Apple's Safari 5.1 to deliver new process architecture and extension support
Apple on Monday released a developer preview of Safari 5.1, its next-generation browser for Mac OS X that will provide developers with a full-screen API, more powerful extension support, enhanced CSS3 support, and several other enhancements.
The 45.3MB private beta, labeled Safari 5.1 Developer Preview, will deliver improved graphics performance on Windows, media caching for audio and video data for web apps using the HTML5 application cache, and a new process architecture that separates the browser's rendering process from its application process, making Safari more responsive and stable.
Along these same lines, Safari 5.1 (on Snow Leopard and Lion) will run plug-ins within their own process, which should improve both security and stability.
For developers, the upcoming release introduces support for full-screen web content and support for keyboard behavior control by introducing several new methods to the Element and Document classes, according to people familiar with the software.
The forthcoming release will also offer developers new ways to customize and interact with Safari through Safari Extensions. For instance, developers will be able to receive event notifications when a user opens a window or tab, or when a window or tab has gone inactive.
Similarly, developers will gain access to a feature called Extension Menus, which will allow them to deliver interactive and customizable menus from within the Safari interface, as well as access to throw users into and out of the browser's Reader feature.
Another Extensions API called Extensions Popover should also allow developers to present users with large chunks of customized content that won't interfere with existing web content loaded in a tab or browser window.
Additionally, Safari 5.1 will roll out support for Web Open Font Format (WOFF), Mathematical Markup Language (MathML), CSS3 Auto-hyphenation, CSS3 Text Emphasis, CSS3 Vertical Text, and CSS3 Transitions and Animations.
The 45.3MB private beta, labeled Safari 5.1 Developer Preview, will deliver improved graphics performance on Windows, media caching for audio and video data for web apps using the HTML5 application cache, and a new process architecture that separates the browser's rendering process from its application process, making Safari more responsive and stable.
Along these same lines, Safari 5.1 (on Snow Leopard and Lion) will run plug-ins within their own process, which should improve both security and stability.
For developers, the upcoming release introduces support for full-screen web content and support for keyboard behavior control by introducing several new methods to the Element and Document classes, according to people familiar with the software.
The forthcoming release will also offer developers new ways to customize and interact with Safari through Safari Extensions. For instance, developers will be able to receive event notifications when a user opens a window or tab, or when a window or tab has gone inactive.
Similarly, developers will gain access to a feature called Extension Menus, which will allow them to deliver interactive and customizable menus from within the Safari interface, as well as access to throw users into and out of the browser's Reader feature.
Another Extensions API called Extensions Popover should also allow developers to present users with large chunks of customized content that won't interfere with existing web content loaded in a tab or browser window.
Additionally, Safari 5.1 will roll out support for Web Open Font Format (WOFF), Mathematical Markup Language (MathML), CSS3 Auto-hyphenation, CSS3 Text Emphasis, CSS3 Vertical Text, and CSS3 Transitions and Animations.
Comments
Apple on Monday released a developer preview of Safari 5.1, its next-generation browser for Mac OS X that will provide developers with a full-screen API, more powerful extension support, enhanced CSS3 support, and several other enhancements.
The 45.3MB private beta, labeled Safari 5.1 Developer Preview, will deliver improved graphics performance on Windows, media caching for audio and video data for web apps using the HTML5 application cache, and a new process architecture that separates the browser's rendering process from its application process, making Safari more responsive and stable.
Along these same lines, Safari 5.1 (on Snow Leopard and Lion) will run plug-ins within their own process, which should improve both security and stability.
For developers, the upcoming release introduces support for full-screen web content and support for keyboard behavior control by introducing several new methods to the Element and Document classes, according to people familiar with the software.
The forthcoming release will also offer developers new ways to customize and interact with Safari through Safari Extensions. For instance, developers will be able to receive event notifications when a user opens a window or tab, or when a window or tab has gone inactive.
Similarly, developers will gain access to a feature called Extension Menus, which will allow them to deliver inactive and customizable menus from within the Safari interface, as well as access to throw users into and out of the browser's Reader feature.
Another Extensions API called Extensions Popover should also allow developers to present users with large chunks of customized content that won't interfere with existing web content loaded in a tab or browser window.
Additionally, Safari 5.1 will roll out support for Web Open Font Format (WOFF), Mathematical Markup Language (MathML), CSS3 Auto-hyphenation, CSS3 Text Emphasis, CSS3 Vertical Text, and CSS3 Transitions and Animations.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
I'm curious of Safari 5.1 is using the WebKit 2.0 engine?
And yes, I'd absolutely love if the Dev Preview 4 or final build of Safari 5.1 is using WebKit 2.
Obligatory post about the multiple gigabyte memory leak.
And yes, I'd absolutely love if the Dev Preview 4 or final build of Safari 5.1 is using WebKit 2.
Seconded.
I am disappointed to say I have switched to chrome, it's better simple as that, more colour with discernible extension buttons, excellent tab design, plenty of add ons, snappy.
I hope it's not a case of too little too late here for safari, but please fix the tabs first and put some colour on the damn thing.
