Apple Releases Safari 4 Beta: What Does it Mean for iPhone Safari?
Apple has just released the first public beta of their new Safari 4 web browser for both the Mac and Windows (the Windows version now looking like an actual XP or Vista app). New features include an iTunes/Finder-like CoverFlow visualization for exploring browser history, and Apple TV commercial-esque visual wall of Top Sites (which should cause the same potential pr0nbarassment for some as Chrome and Opera’s “favorite” visualizers in the past), the ability to search, spotlight-like through past sites, Chrome-style top-mounted tabs, robust developer tools… and most important for the iPhone and iPod touch’s future — the new Nitro Engine for screaming fast JavaScript rendering.
Yes, JavaScript engines are the new speeds and feeds. Bottom line, the more script, the slower and heavier the site. Hey, BlackBerry still turns JavaScript off by default on the Bold and Storm to get anything approaching decent rendering speeds. But with Google’s V8 and Firefox’s TraceMonkey helping push the technology — not to mention every Web 2.0 site ladling on the AJAX — we’re going to need all the power we can get, especially on the iPhone.
As for the rest: CoverFlow already works well on the iPhone, though I’m not sure we need it in Mobile Safari, and the smaller screen might make Top Sites a little too tiny to be useful. And the search? Heh. We still need Spotlight on the entire iPhone, so how about we get that rolled up together?
Anything else you want to see in Mobile Safari 3.0?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Wow this is very fast! I think im leaving firefox till 3.1 is released. (BTW, funny you guys are advertising sprint phones on your page hahaa)
February 24th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I understand the whole caching problem with saving web-pages that have already loaded once you leave the page. So give me a toggle in the options. I’ve got 3 gigabytes left on my iPod. Is there no way to cache them there?
February 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
@iAirmanshirk:
Yeah, I’m in Canada so I get tons of Telus BlackBerry Storm ads. I blame Crackberry Kevin
February 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am
I went to some of the slowest sites I know of, and noticed a huge difference with Safari 4.
I’m not sure how this will affect Mobile Safari, but I really can’t think of anything it needs added right now.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:31 am
anyone try this in the PC side? (yeah i know)
I was kind of liking chrome until i found the constant updater running 24/7. Now safari steals some chrome features… i might try this.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:35 am
@Rene i say we flood his site till it comes crashing down
February 24th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I don’t like the IE-type look of Safari 4 on Vista. Safari 3 looked like a Mac app on a Mac computer, much more beautiful.
February 24th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Sir,for internet calling which site I have to dawnloard,I try to downloard freecall.com safari cannot do this
February 24th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I’m really digging Safari 4 (besides for the tabs on top) A nice “first look” video for Safari 4: http://www.woopid.com/video/2308/Safari-4-First-Look
February 24th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Don’t know of any changes I would like in Mobile Safari, except an adblock plus/pith helmet type plug-in, but I would like to see iTunes adopt the new Safari look on windows.
Most iPhone/iPod users are using a Windows machine to manage their iPhone/iPod. iTunes should work and look better under Windows.
February 24th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
That’s stupid. iTunes work better on a PC? Microsoft didn’t invent iTunes or iPhone/iPod so why should it work better than on a Mac?! }:/
February 24th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Quick first impressions of Safari on Windows.
Pluses: The javascript performance is fantastic. I hit a lot of js-heavy sites on my iPhone, and, if the nitro engine can squeeze down to Mobile Safari, I will be a very happy camper. The notification that content has changed is a nice touch. Safari’s new devleoper tools are also a welcome addition, though still a little short of Firebug on Firefox.
Minuses: Startup time was poor, and memory usage suprisingly high — these things are typical of beta though, so I would expect Apple to deal with them.
I might worry about history/bookmark coverflow on the iPhone simply because it is a lot more to keep track of in memory, and what barely causes a performance blip on a desktop might be noticeable on a constrained device.
All in all, a very impressive release. Nicely done!
February 24th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Oh, and I second Tyler’s motion — a larger or configurable browser cache is my #1 wishlist item for Mobile Safari.
February 24th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Mobile Safari doesn’t need any UI changes in my opinion. If it’s faster and more stable underneath, that’s good enough.
February 24th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
At first I was disappointed that the Top Sites seemed more like a “Most Recents” rather than the “Speed Dial” or “Favorites” function that I expected… until I quickly realized the push pins kept them in place. Great idea for Apple to give us the choice of how we want to use it.
The History Cover Flow is also very useful, as sometimes I can’t tell the exact page I’m looking for in the History Menu because the pages all have the same title.
Startup is very quick on my brand new 17″ MacBook Pro!
February 24th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
I haven’t installed Safari 4 on my Mac yet but so far on my PC at work, it is by far the fastest web browser I’ve used. Though, for now I will stick with Firefox because I really don’t like my tabs up top on the Safari 4 browser. Insignificant complaint, I know, but it matters to me.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Wow! The windows version is much faster than previous and the top visited pages screen is very cool. I’m not liking the tabs but hey it’s just a beta and will get better I’m sure. As for the iPhone, mobile safari is already great but I would like to see that nitro engine do it’s stuff in the next release. I just now need to get my new MacBook and really enjoy the speed.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
The tabs on top are a bit awkward, and take some getting used to. But there really is no reason to have a page’s title taking up unnecessary space at the top, while also having it appear on a tab below. There’s more room for the actual page view now. It makes much more sense once it becomes familiar. I’m still not used to it yet… it’s gonna take some time.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
[quote]why should it work better than on a Mac?! }:/[/quote]
I don’t mean iTunes should work better on windows than on a mac, I mean it should work better on windows than it does now. It should work as well and look as good on windows as it does on a mac.
Either that or let me choose the program I want to use manage my iPhone. I love my iPhone but I truly dislike iTunes.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
The new tab layout makes more sense — not only does it save space like Steve said, but all the main navigation controls (address bar, buttons, menus) operate on the foreground tab, so the tab really should visually own them, rather than the other way around.
For now, it still looks weird to me, though
February 24th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Although claimed by Apple as fastest browser, I dont think its qiute that fast! I have used many other browsers and feel that google crome is the fastest of them all. By the way they have added new features such as “cover flow” which I like very much.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I think I’ll stick with Firefox
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:23 am
For me safari 4 has not been any big change. Yes it’s faster,and I like the new tabs at the top but I’m not a fan of the way it looks on xp. The main thing is that it didn’t install any of the coverflow features or top sites even after reinstalls etc???
November 26th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
I’m a neophyte — I don’t have a Mac but have a refurbished 3g iPhone. Can I put safari 4 on it?