Apple unleashes new version of Safari web browser
Apple on Tuesday announced the immediate availability of Safari 3.1, the latest version of what the company calls the "world's fastest web browser for Mac and Windows PCs."
According to the Cupertino-based Mac maker, Safari loads web pages 1.9 times faster than Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 and 1.7 times faster than Firefox 2. It's also said to run JavaScript up to six times faster than other browsers, in addition to being the first browser to support the latest innovative web standards needed to deliver the next generation of highly interactive Web 2.0 experiences.
"Safari 3.1 for Mac and Windows is blazingly fast, easy to use and features an elegant user interface," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "And best of all, Safari supports the latest audio, video and animation standards for an industry-leading Web 2.0 experience."
As was reported by AppleInsider earlier this year (1, 2), the new version of the Apple browser is the first to support the new video and audio tags in HTML 5 and the first to support CSS Animations. Safari 3.1 also introduces support for CSS Web Fonts, giving designers limitless choices of fonts to create new web sites.
Safari 3.1 is available immediately as a free download at Apple's Safari website for both Mac OS X and Windows users. Safari software updates will also be delivered seamlessly through Apple's Software Update application, which automatically checks for updates.
Safari 3.1 for Mac OS X requires Mac OS X Leopard or Mac OS X Tiger version 10.4.11, a minimum of 256MB of memory and is designed to run on any Intel-based Mac or a Mac with a PowerPC G5, G4 or G3 processor and built-in FireWire. Safari 3.1 for Windows requires Windows XP or Windows Vista, a minimum of 256MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor.
According to the Cupertino-based Mac maker, Safari loads web pages 1.9 times faster than Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7 and 1.7 times faster than Firefox 2. It's also said to run JavaScript up to six times faster than other browsers, in addition to being the first browser to support the latest innovative web standards needed to deliver the next generation of highly interactive Web 2.0 experiences.
"Safari 3.1 for Mac and Windows is blazingly fast, easy to use and features an elegant user interface," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "And best of all, Safari supports the latest audio, video and animation standards for an industry-leading Web 2.0 experience."
As was reported by AppleInsider earlier this year (1, 2), the new version of the Apple browser is the first to support the new video and audio tags in HTML 5 and the first to support CSS Animations. Safari 3.1 also introduces support for CSS Web Fonts, giving designers limitless choices of fonts to create new web sites.
Safari 3.1 is available immediately as a free download at Apple's Safari website for both Mac OS X and Windows users. Safari software updates will also be delivered seamlessly through Apple's Software Update application, which automatically checks for updates.
Safari 3.1 for Mac OS X requires Mac OS X Leopard or Mac OS X Tiger version 10.4.11, a minimum of 256MB of memory and is designed to run on any Intel-based Mac or a Mac with a PowerPC G5, G4 or G3 processor and built-in FireWire. Safari 3.1 for Windows requires Windows XP or Windows Vista, a minimum of 256MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor.
Comments
Apple doesn't like putting buttons everywhere, there's the CMD-T shortcut for a New Tab
Clearly - but CMD-T requires the keyboard, and buttons do not.
Granted, right-click on the tab bar gives you the option to add a new tab, but this requires two steps instead of one. Is there a hack for Safari 3 that adds a New Tab button yet?
Clearly - but CMD-T requires the keyboard, and buttons do not.
Granted, right-click on the tab bar gives you the option to add a new tab, but this requires two steps instead of one. Is there a hack for Safari 3 that adds a New Tab button yet?
According to the new features mentioned by Apple it appears you can double click in the tab area to add a new tab too... About the Safari 3.1 Update
I hope i can double click the tab bar to open a new tab also, this omission has been there for too long
Yup, i can now double click the tab bar to open a new tab! Now to play with stability.
I wonder why i can't flip though my drop down bookmarks like i can in FireFox. I have to click on each to open them as they won't auto drop down as i pass over them (after i open the initial drop down).
Cool...but it's cooler that I'm first.
Success! You finally live up to your username (You sad, sad person)
Too soon to tell if its more stable. Speed is good but not noticeably better than before.
So far, I'm a little more impressed with the FF 3 beta. it seems even a little faster.
And beta 3 is already running pretty stable as is.
Success! You finally live up to your username (You sad, sad person)
yes I am soooo sad you don't like me. My world is over.
Closer, but still not 100%.
- Jasen.
5% updated every month and in only 2 years you have a whole new browser...
yes I am soooo sad you don't like me. My world is over.
I don't not like you, sweetheart. I think you are funny.
Gets to 75 on the ACID3 test.
Firefox 3 beta4 gets a 67. But as far as speed, FF3 seems more than 1.7 times faster than FF2.
And it even runs on an ancient 300MHz PII - ha.
Gets to 75 on the ACID3 test. Firefox 2.0 only makes it to 52. Safari 3.0.4 on Windows makes it to 39.
I wonder why Apple released 3.1 with such an old build of webkit. Current nightlies of Webkit are at 93.
At least it doesn't crash like crazy under Vista, but the Acid 3 score is only 75, whereas on my Mac, was getting ~90 with one of the newer Webkit nightlies.
Gets to 75 on the ACID3 test. Firefox 2.0 only makes it to 52. Safari 3.0.4 on Windows makes it to 39.
Closer, but still not 100%.
- Jasen.
It also no longer passes the Acid2 test, doh! When did that happen? Safari was famously the first browser to pass that test.
I don't normally use Safari, but downloaded 3.1 and it crashed on my first attempt to post this reply.