Apple Announces Safari 4 with cover flow and full-page zoom
The newest version of the browser allows you to visually preview all your top sites at once.
A beta version of Apple's Safari 4 hit Apple's website this morning. All you need to download the browser is the latest security patch from Apple (2009-01) and a computer operating Tiger, Leopard, Windows XP SP2, or Windows Vista. The browser is undoubtably quite different than its predecessor. Major updates in Safari 4 include:
- Faster JavaScript: JavaScript is reportedly 4.2 times faster than Safari 3.
- Cover Flow: Now you can browse through your bookmarks and web history just like you do your favorite albums within iTunes.
- Top Sites: Top Sites allows you to visually preview all your frequently visited pages all at once.
- Full History Search: You know you visited a webpage, you know it was about giraffes, and now you can search through your entire history at once and find out exactly what page it was.
- Tabs on Top: Tabs on Top has easy drag-and-drop tab management tools, and an intuitive button for creating new tabs on the fly.
- Full Page Zoom: Need to zoom in on a certain portion of the page? Full Page Zoom lets you zoom in on a certain area without degrading the quality of the site's layout or text.
- Windows native Look: Safari for Windows now uses a standard Windows font and native title bar so your co-workers won't know you're using Safari on your PC.
You can download the beta version of Safari 4 now for free from Apple's website. Tell us what you think about the new version of the browser in the comments below!
This story around the web:
- Trusted sources:
Apple Announces Safari 4—The World’s… [Apple Press]
-
Apple Safari 4 launched: 30x faster… [SlashGear]
-
Apple Announces Safari 4 Public Beta [MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors]
-
Safari 4 Beta Released for OS X, Windows [TechCrunch]
Get more information on topics relating to this story:
- Related company news:
- Apple
- Related glossary terms:
- Javascript
- Related brand news:
- Apple Safari
- Related devices and services:
- Microsoft Windows XP, Apple Safari, Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, Apple Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, Microsoft Windows Vista
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Comments (10)
Add a comment Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed.
Adam
(12:23 PM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
Fabulous--but, like the other Safaris for Windows, I can't get the proxy settings to work on this. I can browse within the company firewall, but any attempt to go outside generates a 'you are not connected to the Internet message', and clicking on the Network Diagnostics button does nothing. For whatever reason, Firefox does not have this issue; how do I fix it in Safari?
Anonymous (7:27 AM on Wed Feb 25, 2009)
i downloaded one later this afternoon,
but sadly, the cover flow thing does not work on pc!!
a was so dissapointed.. hate it!!
i am expecting much from it but it gave me no amazement at all..
i am so excited about that cover flow.. but it does not work at pc..
anyone have the same prob???
gustavo (6:42 PM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
i got this great so far but how to get i get the cover flow !!!
Mike (1:23 PM on Fri Feb 27, 2009)
You need a mac for coverflow. Windoze is not capable.
Anonymous (3:50 PM on Fri Feb 27, 2009)
Incorrect, the software works fine on XP, when you do the initial install it clearly states that your graphics card needs to support the latest version of direct x 9.0, with at least 32 mb of memory. I am running the software just fine on a pc right now. I have however had several friends with the same issues as noted above, even with them verifying their graphics card should be compatable. I'll post if for any reason their situation gets resolved.
Anonymous (10:46 AM on Tue Mar 17, 2009)
Its simple. Under the forward and reverse buttons there are two icons a grid and a book. Click the book for coverflow and grid for the grid like arrangement.
Ritesh Nair
Anonymous (6:00 PM on Wed Jun 10, 2009)
Some people does not read the issue properly. The Top-Site files are with the program, but it will not show. Other programs usually tell if there is an issue that might cause an issue, but it does not. The icon for cover-flow (grid icon next to the bookmark icon) does not show in Safari 4 if you get this problem. I have this issue, the cover-flow works in iTunes, the directX9c is tested to work on the computer. I have the newest iTunes, newest QuickTime. Using Nvidia GForce 4 Go on this laptop (No new driver on windows update). Reinstalled Safari, still same... And after reading the Info, this is no Beta... It should be better then this :(
Anonymous (7:02 PM on Wed Jun 10, 2009)
Probably Video card memory, more lacking of it... Remember it needs 64MB Video Card memory... I do not get Cover-Flow due to I got only 32MB memory, I got video card Nvidia GeForce 4 Go.
anon (5:15 PM on Thu Sep 17, 2009)
The latest Safari update will not allow me to edit history or bookmarks. I can add a bookmark, but not remove any once added.
I don't like the coverflow interface as a result of this. It's eye candy with poor function.
Robert Su
(11:13 PM on Fri Oct 16, 2009)
I tried Safari 4.0.1 when it came out. I could not update my website. Now, I have just tried Safari 4.0.3 and still cannot use it to update my website. What's going on, Apple?