If I wasn't to use Safari anymore, I'd go with the new version of Firefox (which I used to hate). The extension support is much better then Chrome; Firefox doesn't have the java script issues; Firefox has fixed a lot of the previous interface issues I hated; and it doesn't call home but to look for updates.
The one reason I consider switching from Safari is Chrome, Firefox, and now Explorer all have tabs on top. It makes more sense. When Apple tried tabs on top, half the populace preferred it. Still Apple killed it. Apple should have made it an option and people like me wouldn't' be experimenting with other browsers. The others would have come around. It was one of the first times I saw Apple cave to the masses design critiques. I also agree about the color. Let me work in some color if I want it.
Seconded.
I am disappointed to say I have switched to chrome, it's better simple as that, more colour with discernible extension buttons, excellent tab design, plenty of add ons, snappy.
I hope it's not a case of too little too late here for safari, but please fix the tabs first and put some colour on the damn thing.
I'm curious of Safari 5.1 is using the WebKit 2.0 engine?
AFAIK new process architecture = webkit 2.
Obligatory post about the multiple gigabyte memory leak.
And yes, I'd absolutely love if the Dev Preview 4 or final build of Safari 5.1 is using WebKit 2.
Thirded.
Safari today used 1.7GB, with 6 tabs open. Top Sites turned off. That's the highest I've seen it.
Right now it's using 400MB with 2 tabs open. This site and me.com
Seconded.
I am disappointed to say I have switched to chrome, it's better simple as that, more colour with discernible extension buttons, excellent tab design, plenty of add ons, snappy.
I hope it's not a case of too little too late here for safari, but please fix the tabs first and put some colour on the damn thing.
I switched to Chrome on my PC and Mac. Safari's performance has been abysmal on my Mac and Firefox 4 development was too slow.
Thirded.
Safari today used 1.7GB, with 6 tabs open. Top Sites turned off. That's the highest I've seen it.
Right now it's using 400MB with 2 tabs open. This site and me.com
I'm on 10.5.8 PPC with WebKit Nightly [minus WebKit2] and with 2 tabs the Real Memory consumption is:
65.9MB
I open a third tab: AppleInsider.com and my Real Memory jumps to:
116.07MB
What the hell is on AI that's nearly doubling my footprint? Oh that's right! Flash!
All those lovely Flash ads and their container objects.
My option is to run AdBlock 2.4.9 and trade off the Flash crap for running AdBlock.
I'm now at 2 Tabs [reloaded AI], after restarting Safari with Adblock, and guess what? My Memory went to:
91.21MB., with 12 threads.
How blocking linked content costs one 25.31MB of memory just to run the HTML5 parser and then filter out those links via the BlockList remains a mystery.
Now, if those ads were HTML5 ads being served to client browsers that supports HTML5 I know the memory footprint will be less as QuickTime is already system-wide and will handle the media needs. If it's a WebGL Ad for those HTML5 supported browsers most of the heavy lifting is done on the GPU for OpenCL/OpenGL.
Along these same lines, Safari 5.1 (on Snow Leopard and Lion) will run plug-ins within their own process, which should improve both security and stability.
Does that imply that Safari 5.1 still supports Leopard, albeit with less features?
I'm on 10.5.8 PPC with WebKit Nightly [minus WebKit2] and with 2 tabs the Real Memory consumption is:
65.9MB
I open a third tab: AppleInsider.com and my Real Memory jumps to:
116.07MB
What the hell is on AI that's nearly doubling my footprint? Oh that's right! Flash!
All those lovely Flash ads and their container objects.
My option is to run AdBlock 2.4.9 and trade off the Flash crap for running AdBlock.
I'm now at 2 Tabs [reloaded AI], after restarting Safari with Adblock, and guess what? My Memory went to:
91.21MB., with 12 threads.
How blocking linked content costs one 25.31MB of memory just to run the HTML5 parser and then filter out those links via the BlockList remains a mystery.
Now, if those ads were HTML5 ads being served to client browsers that supports HTML5 I know the memory footprint will be less as QuickTime is already system-wide and will handle the media needs. If it's a WebGL Ad for those HTML5 supported browsers most of the heavy lifting is done on the GPU for OpenCL/OpenGL.
Safari Adblock (the extension) as far asi know is not blocking anything, just hiding. The old one Adblock based onSIMBl was actually blocking ads (as in not downloading).
Yes, it's Webkit 2.
Thirded.
Safari today used 1.7GB, with 6 tabs open. Top Sites turned off. That's the highest I've seen it.
Right now it's using 400MB with 2 tabs open. This site and me.com
Never had problems with Safari memory consumption. Right now 4 tabs open (AI, MacRumours, and 2 copies of TUAW). Memory usage is under 250 MB. I also have 8 extensions installed too.
WebGL and WebKit2.
Understandable.
And +1 for the unified address/search bar.
Can I have tabs on top back please?
And +1 for the unified address/search bar.
Tabs on top not going to happen. If you want to gain more screen real estate run lion with Safari in fullscreen mode.
Unified search bar could happen.