I downloaded Safari 4 earlier today. In fact, I am using it right now. I have to say, it has been improved, but I don't like the look in Windows. They took away the brushed metal look and replaced it with the puke white color you are used to seeing on windows. It looks like they did a good job with features, but as for design, Safari 4 comes up short. For PC's anyway

[kliegla]

I got the beta and I love it!
Yeah I'll admit that im an apple fan, and I love that the new browser came out (you see, those of us on macs dont have chrome for another few months-- I am planing on getting it when it comes out)

I love the new interface, it really looks nice, it took some time for me to adjust to the new look of the safari mobile browser because of the differences in the ui between my iPod and computer.

The one thing that I absolutely can not get used to is the lack of a load bar, I mean it seems like common sense to leave it in, it was one of the most visually appealing and most intelligent features of the safari interface. I know there are ways to get it back by going trough the terminal app (or whatever PCs use, sorry its been a long time sense I used one) but that removes the nice new interface that i like, so I decided that I could suck it up and use the new crappy spin wheel loading thing.

I really hope that apple re ads this feature to the final version or I might go mad

[Andony01]

Safari 4 beta causing Mac Messenger acting strangely :(

[joggyiscool]

Rock on Safari, I used to like firefox but Safari is cooler in my opinion.

[HeavyJim]

Tried it, went back to opera.

[AppleSuxLeo]

As usual with Apple products lots of eye-candy , but no beef.
Where`s the BEEF ?!

[breckenridgerealty]

Apple's philosophy has been about simplicity and speed. Lately they are being pushed by the competition to add as many bells and whistles as they can to appeal to the masses. What I really liked about it is speed. It's just faster than anything I have used on an OS X machine, see here:
http://www.macrumors.com/2009/02/25/safari-4-tips-tricks-and-special-effects/
It looks Safari 4beta is the fastest, nevertheless, it's still a beta and I hope it keeps this speed when it goes non-beta for the actual release version of it.

www. eresummit.com Summit County Real Estate Professional with a Mac running Windows! Thank You bad programmers for a windows specific MLS system

[KimTaylor aka Finiky]

Are you kidding? Safari 4 rocks. I like it better than Chrome. This Safari version makes Chrome feel clunky. I use Safari and Firefox -ONLY. Safari for images - renders them as they should look. BEST color rendering.

[Cyborganizer]

Microsoft and Apple stopped improving their web browsers years ago. Their laziness led to the rise of Firefox. I am glad to see Apple finally awoke, but it will take some time before they catchup to Firefox.

[fredlave]

There are many Mac users that run Windows on their Intel Macs. Safari has many advantages over Internet Explorer, not the least of which its familiar Mac-centric appearance. It runs faster than IE and provides excellent functionality. I'm glad that Apple has a Safari for Windows even if it does win any converts.

[TechSlap]

I really enjoy this browser. If were not talking about extensions, this beta is a pretty decent contender in the browser wars. I've been using it for a week or so now, and I'm very happy with it. It only crashed on me one time since using it. Sure, there are a few bugs when trying to load and render certain web pages, but I know that this is just a beta.

The user interface is very intuitive and responsive (not like safari 3). I'm glad that Safari improved the top sites feature that google has as well. It saves me a lot of time when pulling up new sites. As for the bookmarks cover flow feature... Well I never really used them in the first place. But for a while now I've found myself using them. Its nice to have graphical representations than the text. There are a few other things that I like about the browser which you can find on apples site.

There are some bugs though, such as integrated webmail apps I've been having issues with. A couple of flash rendering issues, and some process issues as well. Safari 4 is a memory hog. It's thread handling isn't that great. Compared to firefox, it just eats system resources. I find myself switching between firefox and safari. We'll see what happens when the final release comes out if I'll switch. As of now though, good job apple!

[Dani210]

Im sorry, but this guy Stephen Shankland who wrote the article is an idiot. some of the features he says arent in safari 3 that are in 4 actually are in 3, you just have to go to the settings/preferences to change them. and that is the way it is in every other browser. for example, the open a new tab by pressing the wheel scroller on the mouse, that is in 3. I think Stephen was just bs-ing this article. I don't make complaints about many articles on cnet, but this is an exception.

ps, you can magnify or shrink pages in 3

[whiplash55]

I like the new Safari, first Mac app on Windows worth using in a long time. Since Apple isn't sniveling to the EU like a bunch of Ass####s like Mozilla, Opera, and Google I think I'll use it. FF3 is a piece of crap anyway takes about a minute to load, Opera is joke, and Chrome is nice and fast but Safari 4 feels just as fast.

[Anthony Frausto-Robledo]

There is no need to be curious about why Apple brings its Safari browser to Windows. The majority of iPhone and iPod touch users are Windows users enjoying Safari on both of those devices. Apple simply wants to use Safari as a bridge to Mac hardware.

I find it funny too that you speculate that Safari on Windows is a way to demonstrate to Windows users Apple's skill as a premium software developer. Didn't more than 70 million Windows users discover this when they started using iTunes and never looked back?

In fact Apple's software skills are so good that iLife is created just for Macs to give them an edge over rival PCs. That is the actual reason why iLife doesn't exist for Windows -- not because Apple has a limited appetite for supporting rival operating systems.

Other than these misleading notions I find your review thorough and well-balanced. And I do agree that Chrome has some nice features that Safari 4 might want to incorporate, such as tab isolation for crashing.

[klor5]

Let me start off by saying I've never used Chrome and 90% of the time I use a Mac.
Safari 4 for Mac in my opinion is an excellent browser,uncluttered,very stable,very fast and intuitive,adds Coverflow and Top Sites capabilities to it's wonderful handling of History and bookmarks.A big step up from Safari 3.x.x.
Compared to Firefox's "Fun for a while" customisation options and general lack of cohesion (though I'd still keep it as my secondary browser, without a doubt),Safari 4 is a dream.Why?

Two things (mainly).

One-I have not come across anything in any other browser that comes close to Safaris' killer feature.
The Activity Window and its' ability to integrate with download accelerators such as iGetter and Speed Download.This window allows you to see just about every file that is in your browsers, cache.
This is especially useful when you want to down load videos off the net with optimum speed,especially those videos that the sites' operators don't want you to have a copy of.

Two-This is all well and good,but compared to its potential in terms of speed,Safari 4 on its own doesn't really squash the opposition (apparently).Answer?
Safari 4 + " Webkit nightly build" = Use those Opera Exploring Chrome vulpes to clean your floors.
While to surf the net, install Safari 4 for its superior framework compared to Safari 3.x.x.Then go to webkit.org and download the latest "Nightly Build" (yes I know Safari 4 is built around the Webkit engine) ,"Webkit Nightly Build" just manages to stay closer to the cutting edge in terms of overall speed.

Now with safari 4 closed,install and launch Webkit Nightly Build.It's easy to tell the difference between the two applications' icons-Safari has a silver compass ring,while Webkit has a gold one.
Now control/right click on the Webkit icon in the dock and click on "Keep in Dock".
Now just click the compass with the gold ring in the dock whenever you want to go surfing.

Safari on steroids.Voila.