Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Apple, Freeware, Beta, Browsers
Apple launches Safari 4 beta web browser
by Brad Linder Feb 24th 2009 at 8:40AM
Sure, both Google and Apple ripped the feature off from Opera, which had a Speed Dial feature long before anybody. But Safari 4's new Top Sites feature is pretty slick. When you first launch the browser you're greeted with thumbnails for popular web sites like Wikipedia and Google Maps. As you use the browser, Safari will detect which web sites you visit mos frequently and add them to the list.
There's also a little history search box in the bottom right corner of the screen. Start typing a query and Safari will conduct a full history search. But unlike Chrome or Firefox which show the results in the locationbar, Safari will bring up a Cover Flow window and show you previews of each web site containing your search term.
Like Google Chrome, Safari 4 moves the browser tabs to the very top of the window and has a smarter address field that saves you time when typing a web address. For instance, once I've typed www.downloadsquad.com once, the next time I start to type "down" Safari will fill out the rest of me.
Safari has also added the full page zoom feature that's so popular with the kids these days, and which is missing from Google Chrome, which only lets you zoom in on text. The Windows version of Safari 4 also supports native Windows fonts, title bars, and borders.
As with most Apple products, if you're installing the Windows version you'll want to be careful during the installation process. If you don't uncheck all of the options, you could wind up installing several other utilities in addition to the web browser.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Richard said 10:01AM on 2-24-2009
Works in my chrome... (2.0.164)
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ryaninc said 10:40AM on 2-24-2009
The new tab dragging feature and the top sites page are WAY more visually appealing than Chrome. But I still love Chrome and am anxiously awaiting a Mac release. :-)
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Paolo said 11:21AM on 2-24-2009
I'm now using the Safari 4 beta for Windows. I have to say it looks more like a Windows application now, as opposed to the Mac-look of version 3. And there are definitely similarities to Chrome.
I agree with ryaninc in saying that the tab dragging feature is cool. But what I want to find out is whether this version is more stable than the last. I had problems with Safari 3.2.1 crashing during practically every session, though I never did bother to try 3.2.2 and instead reverted back to 3.1.2. Hopefully 4.0 brings back the wonderful experience I've enjoyed since making this my primary surfing browser.
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Aalaap said 12:23PM on 2-24-2009
I just downloaded Safari 4 beta using Google Chrome. I had no trouble viewing the download link.
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theos said 12:34PM on 2-24-2009
I'll consider it when it gets "Copy to note" and "Paste and go" ... Opera until then ...
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hamza said 1:47PM on 2-24-2009
Does anyone know how to activate smooth scrolling, the scrolling behavior in safari 4 is a bit off.
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samuel said 6:17PM on 2-24-2009
Oh dear, I need 10.5.6 to run this, let me know if its what you expect.
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Tanuj said 8:49PM on 2-24-2009
chrome ripoffffffff
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gonintendo said 10:28PM on 2-24-2009
This just seems like chrome with fancy animations to me.
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chris said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
It may have copied some features of Chrome, but for us OSX users, its our best option.
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sephiroth_4 said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
Funny how most say it's chrome ripoff when safari was here first and apple created webkit.
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gonintendo said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
I'm talking about the layout of the buttons and the tabs.
gonintendo said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31940165@N03/3308284714/
Tell me they don't look similar.
compared to safari 3: http://safari.brothersoft.com/screenshots/Safari-3.0-.3-Beta_1.png
chris said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
Tabs, maybe yes, but the safari came out with the layout of the buttons first: http://image.wareseeker.com/software/Network-Internet/Web-Browsers/details_safari-1.jpg
sephiroth_4 said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
Google is the king of minimalist layout imo. Gapple is a beautiful thing. I hope they learn and continue the relationship. I don't even know what I'm talking about anymore...Goodnight. :D
gonintendo said 10:29PM on 2-24-2009
How about those settings and page File buttons on the right? And detachable tabs (tbh, I'm not really sure if safari 3 had that)
gonintendo said 10:12PM on 2-24-2009
*page/file buttons
Dan said 12:35PM on 2-27-2009
Actually Apple just built on the KHTML rendering engine and called it WebKit, they only created the Safari UI.
KeegdnaB said 7:33AM on 2-25-2009
what idiot thought moving the tab bar onto the window border was a good idea?
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Basti756 said 7:34AM on 2-25-2009
I'd rather prefer Operas interpretation of quick view (or whatever it's called in the english version) since you are able to configure yourself which websites are displayed. Google and Apple may have good intentions about displaying the most viewed sites but what if I don't want my most viewed sites displayed to everbody sitting in front of my mac?
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