Apple has released the public beta of its web browser Safari for both the MAc and PC worlds. This is a BETA version and is not bug free especially if you use WordPress (I do)to run your blog. According to Apple the new browser has 150 new and improved features and that all sounds great, but what does that mean for the user.
The new top sites interface is great. Give me a menu of my 12 sites and show which have been changed since I was there last. (The blue star shows sites that have changed.
For the regular user and especially photographers:
ICC Color Profile Support
Safari uses advanced color management technology to deliver web images with rich, accurate color. In fact, it was the first browser to support International Color Consortium (ICC) profiles and has done so from day one, so the photos and images you see in your browser stay true to the original.
This is great if you want to make sure your clients are seeing the images correctly on their computer. I have spent more time “fixing” problems that didn’t really exist because the image didn’t look the same on my browser as it did on my clients who was on the other side of the country. Knowing that the browser has ICC support goes along way to fixing this problem.
CSS 3 Web Fonts
CSS 3 web fonts allow web designers to create stunning websites using the fonts they prefer rather than restricting themselves to “web-safe fonts.” Safari is the first web browser to automatically recognize websites that use custom fonts, downloading them as they’re needed.
CSS Canvas
Using CSS Canvas, web designers can position canvas elements anywhere an image can be placed using CSS. Safari is the first web browser to support CSS Canvas.
Both CSS Web fonts and Canvas will allow website to look more like the designers want them to, but until these are supported by everyone, it doesn’t mean much.
Apple also claims that this is the faster browser on the internet with an Nitro Java engine that runs java faster than before.
One very interesting feature is
HTML 5 Offline Support
Web developers can now create applications that you can use even when you don’t have access to the Internet. Thanks to HTML 5 offline support, designers can build web applications that store themselves on your computer, where you have immediate access to them. Along with the application, web developers can also choose to store the application’s data on your system, so you always have the information you need. Applications and data can be stored in a traditional SQL-like database serving as an application cache or as a “super cookie,” which stores data in the familiar cookie format.
This will allow for access to data from Online apps when you are not online. Think about looking through your gMail account when you are not online, like when you are traveling. Being able to use the online apps when not online, then having them sync when you go back on line opens up a whole new way to use those apps.
Now for the bad news.
I can’t use the WordPress editor to add links. The screen just turns grey. So I will most likely be removing the Safari 4 Beta from my desktop and will wait for an update.
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