Mar
2009
9
safari 4 beta launched
Apple has just launched the public beta version of the popular Safari browser on Mac OS and Windows. So a few members of the team at LEWIS decided to take the browser out for a test drive to see how it handles. First impressions
It’s fast. Whoa it is fast. In fact, there have been independent tests done to support Apple’s claim that Safari 4 is ‘the world’s fastest browser’.
It looks familiar. It’s a bit like Google chrome ... or is that iTunes
There are still some good old Safari features included
Introduction of developer tools
So what’s new in Safari 4
Speedy Browsing
What makes Safari 4 so fast is a Nitro Engine. NO seriously, that is what it’s called. Apple boasts that thanks to the Nitro Engine, “Safari outraces Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome on even the most demanding Web 2.0 applications.”
Don’t just take our and their, word for it, see the independent tests for more information.
Tabs at the top
Browser tabs are located at the top of the screen which you can re-order by dragging them about in the window or into a new window similar to the setup in Google Chrome.
Coverflow
Like the coverflow feature in iTunes for browsing your music collection, Safari 4 uses Coverflow to let you flick through your history. We thought that this was a really nice way to clearly see what sites you’ve viewed. It made us wonder if Coverflow be incorporated into browser updates for the iPod touch and iPhone.
Top sites
You can view all your favourite sites tracked by your browser history as thumbnails on one page. We have seen this type of feature before but never done quite as well as in Safari 4 where you can re-order or remove sites from the page.
Developer tools
Apple has included a set of web developer tools in Safari. No doubt they are trying to tempt developers away from Firefox - the web developer’s favourite - with all the useful add-ons available.
With all the additional features in Safari 4 will Apple gain a foothold in the war of the browsers?
Here is a look at who’s who in the browser stakes at the moment:
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer dominates the marketplace with a massive 75%. This is no surprise as Internet Explorer is bundled with the Microsoft Windows operating system, which is used in 95% of the world's PC’s. The bundling of IE with Windows is the subject of much controversy and in some cases legal action with Google joining the European Commission in a legal case.
Mozilla’s Open source browser Firefox comes in at second place with 21.53% of the marketshare. Much of the popularity of Firefox stems from the ability to customise your browser with add ons from third party developers.
Apple’s Safari browser has 8.29% of the market and is the default browser of Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch which may have partly led to an increase in usage along with the Windows release of the browser.
Google’s Chrome Browser previously reviewed by our own Stuart McMorris, was released in early September and has quickly established a 1.2% share. This share is tipped to increase when Chrome for Mac and Linux are released with extensions similar to Firefox add-ons in the summer.
Opera’s share is sitting at 0.70% with the rest at 0.22%
The verdict
I won’t be moving from Firefox to Safari or any other browser just yet. I find the add-ons indispensible and until another browser offers the same functionality I’ll remain a Firefox fan.